*** LLANELLI ****
In the region of 15 hours per week £13 per hour
A reliable, friendly and flexible Personal Assistant is required to provide social support and some personal care assistance to a lady with learning disabilities.
Although she is over 50 years old, the employer has a very young outlook and a good sense of humour. She enjoys chatting, going out to the shops or for a coffee, listening to music, arts and crafts and attending community groups. She is mostly happy but can be anxious about new situations or changes to her routine and may need help to express herself clearly. She is physically small and needs some mobility support, especially to ensure balance and safety when walking outside of the home. She is at her best when she has the security of a sensitive and encouraging companion, so the role of the Personal Assistant will be to develop a confident and trusting relationship through appropriate activities both at home and going out. This role will form part of a support group that includes family members (her main carers) and another PA, so although working independently with the employer, you will be part of a larger team providing continuity of support. Hours of work to be discussed at interview, with the possibility of occasional overnight shifts (£110.80 per night).
Principal duties and responsibilities:
1. Supporting the employer with encouragement in gaining independence within appropriate levels of safety
2. Enabling the employer to interact socially in their community
3. Providing support to the employer whilst shopping and attending activities of interest
4. Providing assistance with food and drinks: ensuring they are at safe temperature and watching out for small spillages caused by poor coordination. Preparation of simple meals might be required.
5. Assistance with mobility: the employer is able to walk but has poor balance and limited awareness of hazards. Support is needed using stairs, lifts and on uneven surfaces (eg kerbs) and around traffic etc.
6. The employer’s independent use of toilets may need assistance to ensure safety and hygiene
7. Supporting the employer to develop independent living skills
8. To provide companionship in the employer’s home, including engaging in conversation with the employer and providing them with social interaction
9. Assisting the employer to attend appointments
10. Ensuring the employer’s safety at all times during your working hours, with particular attention to potential physical hazards in the home and away from the home
11. To carry out any other reasonable tasks that are requested by the employer during your working hours.
12. To ensure compliance with Data Protection Act.
13. Be mindful of safeguarding issues, and feedback any concerns to Carmarthenshire County Council immediately on (01267 228751)
14. Be responsible for contacting the GP, Social Worker or Local Authority should the employer need medical assistance.
Relationships: Communication / Nature of Contacts:
1. Ability to develop supportive and caring relationship with employer.
2. Prepared to undertake all duties in a friendly and helpful manner.
3. Able to contact people on behalf of the employer when necessary.
4. Prepared to communicate and share information/planning with the employer’s main carers and other PA(s) to ensure employer’s best interests are achieved.
Job Working Environment:
Working in employer’s home and supporting them to access facilities and community activities.
Person specification – Qualifications, Knowledge, Experience & Skills:
1. Caring, patient and friendly.
2. Responsible, reliable and honest.
3. Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to work on own initiative.
4. Able to develop long-term supportive and consistent relationship with employer.
5. Good time-keeping and flexibility around working patterns and duties as determined by the employer’s requirements (as negotiated with employer’s main carers).
6. Good communicator, able to talk to people on behalf of the employer when required.
7. Good local knowledge of the area where the employer lives is desirable.
8. Some experience of working with people with learning disabilities is desirable.
9. Ability to keep simple records such as time recording.
10. A full clean driving license and use of a car is required for taking the employer to activities outside the home.
11. You must be prepared to have business use on your vehicle insurance to be able to use the vehicle within work hours.
12. Be prepared to undergo training in order to best meet the employer’s needs.
Disclosure Barring Service (DBS)
A Disclosure Barring Service Check (DBS) / criminal record check will require to be undertaken for this post. This will be completed on acceptance of job offer.