Support Worker / Personal Assistant – Kelso – 3149

Encompass; Kelso; On-site; GBP 19,286 - 20,664; Full time

Job summary

Encompass is seeking a compassionate Support Worker/Personal Assistant to assist a lady in Kelso with personal care and daily activities. The role focuses on promoting independence, dignity and wellbeing in a calm, unhurried manner, tailored to her energy levels and needs, including ARFID considerations.

Hours are flexible and agreed with the employer, with a pay rate of £14.05 per hour and a PVG check requirement.

Qualifications

• Kind, patient and compassionate.
• Reliable, trustworthy and respectful.
• Calm and able to work at the client’s pace.
• Desirable: experience supporting autistic adults.
• Understanding of autism, executive dysfunction and ARFID.
• Experience providing personal care at home.

Responsibilities

• Provide support with personal care and daily living tasks at the client’s pace.
• Offer gentle encouragement with eating and daily routines.
• Support other activities of daily living and independence.
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and hygienic home.
• Prepare and serve meals and drinks as directed.
• Promote dignity, independence, choice and wellbeing.
• Build a professional, respectful working relationship.
• Respect privacy and confidentiality at all times.

Skills

Empathy

Patience

Reliability

Communication

Person-centred support

Job description

Support Worker / Personal Assistant – Kelso

A caring, patient, and reliable Support Worker/Personal Assistant is sought to provide person-centred support to a lady living in Kelso.

This rewarding role involves providing support with personal care and daily living tasks in a calm, respectful, and unhurried manner, helping to promote independence, dignity, and wellbeing. The successful candidate will understand the importance of working at the individual’s pace while providing encouragement and support within her own home.

The lady has a diagnosis of Autism and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and is looking for someone who has an understanding of autism, executive dysfunction, and the fluctuating nature of ME, recognising that her energy levels and abilities may vary from day to day. This includes offering gentle prompts and support with eating, maintaining daily routines, and other activities of daily living, while always respecting her choices, promoting independence and consistent encouragement with everyday tasks.

If you are compassionate, dependable, and enjoy making a positive difference to someone’s day-to-day life, this could be a highly rewarding opportunity.

Vacancy Information

• Location: Kelso
• Hours: To be used flexibly and agreed with the employer
• Rate of Pay: £14.05 per hour
• Annual Leave: 5.6 weeks pro rata
• Contract Conditions: Subject to satisfactory references and PVG check
• Probationary Period: 6 months

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

• Provide support with personal care, including washing, showering, and other personal care tasks, always working at the client’s preferred pace.
• Offer gentle encouragement and prompting with eating and maintaining a healthy daily routine, recognising the impact of ARFID and executive dysfunction.
• Support the client with other activities of daily living, providing encouragement while promoting independence.
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and hygienic home environment.
• Prepare and serve meals and drinks as directed.
• Promote dignity, independence, choice, and wellbeing throughout all aspects of support.
• Build a positive, respectful, and professional working relationship.
• Respect privacy, dignity, and confidentiality at all times.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

The successful candidate should be:

• Kind, patient, and compassionate.
• Reliable, trustworthy, and respectful.
• Calm, understanding, and able to provide support at the client’s pace.
• Able to offer encouragement without being directive or judgemental.
• Committed to promoting dignity, choice, and independence.
• Friendly with good communication skills.

Skills and Experience

Desirable

• Previous experience supporting autistic adults.
• An understanding of Autism, executive dysfunction, and ARFID.
• Experience providing personal care and support within a person’s own home.
• Knowledge of person-centred support practices.
• Food hygiene awareness.
• First Aid training.

Terms

• Hours: Flexible, to be agreed with the employer.
• Rate of Pay: £14.05 per hour.
• Annual Leave: 5.6 weeks annual leave pro rata.
• Probationary Period: 6 months.
• Employment subject to satisfactory references and PVG check.

This position would suit someone who is patient, empathetic, and committed to providing person-centred support. An understanding of autism and executive dysfunction, together with the ability to provide gentle encouragement with eating and daily living tasks, will help the successful candidate build a positive and supportive working relationship while promoting independence and wellbeing.