Personal Assistant

Description

Wanted: A Quick-Witted PA to Enable a Full Life!

I’m a passionate man with too many interests to list, but highlights include: theatre, live gigs, film, politics, disability advocacy, and learning Gaelic (I’m a trad music fan!). I also cook great food and will be diving back into my online university studies in January.

My life is powered by conversation. Bring your A-game, because we’ll debate everything from the day’s issues and philosophical questions to the beautifully absurd: Does pineapple belong on pizza? What happens if an ostrich flies?

Warning: Sense of Humour Required!

My humour ranges from dark, dry, and savage to completely silly. If you get easily offended, this role won’t be a good fit. But if you’re the kind of person who can laugh at yourself and the world, we’re going to get along brilliantly.

Your Mission: Be My Arms and Legs

As my Personal Assistant, you’re here to be my enabler, giving me the assistance I need to live life exactly how I choose. It’s vital you have superb communication and listening skills—you need to hear what I want and follow my instructions precisely.

You’ll be joining a growing team providing 24-hour care:

No fear of the technical stuff: I have a tracheostomy and a PEG tube, but qualified nurses will provide all the certified training you need. Don’t let it put you off!

Moving & Handling: You’ll help with transfers and hoist use. We train you through shadowing my current rockstar PAs. You don’t need to be The Rock, but good health is a plus!

Road Trips: PAs can be insured to drive my wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Challenge Accepted?

If you’re looking for a job that will challenge your wits, make you laugh every week, and allow you to make a tangible difference in someone’s life, this is it. Once you’re familiar with the routine, expect to work with high independence and initiative. You’ll be part of a team but often running things solo. The duties are varied and shared flexibly—expect the unexpected!

Like everyone else my days vary, so it is impossible to list every task. However, tasks could include:

Medical tasks

Tracheostomy care.
Operating ventilators.
PEG feeding.
Checking and giving medication.
Checking and ordering prescriptions and tracheostomy supplies

Personal tasks

Help me with showering / washing / brushing teeth / brushing hair / shaving / toileting.
Helping me with dressing and undressing.
Using a hoist to lift me.
Help me getting into/out of bed.
Positioning me in bed or my wheelchair.
Help with eating, drinking.

Domestic tasks

Making and changing my bed.
Keeping my bathroom clean.
Preparing my meals, snacks, and drinks.
Washing dishes, kitchen equipment etc. used for my meals.
Washing and drying and ironing my clothes.
Keeping my bedroom and living clean and tidy.
Helping me with shopping.
Help to look after my dog.
Watering my plants if I have any.

Social tasks

Helping me to go to pubs, cinema, theatre, museums, gigs, and social events with or without friends.
Help me to attend classes/courses.
Help while on day trips.
Help when going out for a walk (roll).
Shopping for pleasure.
Help with other leisure activities and hobbies, e.g., using games consoles using my record player.
Help with correspondence and general admin: phone calls, holding letters for me to read, printing, filling in and copying forms.
Help me with any voluntary work commitments I might have.

Transport

Helping me on public transport.
Driving my accessible car (if you drive).
Strapping my wheelchair into my car.

Other tasks

Basic upkeep of my wheelchair, e.g., charging, inflating/deflating cushion).
Alerting me to faulty equipment or household appliances.
Pushing my manual wheelchair if my power chair breaks down.
Any other reasonable task.

Personal Specification

Personal Attributes

Reliable and trustworthy
Flexible and responsible
Non judgemental
Ability to recognise work/personal.
boundaries
Sensitive & approachable
Sense of humour
Enjoys a challenge.
Persistence
Team worker

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

Educated to secondary level
Excellent communication and listening skills.
Ability to recognise work and personal boundaries.
Ability to work with or without close supervision.
Basic IT skills.
Basic cooking skills.
Be appropriately confident in taking the initiative.
Respect for confidentiality
Ability to react appropriately when challenging situations/emergencies occur.
Creative problem-solving skills.

DESIRABLE

Relevant professional qualification or higher education training
Negotiation skills.
Advocacy and negotiations skills.
UK Drivers License
Advocacy skills.
Direct personal experience of disability.
Understanding of person-centred working.

Contracted hours include waking nights, during which you need to stay awake.

Shifts can vary and could be any day Monday – Sunday.

Daytime hours could occur between 8am and 11pm.

Waking night hours are between 11pm and 8am.

Four-week rotas are discussed together with me and all the PAs.

Ad ID: 5418363354