Job Title: Personal Care Assistant

Location: Horsham

Hourly rate: £14.50 waking night hours

Reference: DP3741

Hours/shifts: 2 – 3 waking nights per week (10pm-6am) and daytime hours of 6-7.30 am.

Summary

Hi, our son is in his mid-twenties, interested in music, computer games, YouTube, cars, dogs (although we don’t have a dog) and bearded dragons (not the kind found in Game of Thrones). He is an intelligent, thoughtful and caring young man with a great sense of humour and although he may be reserved to begin with, he soon opens up once he gets to know you. Family and friends are very important to him.

We are looking for a friendly and reliable personal assistant to support him within our family home. He is a full-time wheelchair user and needs support with day to day living.

Although he is reliant on carers, he is very capable of explaining what he wants and needs doing. We are looking for someone who will talk to him, to ask how he would like things done and work with him and his ideas surrounding his care.

Full training is provided with this role so if you are confident, willing to learn, patient and share some of our son’s interests this could be a great match. It would also be helpful for you to be a confident driver and willing to drive the family’s wheelchair adapted car for social hours, but this is not essential.

Other Requirements

• Must be comfortable with pets - I have a bearded dragon lizard which lives in a vivarium

• Must be happy to work in a non- smoking environment

• Driver with UK driving licence essential

Own transport necessary for this role

• Other :

All applicants must be willing to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check

Successful applicants will be entitled to Holiday pay and will be issued employment contracts.

The role requires close personal contact with an individual who is extremely vulnerable to the risk of infection and disease transmission. Preference may be given to applicants who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Careful consideration will be given to applicants who can show the vaccination is not suitable for them on reasonable grounds.

Description:

Typical duties

The job involves helping him to get ready for bed, medication and changing to night time

Bi Pap mask, then repositioning him, toileting, making him comfortable during the night.

Personal Care:

Support with using urine bottle

Assistance with transfers using a hoist (in/out of wheelchair or bed)

Helping with other aspects of personal care as required, e.g. supporting my son during the night and getting him ready for bed

Mealtimes e.g. assisting to eat and drink

Some PEG Tube feeding will be required (full training provided)

Support with BIPAP (full training provided)

Social support: watching TV before bed

Domestic -

General light housework

Preparing drinks, snacks and meals

Additional Information

Location is only 5 minutes from the bus stop but your own transport will be helpful, there is plenty of car parking space

Person specification

The successful applicant will be:

Non-smoker due to medical reasons

Hold a UK Driving licence

Respectful of our privacy and confidentiality

Reliable with good time-keeping

Able to both follow instructions and work on own initiative

Hygienic, tidy minded 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

Legally permitted to work in the United Kingdom

Able to work at all times to high standards of Health & Safety

Previous experience preferred but this is not as essential as a kind and common sense approach to these roles.

Please note, if you are successful in your application for this position you will be employed directly by the individual employer and not Independent Lives