A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF
I’m a 69-year-old ill & disabled woman and a former teacher of Music & French. I have SEVERE Rheumatoid Arthritis in all my joints & am ‘wheelchair-bound’ as I can’t walk at all, so need much practical help due to my extremely damaged joints. I’ve also got some other incurable conditions (e.g. skin & lung ones, including asthma etc.), but none is infectious! I’m very sleep-deprived but am still young in outlook and have MANY interests – many types of music, composing, writing poetry, studying languages, etymology, expanding my general knowledge and doing quizzes, learning more about history, science, maths, current affairs, & then, in the evenings, watching TV. I’m very inquisitive, talkative and enthusiastic to learn as much as possible and am very friendly, kind and sociable. I also try to help my PAs as much as possible to help me… Purpose of the Job TO ASSIST & CARE FOR ME. WOMAN * WANTED (as I need some Personal Care) to relieve one of my PAs while she’s on MATERNITY LEAVE for at least 9 months from late Aug./early Sept. to at least May-June ’25. DAYS & HOURS: average of 18-20 hours per week + any extra cover you can manage for my other PAs when they’re absent due to illness or taking Annual Leave. Assistance is needed with all meal preparation and the full range of domestic chores plus bits of local food shopping, collecting prescriptions and dispensing some medications – e.g. eye drops. I also need help to care for my very well-behaved cat who’s nearly 15 and is now deaf. Place of Work I live in the Pontcanna area of Cardiff and rarely go out due to my immune system being very blocked and suppressed from the drugs for my R.A. I go out only to my main Hospital appointments every 9 months plus very occasional dental appointments & eye-tests, so you’d be working mainly in my home. HOURS OF WORK An average of 18-20 regular hours a week (to suit you, my new P.A.) - broken down: - Mondays: 3-4 hours (ideally 4): starting between 3 & 4.00 p.m. and finishing betw. 6.30 & 7.30 p.m. - Thursdays: 8-8½ hours: starting between 10.30 & 11.00 a.m. and finishing between 6.30 & 7.30 p.m. - ALTERNATE WEEKENDS: 7-8 hours on both days (every OTHER weekend) Saturdays and Sundays starting between 11.30 a.m. & 12.00 p.m. and finishing betw. 7.00 & 7.30 p.m. PLUS – EXTRA COVER for my other PAs when either of them is absent, when you’re available. Flexibility on your part will be required because all of my PAs try their best to cover for each other for Annual leave and for absences due to illness etc. – Note that only one PA will be required per shift. You will be allowed to have drinks whilst working, plus, when working a shift of at least 6 hours, also another break long enough for you to eat lunch (which you’d need to bring with you). I can provide teas, coffee & a variety of (usually healthy!) snacks. RATE OF PAY £13.00 per hour to start, rising to £13.50 with performance. TASKS TO INCLUDE: - Preparing Breakfast, Lunch and, if needed, an Evening Snack & to help feed Pussie twice daily - Providing drinks when needed, & topping up water bottles & Breville, & milk in my Fridge upstairs - Carrying out a range of domestic chores, as needed, per day, including possible food shopping - Making my bed, washing up, clearing up & changing Pussie’s Litter Tray, and other daily chores - Collecting Medication, as needed, and dispensing eye-drops every hour or so
TYPE OF PERSON REQUIRED – someone who is: - reliable and punctual – I live alone and have no family to help me, so being reliable is vital - able to treat me with respect and maintain confidentiality about me and my situation - flexible and adaptable to meet my needs and able to adapt to my conditions ‘progressing’ - honest, caring, empathetic, supportive and friendly - practical, clean & tidy, and logical in her approach to tasks and preferably not absent-minded Desirable Qualities for my P.A. to possess – she’ll ideally need: - emotional intelligence (along with other types!) - previous experience of working with ill and/or physically disabled people - knowledge of how to be Eco-Friendly and look after the environment – e.g. not to waste resources - to like cats and be feline-friendly and sensitive to Pussie, as she’s deaf and is very easily scared - plenty of patience, cheerfulness and a good sense of humour - to be conscientious and thorough in carrying out all jobs and have good attention to details