Personal Support Assistant/Mentor
Ref: MP7859
Location: Horsham
Details
I am looking for personal care for a Child
Drivers licence required: Yes
Own vehicle needed: Yes
Hours per week:
16 hours every 4 weeks. The exact days/times each week will be agreed with the employer on a weekly basis.
Hourly pay rate:
£15.00 per hour Mileage rate: 35p
I am looking for a Personal Support Assistant/Mentor to work with my 12-year-old Autistic son who has ADHD, anxiety, PDA and RSD. He is very intelligent and can absorb new information quickly when it’s a subject he enjoys.
He is verbal although his disabilities mean that his nervous system can often go into fight/flight mode which causes his anxiety to increase yet further. He also gets extremely hurt if he perceives he has been ignored or excluded. He can feel overwhelmed in social situations. His emotions can vary greatly very quickly which is why we are looking for 1-1 support for him.
However, he responds well to praise for his talent and skills and loves attention. He enjoys quite a few things such as: swimming, woodwork, animals (especially snakes), Star Wars & Doctor Who, role play, lightsaber battles, playing the piano, having choices and winning at games. He is also very creative and can enjoy fun and humour.
This would be a very rewarding role for the right person. Could you be that person?
Duties include:
- Chatting about collections and interests at home.
- Playing games such as chess or Minecraft.
- Helping take care of his pet dog, snake, geckos and stick insects.
- Helping him develop his special interests in activities at home (currently making videos and filming short drama bursts related to Doctor Who or Star Wars)
Social – Examples are not just limited to the following:
- Accompanying him to a range of SEND events with his parent and sibling, ensuing he is emotionally regulated with your full attention throughout the sessions. Also, being ready to leave early and bring him home if he feels overwhelmed.
An example of these events are described below:
- SEND Activity days, such as ASPENS, Lodge Hill, for a maximum of 4 hours anytime time between 10-3.
- Swimming at Coral Reef Bracknell on Wed evenings 5-9pm once a month.(Someone willing to go in the pool with him would be essential.)
- Other visits could be a visit to a children’s farm, theme park or zoo, (Sat or Sun, varying amounts of time between 10-4pm depending on activity and travel).
Details:
Your entrance cost to all activities will be paid for by the employer.
Parent and sibling will also be present at all events, but there may be need for you to leave early and return home, hence the need for two cars.
Car owner is essential as you may need to leave events early and return home if he is overwhelmed. You will be paid 35p per mile mileage.
Throughout the sessions, engaging in conversations about his special interests is vital, as he requires constant engagement to regulate his nervous system.
The long-term objective would be for the PA to build up trust with my son and to learn how to work with him so you are able to take him to events without parent present.
Plus any other related tasks as required.
Candidate qualities:
- Calm, patient and friendly.
- Willing to learn the best ways to engage with my son and build up a trusting relationship.
- Knowledge and experience of working with children with SEND and a willingness to learn more about autism, PDA, ADHD and RSD.
Additional requirements
Non-smoker preferred or someone willing to refrain from smoking during working hours
Notes:
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check if required.
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. Successful applicants will be entitled to Holiday pay and will be issued employment contracts.
*Exemption for gender is claimed under the Equality Act 2010 Part 1 Schedule 9
