About the role/family:
This role suits someone who has prior SEN experience or is studying a SEN/childcare related degree or a performing arts student. This role would also suit a teacher, SEN TA or 1:1, who has availability during school term afternoons and has school holidays off and is looking for extra work.
Days & Hours:
Term-time: A minimum of 10 hours per week/ 2 hours per day (Mon - Friday after school 4PM to 6PM)
School Holidays: A minimum 8 hrs/day (Mon - Friday) but we may request 9hrs (i.e 9am to 6pm or 8AM to 5PM)
B9 is also entitled to 3 sessions/week at a SEN Club during school holidays, however they have struggled with staffing and this hasn't been consistent; where he will be allocated the clubs the dates will be communicated in advance and PA/Sennie will be required to attend the home for 3hrs only ( from 3PM to 6PM) on those days.
Essential Skills/Traits:
· Strong understanding of non-verbal Autism
· Prior Experience with epilepsy is a must, but training will be provided for management of seizures.
· Driving license and happy to use own car for work (you will be reimbursed for use of your own car)
· Experience looking after young children on a sole charge basis
· Prior experience working with children with sensory needs
· Knowledge of suitable games/tasks/exercises to stimulate, engage and support
· Intelligent and able to support with teaching life-skills
· Positive attitude and approach
· Highly empathetic and can demonstrate a sensitive approach
· A minimum of one year's commitment
· Physically fit and keen to be outdoors when required
· Capable of working independently with B9
· Demonstrable organisational skills
· Adaptable and flexible approach
· Commitment and reliability are a must. Family is looking for long term employment for the right person.
Trial days/training and settling in period provided (time allowing), before taking B9 alone.
Family is looking for a proactive, bubbly and passionate PA/Sennie who can provide fantastic support to B9. The Sennie will act as a support and 'buddy' to B9.
The PA/Sennie selected should have a proactive/observant approach and have the commitment to continue to apply current therapies (advised by school professionals) within the home as well as ability to implement fun games and intensive interaction with B9. The PA/Sennie selected should be able to engage with B9 in his preferred hobbies whilst also encouraging and supporting his development both academically and personally.
The PA/Sennie selected will be able to follow and support therapies and interventions determined by the family and professionals. A genuine interest in working with SEN children is a must.
Duties:
· During school term: Supporting B9 with feeding evening meal, some games/therapies (if time allows) and his evening routine
· Preparing light meals and feeding B9 in the evening
· Preparing age and ability appropriate activities
· Ensuring there is a consistent routine in place
· Preparing a packed lunch (when required) for day trips as well as packing everything required for a day trip
· During school holidays drive B9 for day trips organised by parents and ability to provide unsupervised support and encouragement to explore on a day trip (parents are working and unable to attend the organised day trips)
· Keep parents posted via messages with pictures/little videos and updates on how he doing during days out.
· Household duties:
- Tidying the toys and any areas (i.e bathroom and bedroom after evening routine is finished) used during the shift at the end of the day
The parents describe themselves as easy going and they need someone who is very organised, a self-starter and can assist with B9 on a sole-charge, once the PA/Sennie has gained the confidence to sole handle B9. Parents take turns working from home however the PA/Sennie should behave as though this is a sole-charge position when implementing B9 routine.
About B9:
B9 is a lovely, loving, sociable and fun-loving little boy who has a rare genetic condition, Diagnosis of Epilepsy, Autism (non-verbal), profound learning disabilities with the ability to learn through demonstration and consistent repetition. He is under the care of various specialists in various hospitals.
He has epilepsy with focal seizures so having the confidence to provide support and safeguarding during a seizure is a must, should a seizure arise during care shifts. Training will be provided.
He is non-verbal but responds to verbal ques very well and appears to understand a great deal; he has started showing his needs through pointing and will seek that you follow him where he wants to go. He does not posses the imagination to play with toys and organise games to keep him busy so the Sennie must possess a creative, positive and high energy with a large amount of playfulness.
He loves: bubbles, bubble baths, cause and effect toys. During school holidays he gets bored easily being at home so days out are a must (he loves ducks in Kew Gardens, Bubble Planet in Wembley, Farm Animals, Snakes and Ladders and swimming).
B9 has sensory processing needs, particularly in the area of the vestibular (movement), proprioceptive (body awareness) and auditory senses. His gross mobility requires supervision especially going up and down stairs within the home, where he still requires supervision and assistance. When outdoors he uses a buggy as his safety net and is reluctant to come out and be active. Support and encouragement with physical activity and engagement is required.
The family hope to find a PA/Sennie who can help to build his confidence, reduce his anxiety levels whilst outdoors, help him to develop his life and social skills and encourage him to become more active. A creative, positive and high energy PA/Sennie is required for B9, and someone who possesses a large amount of playfulness and is skilled with observing and implementing distraction or regulation tactics, for his sensory needs, are all key requirements in order to support B9. A Sennie who loves a child with character and can manage some pushing of boundaries effectively, is also key for B9.