Female PA required in BS13, 12hrs p/w [driving license essential] - BRISTOL - BS13
Job Reference (a87ed9f0)
Hi, I’m a lady in my early 40’s, and I live in an upstairs flat with my cat.
I now have one vacancy for a long-term position of 12hrs a week.
(I have a total of 34 care hours per week which are shared by 3 PAs).
Shift days and times are negotiable.
About me
My greatest passion is being outdoors in nature.
I love animals, writing, painting and learning new things.
I would describe myself as quiet (but sometimes talkative!), enthusiastic and fun-loving; resilient, responsible, determined, funny, creative, considerate and highly insightful.
I enjoy the company of others but I also need time on my own.
I have a neurological condition which limits my coordination, balance, dexterity and mobility. I use a wheelchair, which is challenging in my current living environment which is not accessible. I also have complex mental health difficulties (Complex-PTSD, and a Dissociative Disorder) and am receiving long term art psychotherapy from NHS mental health services.
About the role
I require a Female Personal Care Assistant to support me with a wide variety of tasks including personal care, mental wellbeing, domestic duties, paperwork, accompanying me to hospital appointments, enabling me to get outside into nature, assisting me in accessing creative, sporting and social activities, providing companionship, and supporting my physical rehabilitation.
This is a very varied role and day to day tasks will change greatly depending on my needs:
Some days I am bed-bound and will require you to provide nutritious meals, tidy up, play with the cat and help me with personal hygiene;
Some days will involve trips out into nature, or going to the swimming pool or to the cycling centre;
Other days I may need companionship, emotional support, and someone to do painting, jigsaws, crafts or games with.
I also have frequent medical and hospital appointments to attend and need support to stay calm and to communicate with the consultants. You may sometimes need to advocate for me and take notes of what was discussed.
Tasks could include:
- Helping me mobilise around my home and to wash and dress
- Providing nutritious meals
- Light domestic chores (eg hoovering, cleaning, laundry, changing sheets, taking rubbish out)
- Assisting me to be as physically active as possible to improve physical and mental well-being and improve post-op healing
- Assisting me in physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation (at home, and at the disabled cycling centre and local swimming pool)
- Assisting with remembering everything I need to take with me when I go outside and / or to hospital appointments to ensure my physical safety and mental well-being
- Transporting (or accompanying) me to and advocating for me at medical appointments
- Taking me food shopping, collecting my weekly medication from the local pharmacy and other routine chores
- Liaising with my mental-health care team when necessary
- Providing companionship: doing arts and crafts, games, conversation, spending time with me in the garden
- Playing with and feeding my cat who is very friendly, gentle and hypoallergenic!
- Assisting with re-organising and tidying my home to create accessibility, and maintaining my home and garden
- Enabling me to access nature and activities and accompanying me outside as frequently as possible
- Helping me to build my physical stamina and fitness in a slow and careful way, following directions of my physiotherapist and neurologist
- Prompting me to rest when over-tired (I fatigue easily)
- Helping me find social connections and attend fun or fulfilling community or leisure activities
- Assisting with or making phonecalls, help with budgeting, and applying for funding grants to make my home more accessible.
- Empowering and assisting me to remain independent and autonomous of my own decisions and my home
About you
A clean driving license and confidence on the road is ideally needed, and access to your own vehicle is desirable, but a small van can be provided during working hours for any driving tasks if necessary.
I’m looking for a kind, compassionate, and creative person who is able to both follow direction and use their own initiative.
You must be able to cycle and swim, and enjoy physical activities and the outdoors.
A calm, caring, intuitive, mindful and respectful personality is required, as well as the ability to communicate skilfully.
You must have an interest in (or experience of) working with people with mental health difficulties.
A love of cats is also essential!
I have sensory processing disorder so I am not able to cope with the smell of perfumes (especially musks) so it is essential you are comfortable to come to work clean and presentable, but with minimal make-up, hair products or strong smelling perfumes.
I also am unable to cope with constant noise so you need to be happy and comfortable working without tv, radio or music as background noise.
It is important you are someone who enjoys nature and the outdoors regardless of the weather, and you are able to provide your own appropriate clothing for outdoor activities.
I am particular about how I like my home, so it’s important you are able to respect my house rules, and are able empower me to feel that I still have autonomy over how things are done, so my home remains my safe space and my sanctuary.
Having a relaxed, friendly, and comfortable working relationship where we can enjoy each other’s company, whilst still maintaining strong professional boundaries is critical to this role.
Pay and Benefits
I can offer 12 hours per week, plus overtime if wanted. This is a job share with two other people taking my total care hours up to 34hrs per week, so occasional extra hours will be offered.
Days, times and hours can be negotiated.
The ability to be flexible with the hours is advantageous, to be able to accompany me to non-routine medical appointments.
The rate of pay is £9.50 per hour, with statutory annual leave, statuary sick pay and pension benefits.
START DATE: ASAP
This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
This advert complies with the Equality Act 2010 Part 1, schedule 9 as it is a ‘genuine occupational requirement’
Services
Meal Preparation
Personal Care
Domestic Care
Social + Leisure activities
Support to remain independent
Training
Essential PA Guide
Moving & Handling
Food Hygiene
First Aid
Hand hygiene
Transportation
Full UK driving license
Schedule, Pay & Hours
Time
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
ONA = Overnight Awake / ONS = Overnight Sleep