Friday PA required by young artist to help her access Project Art Works studios in Hastings (term time only)

PA (Personal Assistant) required one day per week for a young lady with additional needs. Term time only (39 weeks per year)
£13.50 per hour plus 5.6weeks paid holiday pro rata (if employed) £14 per hour (if self-employed). Travel expenses whilst out with Aida will also be paid.
Contact: Julie on 07913864428 or [email protected]

Fridays– 7.50am- 5.50pm – pick Aida up from home, drive to Brighton Station, then catch the train to Hastings. Walk 5 mins to Project Art Works (PAW), where Aida is supported by PAW staff during two two-hour sessions, to paint in their studio. You will not be directly painting with Aida, but need to be in the building available to step in if she needs a break, help communicating, or help self-regulating. You will prepare her lunch in time for her lunch break and support her during that hour. Once she is settled back in the studio, clean up and be available again as already described. Walk back to the station in time to catch the train home. Drive back to Hove.

Aida is 28. She is an amazing young woman with tons of personality, who enjoys painting www.aidas-art.com , cooking, gardening, cycling, walking, dancing, colouring, travelling and much more. She has attachment disorder, autism, tics, severe learning disability and poor communication, meaning that she needs support 24/7 to keep her safe and calm. Aida attends a number of activities throughout the week with support from PAs. One of our wonderful team has left, so we have an opening for a new PAs to cover Fridays to start on the 12th September.
The post will entail taking full responsibility for Aida and all of her belongings. You will spend the train journey doing simple activities with Aida (such as colouring, searching for things she wants on Google, removing sticky labels, scraping writing off pens, painting nails). This all helps to keep her calm. You will need to encourage her to pack away her items in time to leave the train, assist her to communicate with others, help her to keep calm and manage her emotions and generally organise her day. There is very little personal care required as Aida is independent in these areas.

Previous experience of people with learning difficulties or autism would be beneficial, but not essential as training will be given. The most important thing is to be able to make a connection with Aida and be willing to learn what makes her tick. Ideally, you will be a driver and willing to use your car to drive to Brighton Station (petrol will be paid). But this is not absolutely essential.

The successful applicant will be kind, caring, patient, good fun and have a good sense of humour. They must also be responsible, assertive and resilient, flexible in their approach and adaptable.
You will need to have, or be willing for me to apply for, a DBS check and provide two referees.

Genders which may apply for this job – Any

Hours per week – 10 hours per week term time only (39weeks)

Hourly rate – £13.50p/h (plus holiday pay) if employed or £14p/h if self-employed

Driving licence required – Yes

Employer has pets – No

Employer is smoker – No