Personal Assistants (Support Workers in Swindon

We are seeking patient, caring Personal Assistants (Support Workers) to support our client, who was born in 2007 and loves drama and music. He is actively involved in community and youth arts groups and enjoys attending concerts, theatre productions, and musical performances. He has a diagnosis of athetoid cerebral palsy from an acquired brain injury at birth. He is a wheelchair user, has cochlear implants, communicates in clear spoken English, and is looking to expand his support team to receive assistance five days a week. This support will help him complete activities of daily living, participate fully in his interests, and promote his independence at home and in the community. He is currently in his final year of sixth form and hopes to pursue a future career in acting, making this an exciting time to join his support network.

Responsibilities

• Support the client to maximise his independence in all activities of daily living, enabling him to develop skills and confidence in his daily routines.
• Promote and facilitate access to social, leisure, and community activities, ensuring he can fully engage in outings and events he enjoys.
• Provide positive, reliable companionship, fostering a supportive and encouraging environment.
• Assist with personal care needs in a respectful, dignified, and compassionate manner, ensuring his comfort, wellbeing, and safety at all times.

Safeguarding: ILS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our clients within the activities we undertake, and expects all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment.

Essential Requirements

• Proof of eligibility to work in the UK.
• Satisfactory references, including from your most recent employer.
• Enhanced DBS check (a conviction will not necessarily prevent employment).
• Male, due to providing personal care.
• Being physically fit and capable of fulfilling the manual handling plan designed to reduce the risk of handling injuries; you may be required to bend, kneel, or squat during handling tasks.
• Confident working in the client’s own home and sensitive to the needs and wishes of the family.
• Shares similar interests with the client, such as music, drama, film, and TV.
• Aptitude and desire to work with young people with complex needs.
• Flexible and able to use own initiative.
• Proactive, encouraging approach.
• Responsible attitude.
• Good sense of humour.
• Cheerful, caring, and positive attitude.
• Reliable and trustworthy.
• Clear and effective communicator.
• Confident with using I.T.
• Basic understanding of the principles of rehabilitation.
• Able to demonstrate a good understanding of the importance of maintaining confidentiality and respecting the client and family’s need for privacy.
• Happy to learn new things in accordance with the client’s therapy programmes.
• Keep own record of hours worked.
• Attend supervision.
• Flexible with start and finish times according to the needs of the client.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Ensure consistency of approach.
• Willing to travel.
• Comfortable to be around cats.
• Full clean driving licence and able to drive the client’s automatic wheelchair‑accessible vehicle.
• Post operates a non‑smoking environment.
• Driver required: Essential.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of and qualifications in caring for young people with severe disabilities.
• Experience of carrying out therapy programmes.
• Experience/understanding of mental health issues.
• Ability to work additional hours as required.
• Able to work flexible hours, sometimes at short notice.
• Previous experience of using specialist equipment with disabled people.
• Experience of writing risk assessments and care plans.
• Understanding of different types of communication aids, both low‑tech and high‑tech.
• NVQ level 2 or equivalent.
• Knowledge and experience of traumatic brain injury would be advantageous.
• Own car – desirable due to location of the role.

Benefits

• Pay: £15.00 per hour on weekdays with a £1 uplift for hours worked from 8 pm; £16.00 per hour on weekends and bank holidays with a £1 uplift for hours worked from 8 pm.
• 5.6 weeks holiday (pro‑rata).
• Free DBS check.
• Free parking.
• Induction.
• Relevant training opportunities (including the Care Certificate).
• Regular clinical supervision/review meetings.
• Ongoing support from a dedicated case manager and HR department.

We are an equal‑opportunity employer. Where a specific gender is stated as essential, it is a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with paragraph 1 of the schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010.