Personal Assistant/Support Worker required in Melton, Suffolk
- Up to 24 hours per week available, either with one person or shared across a team. Applications welcomed from those seeking either some or all of the available hours.
- £14.10 per hour
- Support is primarily in my home in the Melton / Woodbridge area and the local surrounding area, with occasional outings further afield.
- Job reference = 5323
Job description
Although this job description is correct at present, it may change from time to time after negotiation with the post holder.
Must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this role, sponsorship not available.
Job purpose
To provide flexible support with all aspects of daily life that are difficult because of my disabilities.
This can include support with cooking, shopping, cleaning, housekeeping, administration, going out and about, attending appointments, and general day-to-day practical support.
I am looking for somebody who is quick-thinking, capable and practical, with a positive, can-do attitude and good communication skills who helps make life easier and more manageable.
About me
I’m a creative and intelligent woman in my late 40s with a wide range of interests but severe fluctuating health limitations, which means I need practical support with many aspects of daily life. I’m looking for the right support to help me continue engaging with life in a way that is more manageable, sustainable and enjoyable.
I have severe ME/CFS alongside being neurodiverse (AuDHD), with dyslexia, visual processing difficulties, coeliac disease, allergies and significant fragrance sensitivities.
I’m a total foodie and really enjoy the creativity of cooking and eating healthy, delicious food.
Other things I enjoy include spending time outdoors in nature and going for walks with my mobility scooter, light gardening, spending time with animals, music, art and creative activities, and accessible outings.
Because I live with fluctuating energy and post-exertional malaise, I need support that genuinely reduces the amount I have to physically and mentally hold together myself.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The role can include the following tasks, but these do not all need to be covered by the same person.
- Support with shopping, including helping me check ingredients lists and allergens.
- Helping with meal planning, cooking, reheating meals and batch cooking using recipes and instructions provided, while following allergy and cross-contamination guidance.
- Cleaning, laundry, bedding changes, and practical household support.
- Practical support with self-care related tasks, e.g. preparing the bathroom safely for showering, helping dry and reset the space afterwards. Ideally, this would include occasional support with hair washing and hair drying when needed.
- Physical support with everyday tasks, including bringing items to me when needed and generally helping make day-to-day tasks more manageable.
- Support with outings and attending appointments.
- Driving me to appointments, errands and outings using my manual vehicle.
- Assisting with loading and unloading my mobility scooters or manual wheelchair (guidance and training will be provided) into my car with a ramp.
- Practical help with paperwork, organisation and administrative tasks.
- General day-to-day support depending on my health and energy levels at the time.
Additional information
I live with a highly intelligent and demanding Bengal cat who expects appropriate levels of admiration. She also has some health issues and regular vet visits, so support workers need to be comfortable around cats and able to carry a cat carrier safely when required.
Successful applicants must be fully willing to work fragrance-free during shifts due to my allergies to fragranced products. This is the single biggest non-negotiable part of the role. This may include making changes to products such as laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, deodorant, perfume, hairspray, skincare or other products if needed. Because some products linger more than others, there will be a trial period to identify and resolve any fragrance issues.
Ideally applicants will be able to drive a manual vehicle. It also needs to be possible to add you to my vehicle insurance at a reasonable cost, which in practice usually means holding a full, clean driving licence and having driven for a reasonable length of time. Insurance eligibility will be checked before any job offer is made.
Applicants must also be willing to learn how to safely operate the wheelchair ramp and, where required, load and secure mobility scooters. Guidance and training will be provided.
For shorter shifts, driving my vehicle may not be required. In these cases, applicants may instead use their own vehicle for local errands, provided they have appropriate business-use insurance.
I do not require applicants to have any specific formal qualifications. The most important thing is finding people who are the right fit to work closely with me. Being practical, capable and flexible, quick to learn and able to manage tasks independently is much more important to me than formal qualifications.
Useful awareness/experience around the following topics:
- Neurodivergence
- ME/CFS
- Food allergies and cross-contamination controls
- The role involves access to sensitive personal and medical information, so confidentiality and professionalism are essential.
- Employees must follow any relevant health and safety guidance.
Days and times of work
I am looking either:
- to build a small flexible team of people working different types of shifts to help meet my overall support needs or
- to find one person who can cover all aspects of the job.
There are a variety of shift lengths available, usually ranging between approximately 1–5 hours.
Most support is likely to take place at some point during the morning and/or over lunchtime, depending on my health, support needs and the type of shift involved.
Some shifts may focus more on practical household support, cooking and helping me get started with the day, while others may involve appointments, paperwork or helping me get out and about.
Exact shift patterns and hours are still evolving as I build the right long-term combination of support, so final arrangements will be agreed once the wider team structure is in place.
Support is required year-round, including during school holidays.
Time off around bank holidays is not automatic and must be agreed in advance, as these days can instead be taken as annual leave at a different time.
I do not expect people to work Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. However, I do need support over the wider winter and Christmas period, as my health is usually worse during the colder months.
Personal Specification
(refer to these when submitting your application)
Essential Criteria:
- Reliable.
- Practical, capable and quick-thinking.
- Positive, with a can-do attitude.
- Good, clear communicator.
- Quick to learn and able to work independently.
- Flexible around changing tasks and priorities.
- Willing to work fragrance-free due to my allergies.
- Physically able to carry out the practical aspects of the role.
Desirable Criteria:
- Able to drive a manual car and learn to safely operate the ramp and mobility scooters (guidance and training will be provided).
- Full clean driving licence held for a reasonable length of time
- Enjoys cooking and is confident following recipes carefully.
- Able to follow allergy and cross-contamination guidance carefully.
- Physically able to walk the distances required to accompany me on mobility scooter walks.
- Experience supporting disabled or neurodivergent people.
- Understanding of ME/CFS and post-exertional malaise.
- Happy to work around a cat.
Summary terms and conditions
- Hours, days and times of work: Shift lengths typically range from 1 to 5 hours. Up to 24 hours per week are available in total, with hours, days and times agreed flexibly in advance according to my needs. Hours may be allocated to one person or shared across a team.
- Pay rate: £14.10 per hour
- Annual leave: The annual holiday entitlement for this position will be equivalent to the work normally done during 5.6 weeks (statutory entitlement).
- Expenses: You will be reimbursed for prior agreed expenses incurred as part of the role.
- Sick pay: I do not operate a private sick pay scheme but provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
- Pension: I do not operate a private pension scheme but I will fulfil my statutory obligations via the NEST pension scheme.
The post is subject to the following
- Background check: A satisfactory Enhanced with Barred List Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this position.
- If you have been convicted of a criminal offence, please send these details to SIL in a separate email or in a sealed envelope together with a stamped addressed envelope. This will not be shared unless you are shortlisted for the post.
- References: If successful, you will be required to provide details of two referees, one of which must be your current or most recent employer, or character references if you have not been employed (this cannot be a family member).
- Trial period: This post is subject to a probationary period of 6 months.
How to apply
If you wish to apply for this position, please submit a CV alongside a cover letter or an application form and return it to SIL, quoting the job reference number 5323.
Please refer to the job description.
Online form: https://www.suffolkindependentliving.org.uk/application-form-1
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01473 603876
Post - Address: SIL, Unit 21, IP City Centre, 1 Bath Street, Ipswich, IP2 8SD
Pay: £14.10 per hour
Expected hours: No more than 24.0 per week
Application question(s):
- Do you have awareness of ME/CFS and post-exertional malaise?
Licence/Certification:
- driving licence and able to drive a manual vehicle (preferred)
Work Location: In person
