Applications for these posts are now closed
In the Coronavirus madness I’m short of PA support so I’m looking for emergency cover for April 2020. Have a look and get in touch if interested. Please note the Coronavirus policy below.
2xPersonal Assistants (Women only) emergency cover support for young disabled woman Masters’ student during April 2020
Leeds
£8.75 per hour- remainder of March 2020
£9.00 per hour- April 2020 onwards
Part Time
Fixed Term until 27th April 2020, possible extension to August 2020/ January 2021
6 hours per week each, rising to 12 or 23 hours per week should colleagues have to self-isolate/ travel unavoidably
Statutory holiday and sick pay included.
See below for typical weekly schedule. If you are unable to work the exact days/ hours listed but you are still interested, please get in touch as these hours are indicative only and can be flexible.
I’m Rebecca, a 26-year-old disabled woman and powered wheelchair user. I’m studying MSc Inequalities and Social Science at the University of Leeds and I’m seeking 2 Personal Assistants to support my existing PA (currently working 12 hours a week) and cover hours for April 2020. I am based in Woodhouse, a 10-minute walk from the university campus. These roles are open to women only; applications from trans women are actively welcomed. Previous care experience is not necessary.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Assistance with personal care including bathing
• Assistance with more challenging aspects of dressing eg. Buttons and shoes
• Preparing and cooking meals
• Assistance with grocery shopping and collecting medication
• Housework including cleaning, tidying and laundry
Person Specification
Essential
• Must be willing and able to follow the Coronavirus policy below strictly
• Must be planning to stay in Leeds for the duration of April 2020
• Advanced level of spoken English
• Excellent communication skills
• Reliable, respectful, discreet, sensitive, friendly, and pro-active in the role
• Able to work quickly and efficiently, sometimes under pressure
• Flexible- willing to change working hours at short notice, cover for colleagues should they have to self-isolate and be contactable in an emergency
• Good food safety knowledge and cooking skills; comfortable preparing and cooking meat
• Strong commitment to the principles of Equality and Diversity
• Willingness to learn and develop
Desirable
• Able to travel to work/ to do grocery shopping on foot or with a car to minimise the use of public transport
• Experience of working with young disabled adults in any capacity
• Good intercultural awareness and communication skills
• Similar interests, especially in sociology, politics, literature, podcasts and/or TV.
• Experience of/ interest in challenging social injustice
Please note, smokers are welcome to apply, but you will not be permitted to smoke when working in my flat.
Typical weekly schedule (total between 3 PAs)
Monday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-19:00
Tuesday: – 9:30-10:00, 17:30-21:00
Wednesday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-19:00
Thursday: – 9:30-10:00, 17:30-21:00
Friday: 9:30-10:00, 17:30-19:00
Saturday: 17:30-19:00
Sunday: – 17:30-21:00
+4 hours to be worked at a mutually agreed time
To apply
Please send a short email with a few sentences about you, your location, situation and interests (CVs optional) directly to rf.assistance@gmail.com as soon as possible. If I like your application, I will contact you within a few days for a brief interview, to start as soon as possible. See below for the coronavirus policy.
RF Coronavirus Policy Spring 2020
I have Cerebral Palsy which means I’m at high risk of experiencing worse symptoms/ long term effects should I contract coronavirus. As such PAs must follow the below rules while working for me. Both my room and my shared kitchen are very big, so it is easy to follow social distancing measures even when in the house.
• PAs must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap as soon as they come in for each shift
• PAs must undertake extra cleaning duties as necessary to keep surfaces clean
• PAs should follow any government guidelines/ rules regarding social distancing/ staying at home for as long as they are in place.
• If PAs or anyone in their household develops coronavirus symptoms (a new continuous cough or a high temperature) even if they are mild, they MUST NOT COME TO WORK. They must stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days and inform me as soon as possible. PAs will be paid statutory sick pay during this time.
• If I develop coronavirus symptoms I will still need support, so PAs will be required to come to work. For the first 7 days after I begin experiencing symptoms, and for as long as I remain unwell thereafter, I will wear a face-mask while PAs are at work. For non personal care tasks, we will maintain as much distance as possible- eg. PAs will cook my meals in the shared kitchen and bring them through to my room. PAs can then choose to remain at the opposite end of my room or go back into the kitchen. For personal care tasks such as bathing, PAs will be provided with personal protective equipment (face mask, apron, gloves) in order to assist me. PAs will then place the protective equipment into a special bin bag which will be placed with the normal rubbish after 72 hours.
If you have any questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to discuss them with me.
