Carer wanted for 8 yr old girl: after school/school holidays: Fishponds/BS16 – 10-15 hrs - BRISTOL - BS16
Job Reference (106b060e)
We are looking for a kind and responsible person to look after our medically complex daughter Cali. We need help after school, 3-4 times a week and during the school holidays.
You would be working a maximum of 10 hours a week term time and 15 hours a week in the school holidays. There will be some weekend work and eventually the odd evening.
Experience is not essential as all training will be given. More important for us is to find somebody who is keen on the work, a good fit and reliable.
Even if you can’t cover all the hours, if the job appeals to you, please get in contact so we can explore where we can be flexible.
Summary of the job:
You need to be able to meet Cali from school at our home in Fishponds at 3.30pm 3-4 times a week. You will then provide care and companionship for her until around 6pm.
You will be taught how to use a hoist to get Cali out of her wheelchair, and how to prepare her blended diet meal which you will then give to her via her gastrostomy (tummy) tube.
The job also involves some light cleaning tasks –including washing up Cali’s feeding equipment and doing some basic cleaning of her room and equipment.
There are plenty of ways the job can develop, such as learning how to give Cali a bath, taking her out and about, assisting in preparing batches of blended food, learning about her evening care routine and getting involved in the many other tasks that need doing to manage her life. If you can drive, then we may be able to add you onto the insurance so you can take Cali out places and pick her up from school.
We have been lucky enough to have some wonderful PAs who have enjoyed working with Cali and although there are quite a lot of duties, a significant part of the job is just being able to feel comfortable in our house and get to know us as a family.
The job will involve personal care, tube feeding and using a hoist and stair climber. Full training will be given and plenty of guidance and support.
Hours:
Term Time (39 weeks a year)
- 3.30pm-6pm: 3-4 days a week (Ideally to include Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
- Some weekend hours
- Occasional evenings
- If a driver: approx. 2 pick-ups a month from school on a Friday using our car (To be at Claremont Primary School, Henleaze for 3pm pick up)
School Holidays (13 weeks a year)
15 hours a week – ideally we are looking for some whole days during the week.
About Cali:
Cali was born with a chromosome condition. She has profound developmental delay, is non-verbal, non-mobile and has a number of medical conditions. She doesn’t let any of this hold her back too much and is mostly a very smiley child with a good sense of humour and great comic timing. She loves her toys, moving lights, watching TV, trees and water.
Cali needs help with all aspects of life. She is tube fed via a gastrostomy, wears nappies/pads, needs regular medicines and cannot move independently.
Cali is considered clinically vulnerable to Covid and tends not to manage colds well. Therefore, this job is best suited to somebody who is happy to be regularly vaccinated against flu and Covid, is fairly healthy and is happy to follow good hygiene rules and wear a good quality mask when with Cali.
Although experience working with disabled children is helpful, it is by no means essential. It is most important for us that you are a good fit with Cali, are reliable and happy to learn.
We've shown lots of people how to look after Cali over the years, and all the PAs have enjoyed the job and found that they quickly develop the skills needed.
Personal qualities and attributes looked for:
- Ability to work sensitively in someone’s home
- Reliable
- Patient and empathetic personality
- Attention to detail
- An ability to follow precise instructions where appropriate, as well as being able to use own initiative when needed.
- An ability to value Cali and respect her autonomy
- An understanding of the ways family life might be changed/affected by there being a disabled child
- Desirable – clean driving license
Summary of Duties:
- To support Cali with all her care needs
- Giving blended food, liquids and medicines via her gastrostomy
- Preparing blended food and putting it in syringes
- Putting in a hearing aid
- Moving and handling Cali safely
- Putting on and taking off back brace and foot splints (AFOs)
- Personal care (see below)
Personal Care – this may involve
- Changing nappies
- Dressing and undressing
- Bathing (once ready)
- Assisting Cali on the toilet (once ready)
- Teeth cleaning (once ready)
2. To provide Cali with entertaining activities
- Setting up a fun play area and playing with Cali
- Putting her in her supportive chair
- Helping Cali do stretches and physio exercises
- Reading books
- Providing choices of what she wants to do and allow her time to make a choice
- Taking Cali for walks
- Swimming
3. Domestic duties:
- Washing the feeding equipment used to give food and medication
- Cleaning equipment
- Basic cleaning of Cali’s bedroom
- Ensuring the area worked in is clean and tidy before leaving
- Storing supplies that have arrived in the house in the correct place
4. Further potential duties
- Stock checks and ordering supplies/equipment
- Helping with making batches of Cali’s food
- Some basic admin tasks
Rate of pay: £9.90 an hour, paid monthly by BACS transfer.
For school pick-ups - £15 an hour (paid from the time you leave home)
Please note:
We are required to carry out a fresh DBS check unless you pay for the DBS update service.
We will ask for references
Please don't hesitate to get in contact with any questions, and if you are interested in the job but can’t do all the hours, please still get in contact as job shares could be possible.
Thanks for reading this far!
Services
Meal Preparation
Personal Care
Domestic Care
Social + Leisure activities
Transportation
Full UK driving license
Can drive a motability equipped car
Medical
Safe Administration of Medication
Continence Care
PEG Feeding
Schedule, Pay & Hours
Time
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
ONA = Overnight Awake / ONS = Overnight Sleep