Female Social Personal Assistant – EMUNCL

Disability North; Walker (MI); On-site; USD 10,943,000 - 12,767,000; Part time

Job summary

Disability North in the UK seeks an experienced personal assistant to support a loving seven-year-old girl with autism and sensory processing needs. The role requires patience, safety‑minded care and the ability to engage in daily activities at home and in the community.

Emily is nonverbal and bilingual (Italian/English); you may work with an ACC device in the future. The car outings and at-home care will form part of the routine, with a focus on gentle de‑escalation and supportive bonding.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children with autism.
• Ability to supervise and ensure safety in potentially challenging situations.
• Experience in a bilingual Italian/English household is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Spend time in the family home building rapport with Emily.
• Support mum to enable Emily to access activities and the community.
• Provide personal care including prompting toileting and hygiene.
• Assist with cooking activities and light household tasks.
• accompany family on car outings when required and ensure safety at all times.

Skills

Experience with autism

Patience

Animal friendly

Calm de-escalation techniques

Bilingual Italian/English environment

Tools

ACC device familiarity

Job description

Hours: 5 hours per week term time and 11 hours per week school holidays including weekends

Area: Walker, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Rate: £14.50 per hour

We are currently recruiting for an experienced personal assistant for a loving, happy little girl with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Global developmental delay. Emily always requires full supervision and has no awareness of danger. She currently resides with her mum and older brother and they have a cat, so being animal friendly is essential. Emily regularly spends one or two nights per week with her dad too, at his home.

This role would suit someone that has experience working with children with autism and is a necessary requirement.

Emily is 7 years old, she is an amazing and loving little girl that is thriving at life like every other child. Emily can be quite difficult to understand because she is nonverbal, she is hand leading and she can direct you when she wants items, especially from the kitchen. She is a massive sensory seeking child so everything from sand, water, play-dough, slime, and food is a must for her, and stickers, she absolutely loves them. Emily doesn't sleep often during the day but sometimes if she is tired following school she can nap but it is always better if she doesn't sleep until bedtime. Emily had an obsession for food and has a form of PICA so food monitoring is essential as she can undereat or overeat and can choke on foods as she has tics that present with her laughing very frequently even when consuming foods, sugar is to be avoided as much as possible otherwise she can become dysregulated quite significantly, she loves ice cream and chocolate as an occasional treat though. Emily is a flight risk and may try to escape, opens doors or windows or eat everything she sees, so you would be expected to always supervise her. Emily loves physical contact, she enjoys hugs and can sometimes grab, pinch or bite when overstimulated so you would need experience in managing and applying safe methods to de-escalate these behaviours, proven methods include a calm voice and pressure hugs for Emily. This household is a dual language household fluent in Italian and English and Emily understand both languages. You may be expected to work with an ACC device in the future for communications with Emily, so knowledge of working with such devices would be beneficial, however training can be provided.

Initially the role would involve spending time within the family home engaging with Emily and building rapport, developing into accessing the community and supporting mum to allow Emily to explore activities of choice. A specialist buggy and restrain straps are used currently for outings and Emily does enjoy trips in the car with mum so you may be required to accompany the family with trips out in the car.

Personal care will be involved in the role including prompting to utilize toileting facilities and assist with personal hygiene.

Emily enjoys cooking, especially chopping fruit and vegetables so you may spend time in the kitchen preparing dishes. Emily loves music and dance, so you better have your dance shoes ready, a good level of fitness is required for this role.

For more information, please see the Job Description

There is a genuine occupational requirement for the holder of this post to be female in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and Equality Act 2010 schedule 9 paragraphs 1 - 4.

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.