Personal Assistant needed to support a young boy in LS11/ @12.71/hr - Leeds - LS11

Job description and person specification

Job Title: Personal Assistant (PA) – Part Time (Flexible/weekends) Reporting to: Mohammed & Sarah (Parents of Umar) Location: Beeston, Leeds

Job Purpose
● To support Umar with a variety of engaging, meaningful activities while providing respite care for his family.
● To ensure Umar’s personal, social, and developmental needs are met in line with his interests and routines.
● To accompany Umar to structured SEN-based sessions and community activities, as well as support him during outings.

About the Employer / Umar
Umar is a lively and affectionate 5-year-old boy in Year 1 at a local school. He is energetic, curious, and expressive, with a love for numbers, toy cars, spinning (especially in his spinning seat), running, playing on swings, jumping on his trampoline, and exploring how things work. He also enjoys listening to Nasheed music and spending time with his family.
Umar is a very sweet and bright child, supporting him and earning his trust is a very rewarding experience. Carer’s and teachers describe him as a pleasure to work with.
Umar has Autism with high support needs and is currently non-verbal. He communicates through sounds and echolalia and is actively developing his communication skills with support from school. He can experience frustration, particularly around communication, which may lead to some behaviours that require calm, patient support to help him regulate. Umar does not have an understanding of Danger and the impact of his actions therefore needing to be constantly supervised.
Umar also has dietary restrictions due to allergies (including dairy and gluten). As a result, he follows a specific diet. He may sometimes attempt to take snacks from other children, so this requires gentle but consistent supervision and redirection.

Main Duties
● Engage Umar in play that supports his development, enjoyment, and trust
● Support his communication skills using appropriate strategies
● Accompany Umar to SEN-based sessions and activities, including:
○ Local park visits (including use of swings)
○ Swimming
○ Soft play and jumping activities
● Encourage physical activity to support emotional regulation and sleep
● Supervise Umar closely in social settings, including managing interactions around food and snacks safely
● Support Umar to stay safe by managing risks and reinforcing boundaries
● Provide personal care (e.g., changing pull-ups, bathing/showering after accidents, support with eating/milk and medication)
● Assist with light domestic tasks such as preparing pre-made meals/ milk/snacks, tidying.

Type of Person We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who is:
● Preferred Female
● Genuinely compassionate, patient, and understanding
● Experienced or knowledgeable in Autism/SEN support
● Proactive, creative, and able to engage a high-energy child
● Reliable, punctual, and adaptable
● Non-judgemental and respectful of cultural and religious values
● Able to build a trusting, positive relationship with Umar
● Comfortable working independently and using initiative

What You Can Expect
● Full training provided by the existing support team
● Opportunity to shadow sessions before working independently
● Flexible working arrangements (especially during school holidays)
● A warm, welcoming, and supportive home environment

Hours of Work
● Primarily weekends (some flexibility required)
● Occasional flexibility during school holidays
● 6 hours per week (term time)
● 8 hours per week (school holidays)

Rate of Pay
● £12.71 per hour

Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Essential:
● DBS Check
● Strong communication skills (including non-verbal communication awareness)
● Experience supporting children with SEN, particularly Autism
● Ability to support and manage behaviours that may be a challenge in a calm and safe manner
● Ability to build positive, trusting relationships
● Patient, compassionate, and emotionally resilient
● Good awareness of safeguarding and safety in community settings
● Ability to supervise closely, especially around food due to allergies and dietary restrictions
● Able to support active play and physical activities (e.g. swimming, soft play, park visits)
● Able to swim

Preferred:
● Driving licence
● Access to a car with appropriate insurance
● Experience with non-verbal communication methods (e.g. PECS, Makaton, or similar)
● Experience supporting children with sensory needs or emotional regulation difficulties
● Understanding of dietary needs, allergies, or restricted diets
● Experience accompanying children to SEN sessions or community based activities