Job Title Personal Assistant
Location Aberystwyth
Hours 3 hours per week school term 6 hours per week during school holidays
Rate of pay £14.20 per hour
Introduction:
We are seeking a Personal Assistant to enable our autistic 8 year old son to experience a wider range of activities more independently outside of the family home. Your support will initially be to accompany one or both of the parents in taking him out.
A driver is not essential for this role as employer is within walking distance of town.
Our son has a very limited vocabulary but can communicate his wishes with simple words, colours or by pointing to indicate what he wants. Activities he enjoys include going to the park or beach, going on a trampoline, building bridges and tunnels for toy trains out of whatever is to hand, playing in water (including jumping in puddles, swimming in pools and paddling in the sea), watching trains pass or travelling on a train.
When out and about, the we take a pushchair as when he tires, our son can drop himself to the floor. He is heavy to pick up, so needs to be encouraged to get up from the floor. Due to lack of danger awareness, we use a harness when going out and constant supervision is required.
There is an element of personal care involved for help with toileting / if a nappy needs changing.
Main duties:
• Support our son to be confident in spending time with another adult besides his parents away from the family home.
• Develop a trusting relationship so that over time access can be made to some leisure pursuits.
• Provide constant supervision
• Offer support at times of emotional anxiety
Person Specification:
Experience of working with young autistic people would be advantageous
Be willing to travel by car (your own car/driving licence are NOT required) and train
Be willing to spend time in the water, including jumping in puddles, going in swimming pools and the sea.
Able to build and maintain a trusting relationship
Willing to undertake mandatory PA training
Flexibility around hours of work and main duties of the job
Ability to use own initiative and to be self-motivated.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and to be aware of privacy
Good communication and inter-personal skills
Disclaimer:
This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of an individual employer. You will be employed by that individual and not Ceredigion County Council. To apply for this job please complete the application form.
This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check, which will incur no cost to the applicant. If you have an online update DBS you have a great chance of becoming shortlisted for this position as this can help the employer to recruit much quicker, if you wish to update your current DBS please go to
If requested by the employer, two satisfactory references must be provided. This post is subject to a trial period of 1 month and a probationary period of up to 6 months.
Wages will be paid in arrears on a 4 weekly basis once a valid National Insurance (NI) number has been provided. You must be eligible to work in the UK and your employer will conduct document checks prior to commencement.
You will receive the appropriate annual leave entitlement as well as all other statutory entitlements, details of which will be set out in your contract of employment. You will also be issued with a Personal Assistants Handbook when your employment commences.
You will be expected to undertake any mandatory training identified as relevant to this post. The cost of mandatory training will be met through the direct payment. Failure to attend mandatory training may result in your employment offer being withdrawn.
Please note the Direct Payments Support Service, Ceredigion County Council is advertising the following posts on behalf of an individual employer. You will be an employee of the Direct Payment Recipient and not of Ceredigion County Council.