Personal Assistant / Support Worker

KIDS'; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 10,000 - 13,000; Part time

Job summary

KIDS' seeks a highly organised Personal Assistant / Support Worker to support the Play Service Manager at Hackney Adventure Playground. The role is part-time (15 hours/week) and based at Hackney Adventure Playground, with some off-site meetings and travel as needed.

The role involves administrative tasks, scheduling, communication, information management and wellbeing support with a neuro-affirming approach.

Qualifications

• Strong administrative, organisational and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confident using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and database systems.
• Understanding of neurodiversity, including autism and ADHD.
• Ability to work independently while anticipating support needs.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and professional integrity.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day personalised support to the Manager, helping them manage workload, wellbeing and priorities.
• Support sustainable working practices through effective planning, breaks and workload management.
• Anticipate challenges and provide practical support during periods of high pressure, stress or reduced capacity.
• Assist with appointments, mobility and comfort needs where required.
• Manage diaries, meetings, rotas, training schedules and appointments.
• Track actions, deadlines and follow-up tasks.
• Help prioritise workload and protect time for key responsibilities.
• Identify and implement systems, tools and processes that improve efficiency and organisation.
• Support effective communication with staff, partners and stakeholders.
• Assist with drafting emails, letters, reports and other written communications.
• Provide support with challenging or sensitive conversations and correspondence.
• Answer and screen calls where appropriate and help ensure information is presented clearly and accessibly.
• Maintain effective filing systems, records and organisational processes.
• Provide administrative support using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and bespoke databases.
• Assist with financial administration, meeting minutes, reports and training resources.
• Help develop systems that improve information management and operational efficiency.
• Work in a way that respects neurodivergent communication, sensory and processing differences.
• Support strategies that reduce barriers, improve focus and promote wellbeing.
• Remain flexible and responsive to changing support needs.
• Build a collaborative working relationship based on trust, respect and discretion.

Job description

Personal Assistant / Support Worker

Location: Hackney Adventure Playground, Spring Lane, Big Hill, Hackney, London E5 9HQ
Hours: 15 hours per week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Contract: Fixed term until February 2027
Salary: £11,544per annum

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly organised, adaptable and empathetic Personal Assistant / Adult Support Worker to provide personalised workplace support to the Play Service Manager at a specialist Adventure Playground within a national charity.

This role supports an adult employee in carrying out their professional responsibilities effectively, sustainably and independently. While based in a child-centred environment, it is not a direct support role for children or young people.

The successful candidate will provide practical, administrative, organisational and communication support to a manager with neurodivergent support needs and some physical health needs. Using a strengths-based, neuro-affirming approach to autism and ADHD, support will be collaborative, personalised and regularly reviewed.

The role requires someone who can work proactively and intuitively, helping the Manager organise, prioritise and manage the demands of their role while respecting their independence and autonomy.

Key Responsibilities

Personal & Practical Support

• Provide day-to-day personalised support to the Manager, helping them manage workload, wellbeing and priorities.
• Support sustainable working practices through effective planning, breaks and workload management.
• Anticipate challenges and provide practical support during periods of high pressure, stress or reduced capacity.
• Assist with appointments, mobility and comfort needs where required.

Diary, Scheduling & Organisation

• Manage diaries, meetings, rotas, training schedules and appointments.
• Track actions, deadlines and follow-up tasks.
• Help prioritise workload and protect time for key responsibilities.
• Identify and implement systems, tools and processes that improve efficiency and organisation.

Communication Support

• Support effective communication with staff, partners and stakeholders.
• Assist with drafting emails, letters, reports and other written communications.
• Provide support with challenging or sensitive conversations and correspondence.
• Answer and screen calls where appropriate and help ensure information is presented clearly and accessibly.

Administration & Information Management

• Maintain effective filing systems, records and organisational processes.
• Provide administrative support using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and bespoke databases.
• Assist with financial administration, meeting minutes, reports and training resources.
• Help develop systems that improve information management and operational efficiency.

Neuro-Affirming & Wellbeing Support

• Work in a way that respects neurodivergent communication, sensory and processing differences.
• Support strategies that reduce barriers, improve focus and promote wellbeing.
• Remain flexible and responsive to changing support needs.
• Build a collaborative working relationship based on trust, respect and discretion.

About You

You will be:

• Highly organised, proactive and adaptable.
• Empathetic, patient and an excellent communicator.
• Discreet and professional when handling confidential information.
• Calm under pressure and able to use initiative.
• Comfortable working collaboratively and tailoring support to individual needs.
• Comfortable working in an active, outdoor and play-based environment.

Essential Requirements:

• Strong administrative, organisational and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confident using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and database systems.
• Understanding of neurodiversity, including autism and ADHD.
• Ability to work independently while anticipating support needs.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and professional integrity.

Desirable:

• Previous experience as a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Support Worker or similar role.
• Experience within SEND, disability, youth work, social care or play settings.
• Knowledge of current neurodiversity approaches and best practice.
• Experience supporting disabled children and young people.

Location: Primarily based at Hackney Adventure Playground, with occasional off-site meetings and travel. Some home working may be possible when appropriate.

DBS Requirement: Enhanced DBS check (Child and Adult Workforce) required.

Please see the full JD attached for further details.

We reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a high volume of applicants.