Female Personal Support Assistant

• Suffolk Independent Living 
• Address: Stowmarket, Suffolk
• Salary: £14.50 per hour
• Hours: Up to 10 hours, with more hours available per week       
• Contract: Permanent. Required as soon as possible        
• Reference: 0888

Suffolk Independent Living is looking for a Female* Personal Support Assistant. 

A little about me: 

Are you looking for a change, but still in support work? Wanting something a bit different? Well, hello! I am your bit different. I have a fantastic small team/(non-genetic) family and there are some shifts that I really need another fantastic support worker to fill to keep the cogs turning and that can fill in the gaps where I am now needing a bit more support than previously, cover holidays, some weekend slots and early evening.

I am looking for a flexible, motivated, up for almost anything Support Worker. I am a professional artist and maker; I work in education supporting Deaf children and adults using BSL. Most importantly I am a busy mum of two amazing, clever fun littler ones. I work hard and want support to enable me to be the best mummy I can be but also to support me as an individual – we like to be out exploring new places at the weekends and school holidays.

I’m just entering a new stage of my life both professionally and as a family. I need the physical support, as well as someone that can read my mind/remember everything that I have forgotten, I need you!

I have a positive, independent outlook, and want to do everything now! So, if you can support me to stop and breathe. Remind me I’m being too stubborn and that Rome wasn’t built in a day… so “go and rest, I can handle it!”. It’s important you understand the different between care and support – I am the latter. When not racing around I need support to do the less exciting ‘waiting around bit’; happy to support me with daily living: shopping, appointments, housework…

I use a power wheelchair and I am tetraplegic, I need support with moving transfers from wheelchair to bed, floor, sofa and car, I need guidance not actual lifting. (I do not require any personal care, but I need help dressing/undressing and administration of medication). When travelling in your car I use my manual chair that I need to be pushed in – it is lightweight and fits in most 5 door cars.

This is a very varied supporting role, so please don't let it put you off applying if you don’t meet all the criteria. You need to be a car owner and driver and someone who is happy to travel to multiple locations. Mileage expenses are paid at 55p per mile.

Essential criteria:

• female required due to personal care*Schedule 9, P1 of the Equality Act 2010 applies

• access to own vehicle suitable to accommodate my small non-folding wheelchair and two car seats (a small/standard size family car should be fine)

• enjoys working with young children

• willing to learn

• punctual and well-organised

• professional and patient approach

• willing to 'step back' and facilitate independence

• confident and a safe driver, who is happy driving for longer distances

• able to support me during term times and school holidays

• flexible approach to working times with the ability other provider cover for my other PSAs one Vice Versa

• reliable and trustworthy

• able to assist with light transfers.

Desirable criteria:

• experience in care/ support/Personal Assistant work

• experience with younger children

• experience with a power and manual wheelchair and handling

• first aid qualifications or experience of seizures would be benefit us all.

• knowledge of PEG and bolus feeding

• knowledge of administrative medication

• knowledge of seizures

• doesn't transport pets in the car (due to my family’s allergies)

• non-smoker/vaper

• enjoys a fit and healthy lifestyle.

Main duties:

• physically supporting me (e.g. lifting my wheelchair into a car, pushing me in my wheelchair, carrying or lifting bags or similar when necessary)

• supporting me with my children e.g. car seats and ensuring they are safely trapped in

• keeping me and the children safe during a seizure (training provided)

• PEG feeding, bolus medication (training provided)

• assisting me when out and about as well as “Mum jobs", my appointments, helping me to visit friends and family

• support around the home (e.g. light housework and evening support with medication and getting into bed)

• food prep alongside me

• refilling medication and PEG feed and equipment

• day trips - more in the school holidays.

Terms and Conditions:

• Hours of work: up to 10 hours with more hours available

• Time of work: varying times and days by prior arrangement, including mornings, daytime and evenings

• Days of week of work: to be negotiated (up to 10 days in advance)

• Flexibility of hours: you will know your rota approx. 10 days ahead of schedule and I will take into account any current work, responsibilities, and appointments. There will be hours to cover my existing PSAs e.g. sickness, annual leave, appointments my other Personal Assistants have

• Expenses: you will be reimbursed any expenses incurred as part of the role. You will be paid mileage at a rate of 55p per mile (not including travel to/from work)

• Annual leave: the annual holiday entitlement for this position will be equivalent to the work which would normally be done during 5.6 consecutive weeks

• Background checks: a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau) check is required for this position of which I will organise. You will be required to provide details of two referees, one of which must be your current or most recent employer, or character referees if you have not been employed. I will only contact these if you are offered the position

• Trial period: this post is subject to a probationary period of 6 months.

Please read the job description on our website

For further information, please call 01473 603876.
 

If you wish to apply for this position, please complete an application form on our website, quoting the job reference number 5312 and return to SIL, Unit 21, IP City Centre, 1 Bath Street, Ipswich, IP2 8SD.