Autism-Informed Personal Care Assistant & Community Support

PA sought to support female aged 31 years living in High Grange Estate, Durham - Durham - DH1

Personal Assistant sought to support female aged 31 years living in High Grange Estate, Durham

Assistance is required for an autistic person living independently, who currently has limited capacities due to ongoing fatigue, inability to walk (dependent on wheelchair), sensory processing difficulties, and (usually medically safe) episodes of shutdown which look like seizures.

A PA would be required to help with:

· Household chores;

· Day-to-day personal admin (including making phone calls);

· Accompaniment to appointments;

· Accessing the community (possibly including engagement in hobbies such as swimming or orchestra);

· Keeping timesheets for their own working hours, and submitting via email to Accountability.

The individual may wish to rest undisturbed for some of the PA’s working hours, due to fatigue and social difficulties, and would ideally like a candidate able to complete regular/pre-communicated tasks independently at those times.

Please make note in applications of how you meet each of the essential and (where relevant) desirable criteria.

Hours /Wage

6 hours per week, £13.50 per hour.

Where relevant, petrol will be reimbursed separately to wages at 50p/mile

Essential Criteria

· Strong and evidenced understanding of autism, autistic burnout, and autistic masking;

· Strong understanding of invisible disabilities, fatigue, and fluctuating capacity;

· Adaptable and flexible communication skills;

· Competence with basic household tasks, such as washing up and wiping kitchen/bathroom surfaces;

· Ability to support with personal care where required, including emptying commode and supporting with medical episodes in the bath;

· Ability to respond calmly to medical episodes, and communicate clearly with members of the public and medical professionals when necessary;

· Administrative competence, including basic IT literacy and confidence sending and receiving emails.

Desirable Criteria

· Experience of supporting independence of disabled people;

· Flexibility as to hours;

· Driving licence, business insurance, own car, and capacity to give lifts.

Duties

· Assistance with light household chores, such as washing up and wiping surfaces;

· Administrative assistance, such as making phone calls and completing forms;

· Support accessing the community and potentially engaging in hobbies outside of the house;

· Support in attending appointments, potentially including help with communication.

Additional Requirements/Information

Enhanced DBS will be required; employer will cover the cost.