Social Personal Assistant - AWNCL

Disability North; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Disability North is seeking a reliable personal assistant to support Archie, a 16-year-old non-verbal autistic boy, in the Blakelaw area of Newcastle upon Tyne. The role is 8 hours per week during school holidays, with occasional weekend work, and requires someone who can learn his cues and provide full supervision.

You will accompany Archie on walks, visits to parks, swimmings, and other activities, monitor mealtimes, prompt when needed, and ensure safety in the community.

Qualifications

• No personal care is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist Archie to access the community and engage in activities he enjoys.
• Provide full supervision at all times; Archie has no awareness of danger.
• Monitor mealtimes and prompt Archie when he is hungry or thirsty.
• Accompany Archie on walks to parks, the coast, Quayside, and swimming.
• Learn Archie’s cues and indicators and support him as needed.

Job description

Hours: 8 hours per week school holiday times only. To include weekend work – flexibility required, and hours will be discussed at interview stage.

Area: Blakelaw, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Rate: £14.00 per hour

Archie is a lovely 16-year-old boy who is always happy and enjoys attending school. He has a diagnosis of non-verbal autism with learning disabilities; he lives with his mum and visits his dad regularly. Archie uses alternative ways to communicate which will require the ability to learn and understand his cues and indicators. Archie can become frustrated on occasion, this will usually present if he is overwhelmed or unwell. No personal care is required in this role.

Archie is looking to employ a personal assistant who can assist and support him to access the community and engage in activities that he enjoys. He is a keen walker who enjoys going out in nature and visiting parks, and local beauty spots, including the coast and the Quayside, Archie does need to hold onto you when out as this gives him reassurance.

Archie enjoys meals out and has his favorite food types that include chicken nuggets, crisps and most dry foods, jellies are his favorite sweet choice. You will be required to monitor and prompt mealtimes as Archie will not indicate when he is hungry but will inform you of when he is thirsty. He will alert you to any toileting needs.

Full supervision is always required as Archie has no awareness of danger or road safety.

Visits to the Alan Shearer Centre. Tim Lamb Centre and swimming are all on Archie’s “to do list”. He enjoys swimming and sensory water play activities and he might enjoy some horse-riding activities if given the opportunity. Other activities Archie enjoys are wall climbing and trampolining. Archie enjoys music and dance, and he loves a bit of “Gangham Style” to bop along to. Archie utilizes his iPad to play his favourite games or watch YouTube videos.

A good level of fitness is required for this role.

This is an employed role.

For more information, please see the Job Description

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.