Direct Payment Worker in Kingston upon Hull

My parents are looking for support from a worker to help us to have time out in the community and to be individually supported with our likes, interests, and needs.

We are 7 and 8 years old and we are both looking for a support worker to help us to access activities in the school holidays and take part in the things we both enjoy. The support would be flexible, arranged with our parents for either 4 hours each or 8 hours collectively per week for outings in the school holidays and would be to support us to access activities and groups in the community.

We both have different needs and interests so we would be looking for someone who could support us either 1:1 or together with our parent.

Let me tell you a little bit about me. I am 7 years old and I love playing with my dinosaurs and sea creature toys, especially in water. I am really good with my knowledge of naming all the sharks and dinosaurs. I also love to be outdoors and having the space and opportunity to explore; a visit to the park and playing using the equipment is great fun for me. I like to have opportunities to practice my climbing and balancing skills. When outdoors, I enjoy chasing games with my family, going out for a walk with my dog and if my legs get tired, a piggyback ride. A trip to soft play or to use bouncy castles or trampolines is something I enjoy.

When indoors at home, I like making a den with blankets and watching shows usually on sharks and dinosaurs. I like playing with my Lego blocks and building high towers with them. I like to receive positive praise in the form of clapping, well done and cheering me on, and this really encourages me. I have my special blanket, which is a comfort and very important to me.

Things I dislike is when my routine is changed, and if this was to happen, I would need support to help me to understand and process the changes. My parents and those who know me well understand I have some sensory sensitivities to touch and I dislike raised voices, crying and screaming from my sister. This can make me upset. It is important to me to have someone who understands my needs and can keep me safe in the community as I am still learning about dangers and how to keep safe outside. I am not keen on wearing my harness or holding hands when outdoors as I want to run and explore, and when I cannot run, I can find this frustrating.

I would like someone to be able to help me with my speech and increase my independence to be able to communicate my needs, supporting me to be able to understand social situations such as waiting my turn in a game or waiting in a shop. I need someone who is patient and caring and can support me with my emotions and understanding my feelings when I am overwhelmed, and guidance to understand the world and people around me. I am described by my parents and those who I trust and know well as a very happy and curious boy, who loves to explore and be busy.

Let me tell you a little bit about me. I am 8 years old and I absolutely love arts and crafts; I am happy drawing, painting, or creating something out of an empty cardboard box. Mum says I have a talent for drawing and is always impressed with my amazing creations. I can read and write and will create and read stories out loud to my family. People who know me well say I am bright and chatty.

I enjoy having opportunities to be active and I love trips to the park where I can now swing really high which is great fun. I love animals especially my loyal little Jack Russell; she is a comfort, and she helps me to feel safe and happy. I like to watch TV or sometimes watch YouTube videos, but I do not watch for too long as I would much rather be building dens.

I can find boundaries and rules difficult to process and understand and this can make me frustrated and defiant. I need rules and boundaries explaining to me in a way I can understand what is expected of me. I dislike loud noises and crowded environments where there is a lot of chatter. I can find routine and processes, such as getting ready and the school routine in the morning difficult and need support with tasks and routines.

I would like to be able to attend more activities and sessions in the community, especially if the session involved animals or crafts. It would help and support me to have someone who could check in on me and provide me with the reassurance I need to access the community. I can find social situations and interactions with other children difficult to understand and manage which can make me fearful of them and their actions. I like to have an adult with me to provide the guidance and support I require to help me to feel safe to enable me to take part in activities.

I would like to have someone who is kind and patient to provide guidance and emotional understanding to help me to process changes, as I can find this confusing and overwhelming when sessions end and it is time to leave or go home.