Position Available 26th August 2026.
Job Description
- £1,470 per 7 days worked (£210 per day incl. £10 per day expenses).
- 20 days paid leave per annum.
- Double Time Bank Holiday Supplements.
- Enrolment on to a Pension Scheme.
I'm looking for a new member to join my small team of Personal Assistants, starting Wednesday 26th August 2026. Traditionally referred to as a carer, a Personal Assistant (PA) is a far more positive term for both parties but it does also require a different dynamic from that of the traditional carer. A PA is employed directly by a disabled person (in this case me) to assist me to live as independently as possible, and however I want to live my life.
"So what is the recipe for an excellent Employer/PA relationship?" I hear you ask. Well let's have a look shall we?
INGREDIENTS (this is the preconception-free recipe)
- a good dollop of common sense (the good kind)
- a dusting of drama (no doubt)
- a smattering of sarcasm (the non-malicious variety)
- a buttload of fun and entertainment (extra dashes of joy will be included at times) **
- a profusion of patience (particularly at the beginning) **
- handfuls of honesty, respect and sincerity **
- equal amounts of reliability and flexibility
- an abundance of openness and communication **
- a sprinkling of ingenuity and initiative
- a good drizzle of diligence and focus
- oodles of open-mindedness **
- a fistful of empathy (this replaces the sympathy in recipes of old)
- a cacophony of commitment
- a mandatory dollop of driving experience (the manual gearshift kind)
- an unwavering willingness to learn
- a bucketful of awareness and understanding
- a stack of stability
- a good level of fitness
- bursts of energy and strength
** from both parties.
METHOD
Put all of the above into the mix and hopefully it will prove successfully for a very long time!
So, as my PA it will be your job to facilitate me to live my life as independently as I can. It will still involve care of course, namely personal care, however these are practical tasks you will undertake as part of that facilitation rather than you 'taking care' of me. Basically I require my PAs to undertake all the daily tasks for me that they would do for themselves, with some exceptions and differences I am sure.
As well as the personal care tasks I also require my PAs to prepare meals (nothing elaborate), do household tasks, as well as driving me (in my wheelchair accessible vehicle, currently a Vauxhall Vivaro) to places and accompanying me on social occasions. I am usually quite active socially, sometimes performing and attending comedy improv events, and I often have my PAs accompanying me to these (it isn't mandatory to participate however, although you may surprise yourself). I undertake all my own administrative tasks, although I do sometimes need my PAs to facilitate these as well, or I delegate as necessary.
So about me… I am a 58 year old man (he/him) and I have a condition (not an illness) called Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2. This means that I am a full-time powered wheelchair user, having never walked, and have very limited movement, strength and muscular resistance throughout my body, although I do have full feeling. I therefore train my PAs how to move me safely (for both of us) which, although can seem daunting at first due to the 'routine' nature of most of the physical tasks undertaken, hopefully soon becomes instinctual/second nature.
As well as the financial remuneration I provide my PAs with self-contained accommodation (during your shift only), respect, consideration, absolute honesty, kindness and humour (if somewhat sarcastic at times), down-time, job security. I have over this 30 years experience of employing my own PAs.
And about you… First, the essentials/potential deal breakers:
- I need you to be a confident/safe manual gearshift driver who is okay with constructive criticism to drive my vehicle (currently a Vauxhall Vivaro minibus) in a manner conducive with my condition. If you can't drive then this isn't the role for you I'm afraid.
- I also need you to be physically fit, with no history of back problems and free of chronic health issues, as although there is no actual lifting (I always use a hoist for this) it is necessary for you to undertake some physical exertion during my routines.
- You DO NOT have to be experienced for this role, and more often than not I take on people who have no or very little experience as it often works out better that way. Not that I am ruling out people with experience, but if you find it difficult to adapt rather than transfer your previous experience, or if you are looking for a more traditional caring/nursing role, then this probably isn't the one for you.
- Whatever your experience I need you to understand that you’re coming into my home, which just happens to be your workplace. I need you to understand that I know my needs and my body better than anyone and you will therefore need to be able to accept and respect that.
- I need you to be okay with taking care of pets, particularly dogs. I don't currently have one but I may be getting another one in the not too distant future.
As a person I need you to be: extremely reliable; committed; flexible; stable; empathetic (not sympathetic); serious when necessary; fun when not; adventurous; open-minded; have no negative preconceptions where disabled people are concerned (please Google the social model of disability if you are not already familiar with this concept), and generally where people from different social groups/backgrounds/nationalities are concerned; consistent (by this I mean regularly provide the agreed level of service, as per the contract/job description without ever making me feel like I'm an inconvenience); good-natured, dynamic, friendly, enthusiastic and most important of all, alive!
Now if you are interested in finding out more, and I do realise that this isn't a role that you can undertake/go into lightly, please contact me for more information or to ask me anything you like. I would also like to know whereabouts you are based please.
I particularly welcome responses that reflect and engage with what I have written above.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £1,470.00 per week
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Whereabouts are you based?
Language:
- able to speak and comprehend English fluently (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Manual Gearshift Drivers Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
