Part-Time Support & Driver Companion for a Young Lady

Personal Employer: Irvine

Job Outline: P/T Female Support Worker Companion Post support worker companion / Driver to a young lady in the Irvine Area. Posts 2-5 hrs per week. Thursdays and Fridays mornings – 7:45am to 8:45am. Any variable hours on a Saturday or Sunday around 3hrs in one block social support.

Salary: Living wage rate – £14.59 per hour.

Job Purpose: To work closely and flexibly with a young person who has a mild Learning Disability to ensure she is appropriately supported to participate in a full range of opportunities in her life and to continue to develop and follow her hobbies and interests.

Employer: You will be employed by the family, who will be assisted to administer payroll and undertake the necessary employment support responsibilities by a relevant support organisation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Personalise as required – responsible for supporting the young lady to engage in all aspects of community life and activities as directed by her family.
• Being flexible – guided by the family about the particular activities the young lady likes, and expected to support her choices.
• Provide morning supports for dressing and breakfast on Thursday/Friday, act as a companion, and fulfil a guidance and supervisory role at weekends.
• Encourage her to get involved in a variety of activities such as going to cinema, gym, shopping, bingo, swimming.
• Assist with basic computer skills, online shopping, accessing e‑mail and learning her driving theory online, and accompanying her on public transport.

No particular training required, mainly a common sense approach.

Person Specification:

Attributes: Essential Criteria, Desirable.

Qualifications: Demonstrable experience of supporting people to fulfil their potential and have active lives.

Knowledge & Skills:

• An understanding of how to support and facilitate in a way that empowers the person;
• Good interpersonal skills and values reflecting social inclusion;
• Excellent and effective communication skills;
• Excellent listening skills;
• Good organisational skills;
• Understanding the crucial role that family carers play and the value of their contribution;
• Working knowledge of good person‑centred practice;
• Computer literate with ability to use standard software packages and search engines.

Experience:

• Can draw on lived experience of positively supporting someone as a peer or similar.
• Can engage effectively and work in partnership with others.
• Have supported people to achieve positive outcomes in their life.

Personal Qualities: Looks for a candidate with similar interests, a good sense of humour, down to earth, sensible, flexible and reliable. Must be comfortable around dogs and cats.

Other: You must have a full clean UK driving licence with business use. There is a 6‑month probationary period attached to this post, fixed‑term contract 1 year. Successful applicants will have to undergo a new or update of the PVG disclosure scheme and provide two up‑to‑date reference contacts.