Personal Assistant – MNYNCL

Disability North; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Disability North is seeking a warm, reliable Personal Assistant to support a energetic 12-year-old girl in Gosforth. You will help her engage in activities, encourage independence, and provide companionship.

Experience with autism and anxiety is helpful; patience and trust-building are essential. Term-time and holiday hours apply, with UK work eligibility required.

Qualifications

• Experience working with autistic individuals is helpful.
• Ability to build trust and establish a supportive relationship.
• Patience and reliability in a role supporting a child.
• Willingness to work term-time and holiday hours; UK work eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Support the child to participate in community activities and outings.
• Encourage social engagement and independence in daily tasks.
• Help interpret communication and social situations as needed.
• Provide reassurance during anxiety or distress and offer distraction.
• Be a calm, positive presence; cycling ability is a plus but not essential.

Skills

Patience

Reliability

Positive attitude

Communication

Job description

Location: Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne

Pay rate: £16.00 per hour

Hours:

Term-time hours:

Thursdays: 4.30pm–6.30pm

Fridays: 5.00pm–7.00pm

We would also like longer hours during the holidays, and it is worth noting her school holidays are slightly longer than the usual state school holidays.

We are looking for a warm, positive and enthusiastic Personal Assistant to support our amazing 12-year-old daughter to build confidence, independence and enjoy the things she loves.

She loves nature, reading, crafts, piano playing, camping and horses, and is keen to get out and about and develop her independence. She is autistic and has interoceptive difficulties around feeling full. She can be anxious in some situations and is emetophobic. She can find groups and crowded places difficult and struggles to access transport without support.

The role would involve:

• Supporting her to get to and enjoy activities and places in the community.
• Gently encouraging her to engage socially and develop her independence.
• Helping her understand some communication and social situations.
• Recognising when she is becoming anxious or distressed and offering reassurance, explanation or distraction.
• Being a calm, encouraging presence while also bringing plenty of positivity, someone who is comfortable cycling would be particularly helpful, although this isn’t essential.

We are looking for someone who is patient, reliable and genuinely enjoys spending time with young people. Most importantly, we’d love to find someone who can match her energy, share a laugh with her and help her feel confident trying new things.

Experience of autism and anxiety would be helpful, but the right personality, attitude and ability to build a trusting relationship are just as important.

This vacancy will close as soon as a suitable candidate is appointed.

At the time of starting their employment, the successful candidate must have permission to work in the U.K.