Ref: ES121
Location: Forest Row
This role is to support a Man
Drivers licence required: Yes
Own vehicle needed: Yes
Employment status: employed or self-employed
Hours per week: 3 hours a week - Days and time can be flexible from week to week.
Hourly pay rate: Employed rate: £16.00 and Self employed rate: £30 - Mileage would be considered.
We are looking to employ a PA/Buddy to support my son (24 years old). Our son is a gamer and is enthusiastic about learning new skills such as coding and IT skills. He is currently teaching himself Japanese. He also adores dogs and has his own dog who he is very fond of. He loves the cinema and eating out. He is looking for a person with similar interests who would like to support him with his independence and help he build relationships in the community.
The kind of support needed includes support to engage with the community and access social and leisure activities that he enjoys. It’s important a trusting and friendly but professional working relationship is formed with our son and us in the first instance as he has become very isolated.
Shift times are flexible and so please apply if you have any availability to
support my son.
This will also give our son and his new PA time to build a good rapport. This will also help getting him back into the community and enjoying activities after all the difficulties caused by lockdown.
It will take time to build your relationship together as he has gone without support for some time. You will need to show patience and have an understanding of anxiety, autism and communication difficulties including selective mutism, so you can support a growth in their confidence in order to function in social circumstances and enjoy activities.
Duties include:
Transportation
Companionship
Looking after pets
Accompanying and assisting employer on shopping trips when required
Accompany employer when accessing social and leisure activities, such as the cinema.
Accompanying when clothes-buying.
Dog walking
Occasional longer journeys
Driving and accompanying to social events such as:
Cinema
Accompanying on trips out eg to the garden centre, beach, cinema, craft fairs, local visits, out shopping for fun, attending social events.
Accompanying to social meetings eg friends, family
The above duties could involve driving the employer in the PA’s car.
Whilst on duty at the employer’s home watching TV and assisting with craft activities
Candidate qualities:
Respectful of the employer's privacy and confidentiality
Reliable with good timekeeping
Able to both follow instructions and work on own initiative
Hygienic, tidy and well organised
Fit and healthy to undertake the required duties
Patient and possess excellent interpersonal skills
Honest and cheerful
Creative
Able to speak and read English to a reasonable standard
Must be comfortable with pets
Able to always work to high standards of health & safety
Experience with autism and selective mutism would be an advantage but not essential.
Have a calming nature
Additional requirements
Non-smoker preferred or someone willing to refrain from smoking during working hours
Notes:
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check if required.
Please note, if you are successful in your application for this position, you will be either engaged directly or employed by the individual employer and not by Independent Lives. The role may be offered on an employed or self-employed basis, depending on the suitability and agreement with the employer. If the role is employed, you will be entitled to holiday pay and issued an employment contract.
*Exemption for gender is claimed under the Equality Act 2010 Part 1 Schedule 9