Summer Personal Assistant (Women only) to young disabled woman studying Masters degree - LEEDS - LS2
Job Reference (fdcd0ac3)
Leeds
£9.00 per hour
Part Time
Fixed Term until 29th August 2020 with possible extension to January 2021
6.5 hours per week rising to 14.5 or 22.5 hours should colleagues have to self-isolate or travel urgently. Additional hours may also be offered for assistance with social activities should the Coronavirus social distancing rules change.
Statutory holiday pay included. Flexibility around pre-booked summer holidays if travel restrictions are lifted.
I’m Rebecca, a 26-year-old disabled woman and powered wheelchair user. I’m studying MSc Inequalities and Social Science at the University of Leeds and I’m seeking a Personal Assistant to assist me during the summer break. I am based in Woodhouse, a 10-minute walk from the university campus. This role is open to women only; applications from trans women are actively welcomed. Previous care experience is not necessary.
Proposed usual hours of work
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-10:00
Monday 17:30-19:00
Sunday 17:30-21:00
If you are not able to work these days but are able to work these timeslots on other days, then please apply as shift swaps may be possible. You must be available to work at least one day of the weekend. Please see below for my full weekly schedule. You may be asked to cover the listed hours if colleagues have to self-isolate or travel urgently.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Assistance with personal care including bathing
- Assistance with more challenging aspects of dressing eg. Buttons and shoes
- Preparing and cooking meals
- Assistance with grocery shopping
- Housework including cleaning, tidying and laundry
- Assistance to attend social activities such as live events, the cinema and eating out (only if the current Coronavirus rules change and it is allowed and safe to do so)
- May be asked to assist on trips to other UK cities, possibly with overnight stays (only if the current Coronavirus rules change and it is allowed and safe to do so)
Person Specification
Essential
- Must be willing and able to follow the Coronavirus policy below strictly
- Must be planning to stay in Leeds for the duration of Summer 2020
- Advanced level of spoken English
- Excellent communication skills
- Reliable, respectful, discreet, sensitive, friendly, and pro-active in the role
- Able to work quickly and efficiently, sometimes under pressure
- Flexible- willing to change working hours at short notice, cover for colleagues should they have to self-isolate and be contactable in an emergency
- Good food safety knowledge and cooking skills; comfortable preparing and cooking meat
- Strong commitment to the principles of Equality and Diversity
- Willingness to learn and develop
Desirable
- Able to travel to work/ to do grocery shopping on foot or with a car to minimise the use of public transport
- Good knowledge of the Independent Living Philosophy and an understanding of how your role as a PA fits into to that
- Experience of working with young disabled adults in any capacity
- Good intercultural awareness and communication skills
- Similar interests, especially in sociology, politics, literature, podcasts and/or TV.
- Experience of/ interest in challenging social injustice
Please note, smokers are welcome to apply, but you will not be permitted to smoke when working in my flat.
Typical weekly schedule (total between 3 PAs)
Monday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-19:00
Tuesday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-21:00
Wednesday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-19:00
Thursday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-21:00
Friday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-19:00
Saturday: 17:30-19:00
Sunday: 17:30-21:00
+ 4 hours to be worked at a mutually agreed time
To apply
Please apply via UKCIL or send a short email with a few sentences about you, your location, situation and interests (CVs optional) directly to
rf.assistance@gmail.com as soon as possible. If I like your application, I will contact you within a few days for a brief interview, to start in the week beginning 8th June. See below for the coronavirus policy.
RF Coronavirus Policy Spring/Summer 2020
I have Cerebral Palsy which means I’m at moderate risk of experiencing worse symptoms/ long term effects should I contract coronavirus. As such PAs must follow the below rules while working for me. Both my room and my shared kitchen are very big, so it is easy to follow social distancing measures even when in the house.
- PAs must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap as soon as they come in for each shift
- PAs must undertake extra cleaning duties as necessary to keep surfaces clean
- PAs should follow any government guidelines/ rules regarding social distancing/ staying at home for as long as they are in place.
- If PAs or anyone in their household develops coronavirus symptoms (a new continuous cough, a loss of taste or smell or a high temperature) even if they are mild, they MUST NOT COME TO WORK. They must stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days and inform me as soon as possible.
- If I develop coronavirus symptoms I will still need support, so PAs will be required to come to work. For the first 7 days after I begin experiencing symptoms, and for as long as I remain unwell thereafter, I will wear a face-mask while PAs are at work. For non personal care tasks, we will maintain as much distance as possible- eg. PAs will cook my meals in the shared kitchen and bring them through to my room. PAs can then choose to remain at the opposite end of my room or go back into the kitchen. For personal care tasks such as bathing, PAs will be provided with personal protective equipment (face mask, apron, gloves) in order to assist me. PAs will then place the protective equipment into a special bin bag which will be placed with the normal rubbish after 72 hours.
- I am able to provide you with a letter should the police or retail/pharmacy staff ask for proof that you are a key worker
If you have any questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to discuss them with me.
Services
Meal Preparation
Personal Care
Domestic Care
Social + Leisure activities
Support to remain independent
Schedule, Pay & Hours
Time
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
ONA = Overnight Awake / ONS = Overnight Sleep