We need an organised, reliable and responsible individual to provide support for an autistic young adult with a learning disability in his daily life.
The role involves regular shifts, usually on 5 days per week, including some weekend work.
Two shifts per week focus on supporting the young adult to volunteer at a heritage steam
railway and transport museum, by volunteering alongside him. Other shifts involve
supporting with model railway activities. The role also requires providing consistent and
reliable support with daily living activities and a small amount of personal care.
Essential skills needed:
- Full UK driving licence
- Must be located in or near to central, Lancaster. It is not feasible for the role to be filled by someone travelling a substantial distance to work, due to the need for some short shifts.
- Excellent spoken and clear, accurate written English
- Clear and direct communication and the ability to simplify language.
- Commitment to the role. We are looking for someone to support the young adult through an important stage of his early adult life, please do not apply for this role unless you can commit to at least 12 months, ideally much longer.
- Sufficient level of fitness to participate in physically demanding activities during volunteering work
- Extremely reliable. Predictability is vital to autistic people. You must also be punctual and completely reliable in attendance.
- Good organisational skills. This is absolutely vital, if you are in any way disorganised you will not be able to do this job to the required standard.
Responsibilities:
- Supporting the young adult with volunteering (including driving him to and from the placement and supporting learning and progression in the role)
- Keeping brief records and recording progress against outcomes
- Supporting with domestic, self-care and organisational tasks
- Supporting with social and recreational activities
- Planning activities and making resources to support independence (such as checklists)
- Communicating by email with the young adult, parent and support team.
Regular shifts currently required are:
- 9am to 12noon every Monday – supporting the young adult with domestic, self-care and organisational tasks at home (e.g. brushing teeth, doing laundry/putting laundry away, cutting nails, cleaning spectacles, clothes shopping, planning projects)
- 5am to approx. 11am shift every Tuesday – driving the young adult to Bury in his motability car and supporting him to volunteer cleaning railway carriages
- 9am to 12noon every Wednesday and Friday – supporting the young adult to go to the gym (some of these shifts are currently covered by bank staff, so these shifts are open to discussion) and small amounts of self-care/domestic tasks (e.g. brushing teeth, putting laundry away)
- 8am to 4pm shift every Thursday – driving the young adult to Bury and supporting him to volunteer at a transport museum (varied work including cleaning, basic DIY, greeting and interacting with the public, operating a model railway and more).
- 9am-5pm on the second Saturday each month – supporting the adult to attend a Model Railway club open day.
In addition to the face to face work, the role includes (paid work time):
- A 30-min meeting once a week with the young adult’s parent to exchange information and work with her to support the young adults’ volunteering, life planning and organisation of his support.
- Working from home (approx. 2 hours per week) to plan, write lists and create tools to support the young adult e.g. checklists, supported decision-making tools, diagrams to support the young adults’ vocational learning around the volunteering roles - the post-holder will need some relevant skills/aptitude in simplifying language and explaining, but some support is available from the young adult’s parent around adapting materials specifically to this young adult’s needs.
- Access online systems used by volunteers at the heritage railway to plan shifts and access information about upcoming activities
- Maintain email communication with the young adult (and his parent) to provide advance information about plans and activities
- Write a brief ‘shift report’ following each shift to provide information to the young person’s parent
- Maintain email/signal group 1 communication with his parent and other support workers/wider support team to co-ordinate activities
Additional shifts available (and some willingness to cover expected):
- Short shifts supporting the young adult with his daily living/personal care routines at home in the morning (1 hour shifts, which may on some days ‘add on’ to existing shifts) and evening (up to 4 ½ hour shifts) at times when his parent is away working (These fluctuate throughout the year but are typically available on 2-4 days per week on approx. 30 weeks of the year and 7 days per week on 3 weeks of the year. A significant number of these shifts are covered by bank staff, but you would be expected to help out – particularly with shifts which we are struggling to cover).
For a full job description and more information please email: [email protected] quoting ref: SLH0726
Closing date: 11th September 5pm
Interviews: 13th September.
Pay: £16.24 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
