Personal Assistant/Care Assistant F/T@ £13/hr in Birmingham - Birmingham - B23
Job Reference (6aeeef71)
Personal Assistant — Private Care Team
Location: Erdington, Birmingham
Position: Personal Assistant / Personal Care Assistant
Hours: Full-time, Part-time (contracted hours)
Shifts: Up to 13 hours
Rate: £13
Contract: Permanent
Start: As soon as possible
About the role
I am looking for reliable, compassionate and intelligent Personal Assistants (PAs) to join my established care team and support me in my home and daily life.
I have Muscular Dystrophy and require significant physical assistance throughout the day and night. My PA team enables me to live as independently and actively as possible by providing the physical assistance I need to do the things I cannot physically do for myself.
This is a person-centred role. Being a PA is not simply about completing care tasks — it is about helping me live my life with dignity, choice and control.
The ability to build a good working relationship based on rapport, communication and trust is central to the role.
About me
I believe it is important that the person joining my team understands who they are supporting, not simply what care tasks they will be carrying out.
I am an independent-minded person with a strong sense of identity, values and purpose. I am interested in design, architecture, culture, literature, spirituality, philosophy and learning, and I enjoy thoughtful conversation, humour and genuine human connection.
My physical disability affects what I can physically do, but it does not define who I am, what I think about or what I aspire to achieve. I take an active role in my own life and decisions.
I value honesty, respect, compassion, personal responsibility, continuous learning, kindness and good manners. I also appreciate people who are curious, thoughtful and open-minded.
I believe good care should empower rather than diminish. Where I can make my own decisions or direct something myself, I want to do so. Where I need physical assistance, I need someone who can provide it without taking away my sense of independence.
Ultimately, I want to live a full, meaningful and active life, and my PA team plays an important role in making that possible.
The role
My care involves a range of physical, personal and practical support, including:
- Personal care, washing, dressing and grooming
- Hoist transfers and positioning
- Repositioning and pressure-area care
- PEG/G-tube care and feeding routines
- NIV/ventilation-related support
- Cough-assist and respiratory equipment
- Supporting my morning and evening routines
- Assistance with eating and food preparation
- Preparing and maintaining my equipment and environment
- Maintenance and cleaning of medical equipment
- Keeping the care area and my home clean and organised
- Supporting me with appointments, activities and going out when required
- Supporting me within the community
- Assisting with everyday tasks that I cannot physically complete myself
- Driving my adapted vehicle, if required — desirable but not essential
- Following established care plans, routines and procedures
- Communicating clearly with me and the wider PA team
- Supporting my independence
Put simply, you will be my hands when I need them to be.
The purpose of your role is not to take over my life, but to enable me to live it.
Full training and induction will be provided where appropriate.
Days & waking nights
The care team provides support across both daytime and waking-night shifts, ensuring continuity of care throughout the 24-hour period.
Day shifts
Day shifts involve supporting me with my morning and evening routines, personal care, hoisting and transfers, positioning, respiratory care, PEG/G-tube routines, meals, appointments, activities, household tasks and community access.
The role also involves preparing and maintaining my equipment and environment and responding to my needs throughout the day.
Waking-night shifts
Night shifts are waking nights. The PA is required to remain awake and attentive throughout the entire shift and provide support whenever required.
This includes personal care, repositioning, monitoring my comfort and positioning, checking and supporting my respiratory equipment, responding to my needs during the night and assisting with any other care requirements that arise.
A waking-night shift is not a sleeping shift. You must be alert, responsible and observant throughout the night.
You will be joining an established 24-hour PA team, so reliability, punctuality and clear communication between shifts are essential.
Shifts can be up to 13 hours, depending on the agreed rota. Applicants may be considered for day shifts, waking-night shifts, or a combination of both.
Who I am looking for
The right person will be:
Reliable.
If you say you will be there, I need to know that I can depend on you.
Respectful.
