Hours: 15 hours per week over 2 or 3 days.
Additional hours usually available
Wage: £15.00 per hour
Area: Fawdon, Newcastle upon Tyne
Driver Essential
About the Job
Hi, I’m a woman with a Spinal Cord Injury (Tetraplegia) looking for a Personal Assistant to join my existing team on a part time basis. I live in Newcastle upon Tyne (NE3) with my husband, our teenage daughter and dog. I’m looking for a practical, reliable person who can fit into our family life and tolerate a small, muddy dog.
As part of my team your job will be to provide the physical assistance I need to maintain my independence. You will be assisting me with personal care, transferring to and from my wheelchair, driving my car, domestic tasks and accompanying me to appointments and on walks.
You will work a variety of shifts during the week, generally between 08:00 and 17:00 over two or three days (alternate weeks) and occasionally I might need you to work at the weekend or in the evening. There are often additional hours available and if you have the flexibility to cover them, that would be great.
I can offer you permanent, flexible employment with paid holiday and pension.
Responsibilities
- Personal care.
- Assist me with transfers to and from my wheelchair using a transfer board or hoist.
- Assist me into a standing frame
- Accompany me on walks with my dog.
- Food preparation and assisting me to cook.
- General household cleaning and domestic tasks.
- Drive my car.
- Putting my wheelchair in the car.
- Assist me with going out shopping / getting to appointments.
- General maintenance of my wheelchair and attachments.
- Assisting me with gardening and maintaining my many houseplants.
This is not an exhaustive list and my needs may change on a day to day basis. It is essential that you are flexible about what the role requires and enable me to carry out any chosen activity whether inside or outside my home, by carrying out any other requests which I may reasonably make.
Training
There are no formal qualifications needed to do this job. Most of the tasks can be learnt through you and me working together. I am the person best qualified to know what my needs are and how they are best met.
Where it is required, such as in health and safety matters, practical training will be arranged and you will be expected to attend.
Essential skills, qualities and attributes
You are an excellent timekeeper, punctual and extremely reliable.
You are enthusiastic and motivated.
You are adaptable and able to work flexible hours.
You are able and willing to work under my instruction as well as working on your own initiative.
You are not easily offended if I need to give direction when you are working under your own initiative.
You are a safe and confident driver.
You have excellent listening skills and respond appropriately to instructions and requests. It is crucial that you always check and clarify with me before carrying out tasks.
You are patient with a calm, consistent approach.
You are practical, able and willing to learn new skills; e.g. hoisting, connecting my wheelchair attachments. Training will be provided by me or another person where needed.
You are able and willing to learn about Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
You have good general health; you will be lifting, bending and pushing e.g. pushing my wheelchair, assisting with transfers, lifting my wheelchair and attachments in and out of the car and physically guiding me into a standing frame.
You are comfortable around dogs; I have one small dog and need assistance with walking and all associated tasks.
You are discreet in all aspects of your work and able to maintain confidentiality at all times.
You are open minded, tolerant and respectful of my lifestyle.
You are able to take a step back and be unobtrusive, discrete and professional, especially in social situations and encounters with others.
You are able to commit to giving at least two months notice before leaving the job, except in extreme circumstances.
There is a genuine occupational requirement for the holder of this post to be male/female in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and Equality Act 2010 schedule 9 paragraphs 1 – 4.
This vacancy will close as soon as a suitable candidate is appointed.
At the time of starting their employment, the successful candidate must have permission to work in the U.K.