PM1747 Personal Assistant

Dewis Centre for Independent Living; Porth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A local support service in Porth is seeking a caring individual to assist with daily routines and activities for a woman with Asperger’s. Responsibilities include helping her build confidence in social situations, supporting daily tasks, and ensuring well-being. This part-time role offers £14 per hour with essential flexibility in hours and duties based on individual needs.

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic, positive, and friendly disposition.
• Able to manage changing moods professionally.
• Experience with individuals having Asperger’s or mental health issues is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support accessing local activities like shopping and cinema.
• Assist with daily routines and focus.
• Ensure safety and well-being at all times.

Skills

Good communication skills

Patience

Empathy

Experience with mental health

Dependability

Job description

Overview

I’m a 32 year old woman living in Porth. At the moment I feel trapped in my own home because I find it difficult to go out on my own – it feels like I cannot function properly unless there is someone with me to reassure and guide me.

I have a diagnosis of Asperger’s, depression and audio processing disorder. The latter means it takes me a while to process words and meanings. I get anxious over what appears to be insignificant things, but to me it is a whole lot more and affects my day-to-day ability to cope. When things become overly stressful it feels like my brain is shutting down and I may have an absence episode. To you it might appear that I am fully capable and well enough to manage my life but the truth is I need support for even the most basic things.

I want to be able to go out and do ‘everyday’ type things like shopping, catching the bus to visit my mom, day trips to places of interest for example to St Fagan’s. I enjoy the cinema and would like to go regularly.

Hours of Work

12 hours per week. Days/times to be discussed at interview. Flexibility essential.

Rate of Pay

£14.00 per hour. 40p mileage allowance.

Responsibilities

• Supporting to access local activities, or going out for coffee
• Supporting me to develop daily routines and keeping to them
• Practice travelling on the bus so I become familiar and confident with local routes
• Ensuring my safety and well-being at all times
• Recognising signs of anxiety and fatigue and acting accordingly to alleviate symptoms, ie: taking me to a quiet place, talking it through it, reassuring me
• Assist me to maintain focus on what’s important
• You will help to create structure and routine within my home
• Assistance with correspondence, reading and explaining my post, contacting companies on my behalf (eg, gas/electric) to deal with matters, replying to correspondence
• Setting up appointments, arranging meeting etc on my behalf and being attendance when it happens
• Explaining to me in clear detail about the meetings, what happened, if there’s any follow up action etc
• Helping me to learn appropriate social cues

Type of Person Required

• An enthusiastic, positive and friendly person is important
• Good communication skills and patience is important, ie: be clear in speech
• You’ll be perceptive to my changing moods and be able to manage them in a professional and appropriate way
• Experience with individuals with a mental health or Aspergers diagnosis is particularly desirable and it is important that the person is naturally caring, positive and supportive
• Reassuring me when I am feeling down, having a knack to take a positive approach to things that are troubling me
• Essential that you will maintain confidentiality in all aspects of my life
• Someone who is willing to learn about how my disabilities affect me and how best to support me through it
• Very important that you are dependable and reliable
• Someone who I can confidently and easily build rapport with
• A car owner/driver

About the Job

This position is subject to satisfactory references and a DBS Disclosure (Police Check), which must be completed prior to the commencement of employment. The cost of this check will be covered by the Local Authority.

All necessary checks will be conducted to verify that any candidate has the legal right to work in the UK before employment begins.

Although this is a part-time role, it is a legitimate position requiring the submission of a National Insurance number. Employment will commence under an initial trial period.

Wages will be paid on a monthly and appropriate holiday pay will be provided.

Please note: Dewis Centre for Independent Living is acting on behalf of a third party and will not serve as your employer or be liable for any issues arising from your employment should you be offered the position.