My home is my personal space. Privacy, dignity and discretion are essential.
Observant.
Good PAs notice the small things — positioning, equipment, comfort, cleanliness and changes in routine — rather than waiting to be told everything.
Calm.
My care can involve complex physical needs, so I need someone who can remain composed and think clearly.
Warm and personable.
Although this is a professional role, I value good conversation, humour and people who bring their own personality to the role.
Independent but communicative.
I don’t want someone who needs constant direction, but I also don’t want someone who assumes they know better than me. The best PA understands when to take initiative and when to ask.
Team-minded.
You will be working alongside an established PA team, so consistency, cooperation and clear communication are important.
Most importantly, you should be comfortable asking what I need, listening carefully and acting upon my instructions.
A good PA doesn’t simply assume what somebody needs.
They ask, listen and respond.
Experience
Previous experience in complex care, disability, PEG care, respiratory support, hoisting, manual handling or personal care is highly desirable.
However, experience alone isn’t everything.
I would rather have someone with the right attitude, intelligence and willingness to learn than someone who has years of care experience but does not understand person-centred support.
Training can teach you procedures. Character is much harder to teach.
Experience is preferred, but it is not essential, as full training will be provided.
Physical requirements
This role involves physical aspects of care, including hoisting, manual handling, transfers, repositioning and adjusting equipment.
You must therefore be comfortable undertaking these duties safely using the appropriate equipment and training.
Working pattern
This is a permanent position with contracted hours.
Shifts can be up to 13 hours, depending on the agreed shift pattern.
Flexibility is highly desirable. You may occasionally be asked to cover another PA’s holiday or absence, and you must be able to commit reliably to an agreed shift pattern.
There may also be opportunities to travel with me from time to time, although this is not essential.
Excellent punctuality and attendance are essential.
What I offer
- Permanent contracted employment
- Contracted hours
- Competitive pay depending on experience
- Holiday pay
- Bank Holiday pay
- Pension
- Full training and support
- Training and relevant qualifications where applicable
- DBS check paid for by the employer
- A respectful and professional working environment
- Clear routines and expectations
- An established PA team
- A direct working relationship with the person you are supporting
- The opportunity to make a genuine difference to someone’s life
- Good transport links, with bus and train stations nearby
- Plenty of parking available locally
What I expect
I take my care seriously, and I expect my PA team to do the same.
You should be:
- Punctual
- Responsible
- Mature
- Patient
- Compassionate
- Non-judgmental
- Flexible
- Motivated
- Hard-working
- A good communicator
- Able to work using your own initiative
- Able to maintain professional boundaries
- Committed to providing a consistently high standard of care
I know my own needs and preferences, so I expect my PAs to respect my decisions and follow my direction while using their own initiative appropriately.
Before applying
This role is not simply a traditional care job.
You will be working closely with me in my home and becoming part of my day-to-day life. I am therefore looking for people who take pride in what they do, respect boundaries and understand what good care looks like.
If you are someone who is kind without being patronising, professional without being cold, confident without being controlling, and reliable without needing to be chased, I would be very interested in hearing from you.
Recruitment process
The recruitment process will consist of:
1. Telephone interview
An initial conversation to discuss the role, your experience and availability.
2. Face-to-face interview
A more detailed interview to establish whether we are a good fit for one another.
3. DBS check
A DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate.
If you think you could be a good fit, please get in touch with a little information about yourself, your experience and your availability.
Services
Meal Preparation
Personal Care
Domestic Care
Social + Leisure activities
Support to remain independent
Training
Essential PA Guide
Safeguarding Adults/Children
Moving & Handling
Food Hygiene
First Aid
Hand hygiene
Transportation
Full UK driving license
Own personal car
Can drive a motability equipped car
Medical
Safe Administration of Medication
PEG Feeding
Schedule, Pay & Hours
Time
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
ONA = Overnight Awake / ONS = Overnight Sleep