Job Title: Personal Assistant (PA) / Specialist Support Worker – Specialist Support for Young Adult with Autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), and Sensory and Motor Skills Differences
Location: Wynyard, Billingham (TS22)
Hours: School/College Holiday Periods (14 weeks per year, including Bank Holiday Mondays – availability during all holiday periods is essential) + Additional Cover Shifts Available Year-Round. See 'Hours Available:' below.
This role may suit a school, college, SEN, or care worker looking for additional hours during school/college holiday periods.
Pay: £17.50 per hour (negotiable depending on experience)
About the Role:
We are seeking a calm, reliable and thoughtful Personal Assistant (PA) to join an established support team supporting a young autistic adult with complex communication and sensory needs. Reliability, punctuality, and clear communication are essential, as this role involves supporting a vulnerable young adult within a structured family-led support arrangement.
The young adult has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), a learning disability, and sensory and motor needs.
We are recruiting to maintain continuity of support within the existing PA team.
This role is ideal for someone interested in autism support, communication development, and gaining experience in a therapy-informed support environment.
He is currently in further education with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and receives ongoing Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT). Support is delivered using consistent strategies aligned with therapy input.
At home, the family use an ABA-informed approach to promote communication and independence. College follows a TEACCH-based structure, and while PAs do not work in college, maintaining consistency with familiar routines is important. Support is provided at home and in the community, following a structured routine developed by the family.
This is a meaningful opportunity to support someone in building confidence, communication, and independence in a low-arousal, person-centred environment.
This is an exciting opportunity to be directly employed by a private family, working in close partnership with the family, a speech and language therapist (SALT), an occupational therapist (OT), educators, and two PAs as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team.
Hours Available:
Hours are part of a 40-hour weekly support package shared across four personal assistants.
- The core vacant hours are 13 weekday hours per week during school/college holidays only (14 weeks per year). These are expected to be mainly Monday–Thursday daytime hours.
This role is primarily based around school/college holiday periods, with additional cover shifts available throughout the year by agreement.
Availability during all school/college holiday periods is essential, including Bank Holiday Mondays.
- Additional cover shifts may be available throughout the year by agreement, including weekday day times and evenings during term time and weekends, for example to cover annual leave, sickness, or other support worker absence.
All hours exclude periods when the individual is accessing respite care (36 nights per year).
A consistent schedule will be agreed based on availability and team fit.
Key Responsibilities:
- Supporting community access (e.g. walks, local outings, cinema, bowling, trampolining, museum visits, shopping, eating out, medical/dental appointments)
- Suggesting and planning appropriate activities in line with the individual’s interests and developmental needs.
- Providing calm, one-to-one support with structure and predictability
- Supporting personal care, meal preparation, eating, and other daily living tasks as needed
- Ensuring safety and wellbeing at all times
- Using or learning visual, gesture-based, and modelling techniques to support communication
- Recognising and responding to sensory and motor needs, with support from the family
- Following guidance from the individual’s family and therapy team
- Supporting safety awareness and decision-making in real-time situations
- Promoting a respectful and enabling environment
Essential Requirements:
- Reliable, punctual, and able to maintain clear and timely communication regarding availability, shifts, lateness, or absence
- Legal right to work in the UK
- Full UK driving licence and access to a reliable car is essential. Due to the rural location and minimal public transport, this role cannot be carried out without private transport.
- Good standard of spoken and written English, with clear, patient communication skills. This is essential because the young adult has complex communication needs, including Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).
- Experience (or interest in developing experience) supporting individuals with:
o Complex language and communication needs
o Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
o Sensory and motor needs
- Willingness to learn and adapt to individualised communication, ASD and sensory regulation strategies
- Calm, consistent, and responsive approach
- Ability to work under family guidance and respect established routines
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, and respect for family privacy at all times
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a small team, including family members and professionals
- Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to undergo one)
- Two references
Desirable:
- Experience using a structured, consistent approach to support communication, independence, routines, or emotional regulation
- Familiarity with TEACCH, low-arousal approaches, or ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) informed strategies
- Experience supporting Childhood Apraxia of Speech or language impairment
- Background in speech and language support, social care, or SEN education
- May be suitable for students or graduates in clinical psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, or special education.
What We Offer:
- Meaningful, person-centred role in a supportive, family-led environment
- Structured and rewarding work with opportunities to build rapport and long-term continuity
- Training opportunities available where appropriate
- Flexibility in planning sessions within agreed hours
To Apply:
Please email your CV along with a short covering note explaining your relevant experience and why the role appeals to you. Informal enquiries are welcome before applying.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £17.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
