Personal Care Assistant for a lady in her 50s max20 hr/wk@ £17.52/hr in NR7 - FTE - £34.2k - NORWICH - NR7

 Job Description

Are you looking for an exciting role that is fun, diverse and rewarding in the care  industry with a reasonable pay per hour?
  
ABOUT ME 
Despite my different health conditions, including various autoimmune disorders, I am a 51-year-old lady with great sense of humor, and friendly disposition. These, among others,  includes combined ADHD,  PTSD, fibromyalgia, undiferentiated connective Tissue Disorder, diverticular disease, pancreatic insufficiency and Adrenal Insufficiency, ostheoarthtitis in various areas, which means I am dependent on steroids and a wheelchair user. Adrenal Insufficiency is considered a life threatening condition whenever I have an adrenal crisis. I have this condition since 2012 and am well equipped in the management adrenal crisis situations. 
I have constant pain and fatigue due to these health conditions. I also have mobility issues due to these conditions and I use a wheelchair both indoors  and outdoors. 
 I am a semi-retired NHS health worker and still work two afternoons privately from home a week from home, online, despite the disabilities I have. I find that working gives me purpose and makes me feel part of our society. 
 I used to have many hobbies, such as photography, building dollhouses, and quilting. However due to the deterioration of my health in July 2024,  I have not been able to do any of them for a while now. 
 I hope with now having extra support of Pas in my new social services  care plan will return to them again with support. 

PARTICULARS OF THE POSITION 
You will have a contract with me and be managed by me and receive support in your new role from a Senior Personal Assistant who has been doing this role for over 11 years.  

Your position is funded by social services and partially by me (contribution) and paid by direct payments services from Social  Services directly to your bank account. Tax and NI are deducted at source. 

I am looking for a personal assistant (FEMALE due to nature of personal care work on all different types of shifts) to complement the work of other personal assistants already in place. 

HOURS AVAILABLE AT THE POSITION 
 The position offers hours for:
 A. 2 morning of 3 hours when breakfast, personal care and lunch is carried out. This might include a weekend day per week. 

B.1 or 2 afternoons where you will help me access the community with my wheelchair, driving my automatic vehicle and supporting to different appointments.  This will be either for variable appointments or for social activities in the community which may include taking me with my 2 beautiful dogs to a field or a park and have a cup of coffee in a cafe there, as an example. 
 C. 3 or 4 out of the 7 allocable evening shifts, including a weekend evening evening) of 2 hours each. During these evening shifts, you will support me with personal care for the evening, prepare a hot freshly made meal using help fresh usually. 

D. You can take two additional hours of domestic work to be carried out usually on either Mondays, Wednesdays  of Fridays afternoons.

E. If you have secretarial or administrative  experience, you can slap apply for the extra 1 hour a week of communication support to me by helping me with my dyslexia and dyscalculia by making phone calls, helping with rotas, booking and canceling appointments and ensuring I'm not double booking appointments which later on would need to be cancelled. 

The set hours for the different shifts on this position are:
 1. Morning: 9 to 12
 2. Evening: 5.30pm -6pm to 7.30pm- 88pm.in total 2 hours. 
 3. Afternoon (times here can vary to suit both yours and my needs): between 1pm to 5pm but for a total of 2 hours up to twice a week. 

TEAM PLAYER
As part of this role, being able to cover the other Personal Assistants in case of sickness and/or holiday is essential. The goal is to not leave me without any care ever as care is essential for my semi-independence, health and wellbeing. 

We operate as a united team working towards the same goal.  This is maintained through positive communication, for example, by notifying all, via a private WhatssApp group any sickness as soon as possible and holidays that have been approved, so that cover can be arranged with all involved As early as possible,  accordingly to your contract,making it a fair as possible among the remaining Personal Assistants which will need to cover the gaps in shifts. 
 
THE POSITION REQUIREMENTS 

1.    Existence of prior experience in carrying out personal care is ESSENTIAL (shower and washing my hair/drying/(un)dressing/hair drying/ styling) as this occurs usually in the morning along with breakfast and lunch preparation. 
 2.    In the evening, as I have several dietary restrictions, you would be preparing a FRESH hot meal with a "Hello Fresh" pack. 
 This ensures that the ingredients that I'm unable to eat are not added to in contrast to as the meals as they might be in ready meals.  It also makes your job a lot easier.  
  4.  The shifts on the evenings are especially  allocated for a PA to prepare my dinner (a hot meal) and carry out my personal care necessary for the night, and help me into bed, if appropriate.  
 5. If my husband is travelling, feeding our two dogs and taking them to the garden regularly whilst staying with them outside, is also essential. 
 6. You MUST like dogs as I have two very friendly mature female cocker spaniels. 
 7. Wishing  to work as part of a team as a  team player is also essential  

8. Being accepting  of people's differences is a lso very important.

9. Ability or desire to learn how to  communicate using technology such as an app for rota on your phone, an electronic calendar on your phone and a PA WhatsApp group is a necessary  skill for this position.  
10. Respect to diversity among people.  I encourage applicants from all different backgrounds with prior experience in care and with the necessary requirements described here.
 
PROCESS
An interview will take place either online or at my home when it may be ùconvenient for both of us;
 if the time suggested for the interview is not suitable, please suggest suitable times for you (for me the best times are: Mondays, Wednesdays  or Fridays PM, and weekends).
 
ESSENTIAL FOR THE INTERVIEW 
You will only be considered for an interview ONCE you have answer these quick but very important questions so I get to b understand you better. 
 
 1. How long have you worked as a personal assistant/ carer? 
 2. What do you enjoy most in your caring role?
 3. Tell me about a positive experience dogs and with cats.
 4. Tell me about your experience with cooking at home or elsewhere.
 5. How would you describe your personality?
 6. What could get in the way of you fulfilling your role?
   
 Thank you for answering these very important questions. 
 
 I look forward to meeting you soon.
  
 SUMMARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS 
 -The rate of pay for this position is £17.52 per hour.
 -Hours and times of work: 
 Mornings 9-12pm, 
afternoons (variable times), 
evening 6-8 pm or similar
Total: it varies on how many shifts you can take on a regular basis plus covers if necessary
 -Further details of your a specific duties will be discussed when you will be shadowing a senior PA and learning the role on the job.  This shadowing is paid to you and to the Senior PA. Everything that will be expected of you will be explained prior to acceptance of the position.
 -The annual holiday entitlement for this position will be 5.6 weeks wte accrued with the hours you have worked. 
Your holidays quota start in April 1st 2026. 
You will be require  to take up essential training for employed workers online. These hours are also paid and ensure you get insured for the position. 
 -If this job requires; Manual Handling, Handling of hazardous chemicals and/or Food Handling you will be required undertake annual training for these subjects.
 You will be insured as well. 
 The post is subject to the following:  
 · A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, the cost of which will be covered by Social Services if you do not have one within the last year. 
  · Satisfactory references from two referees, one of which must be your current or last line manager.  The second can be a professional or a character reference of someone NOT related to you or another employer.
  · Completion of a satisfactory probationary period of 6 months. If required, this probationary period can be extended to ensure you are meeting the required aspects of this role and we will give you enough time for this to occur.
 
 I look forward to meeting you soon.