Female PA required to work with a disabled woman in Croydon for 11.25 hours per week (£8.50 per hour) who needs practical and personal assistance (including personal care, housework and cooking). You need to be willing to follow instructions and be flexible and reliable. This role will suit someone within easy distance of South Croydon whose own schedule is also relatively flexible, as some shifts could be 1.25 hours. An ability to work mornings will also be advantageous but the exact working days / hours can be agreed with the successful applicant.
Job Description and Person Specification
A Personal Assistant (PA) is not a carer or a nurse. The role of a PA is to follow the instruction and direction of the disabled person, known as a Personal Assistant User, to enable that individual to live independently in the manner in which they choose.
Personal Assistant Responsibilities:
* Arrive at the agreed time ready to work
* Give at least fifteen minutes notice if you are going to be more than ten minutes late or early
* Respect the privacy of the person you are working for and maintain a professional approach at all times, being careful to treat your working relationships as confidential, including the assistance provided
* Understand and be mindful of the PA User’s right to dignity, respect and independence
* Communicate and discuss any problems that arise as soon as possible with the PA User
* Respect the PA User’s home, possessions and equipment
Job Description:
The main duties of this job will include the following:
* Support with personal care
* Assistance with medication
* Food preparation and cooking meals (this is a substantial part of the role)
* Support with shopping
* Domestic support (inc. Laundry, vacuuming, cleaning, changing the bed and tidying, etc.)
* Occasionally accompanying the PA User to go out (eg. To appointments and meetings)
* Pushing a wheelchair when necessary
* Carrying items
* Assist with paperwork, if necessary
* Any other tasks, as reasonably required
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential criteria:
* Be reliable, punctual and trustworthy
* Respect and maintain strict confidentiality
* Be open minded and have a flexible attitude
* Be in good general health
* A willingness to take direction from the PA User and work in accordance with the PA User’s wishes
* Know when to use your initiative and when to take a back seat
* Have an understanding of, and a commitment to, disability equality
* Have good verbal and written skills
* Enjoy preparing and cooking meals
* Be willing to provide personal care
* Be willing to perform domestic tasks (eg. Cleaning and laundry)
* Be willing to undertake training relevant to your work
* Committed to equal opportunities in your attitude and the way you carry out your work
Desirable criteria:
* If you have a car this might be useful, but it is not in any way essential, as the PA User usually travels by train and taxi
* Willingness to accompany PA User to go swimming
Please note: The disabled person is the most qualified person to know what the disabled person’s needs are and how they are best met. For the most part, therefore, areas of assistance can be learned and familiarised through the PA and the disabled person working together. Where required provide practical support and training will be provided.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Hours: Average of 11.25 hours per week. These will be agreed between the PA user and the successful candidate. The schedule is likely to include some time each morning, although an ability to be flexible will be advantageous, with the remaining hours to be agreed in advance. This role will therefore suit someone whose own schedule is also relatively flexible. Any changes to the weekly schedule would be mutually agreed and subject to at least 48 hours notice. The PA User is based in South Croydon; applicants should therefore consider whether this location is suitable travelwise for some shifts of only one to one and a half hours.
Salary: £8.50 per hour
Annual Leave: Annual leave is 5.6 weeks pro-rata per year (i.e. 63 hours)
References will be taken up, following the interview process
A DBS check will be undertaken
Update: 05/2022