Title: Waking Night Carer

Location: SW19

Nearest Tube/Station: Southfields

Wage/Salary: £17.00 Weekdays | £19.00 Weekends | Gross per Hour

Driver Essential? No

Essential: Previous experience supporting a young client (early years) with complex care and medical needs (suctioning and epilepsy), waking night experience

Start Date: ASAP

Days & Hours: 7.00pm – 7.00am (regular weekend shifts available and adhoc weeknights)

Family/Client Pets. No

Recruiter: [email protected]

About this client/child:

Thomas, aged 4, lives at home surrounded by his loving family including his 3-year-old brother! Thomas responds with a smile when his parents and staff play games with him. Thomas sustained a Perinatal Hypoxic Brain Injury at birth resulting in profound developmental delay, and complex care and medical needs. Thomas has dystonic cerebral palsy, a PEG in situ, epilepsy, and requires suctioning. He receives a high level of support from multiple medical professionals and teams. More information is available on his medical needs when you apply. Thomas has a team of Support Workers providing round-the-clock support and his team is increasing as we transition to 2:1 care during the day. ‘Team Thomas’ works like a well-oiled machine and ensures that he receives the highest level of care, support, and therapy input.

Overview of role:

The waking night shift begins at 7.00 pm. His nighttime feed needs to be prepared and set up once Thomas is in bed. Thomas requires constant monitoring during the night so you will be by his bedside throughout your shift. On a good night, Thomas has slept for about 4 hours but, he tends to sleep for around two hours and will experience hours of wakefulness. He can become very distressed for lots of reasons, perhaps the noise from the suction machine, buildup of secretion, seizures, or other external noises. Thomas is unable to verbalise his needs, wishes, and wants, so it is vital that his care needs are anticipated; however, he will give you a big smile when he is happy. When he is awake, he needs gentle comforting; holding, and soothing until he is ready to go back into his bed. The morning staff arrives just before 7.00 am for the handover. We have regular weekend shifts available as well as adhoc during the week.

Who this job would suit:

You will come into this role with excellent experience supporting a very young child with complex medical needs. However, you will also come with a compassionate, thoughtful, nurturing nature. Thomas’s family wants a support worker who can see him for who he is! You are going to be part of ‘Team Thomas’ so you will work alongside your colleagues, supporting one another, and ensuring Thomas is safe, comforted, and happy.