Companion 4978

· Help plan, shop, cook and store suitable meals

· Develop Polly's confidence in using a laptop computer, dealing with emails and online shopping (help sell unwanted possessions on eBay or Depop!)

· Use a spreadsheet to help Polly budget

· Do arts and crafts: painting, lino printing, letter writing, making videos and online photo albums, submit her amazing photographs to photography competitions

· Help Polly find a charity or cause to support and attend

· Support Polly's interest in online social groups including Facebook groups and dating

· Provide self-help skills such setting goals, manageable steps, good habits, daily structures, mood diaries, what to do to help herself feel better.

· Outdoor pursuits: painting the countryside, foraging, exploring

· Help Polly get more confident on public transport and cycling

· Find and take Polly to regular art or other interest classes

· Accompany Polly on days out to a wildlife sanctuary, the Newmarket Races, wild swimming, the beach with the dogs, the cinema, bowling.

· Upbeat, adventurous and proactive in finding and initiating suitable activities

· Previous experience in care or coaching, professional or otherwise

· Full Clean UK Driving Licence (Manual) and a confident driver as:

o A car will be provided to use during working hours to support Polly

o You will be expected to accompany Polly whilst she practices her driving

· Excellent digital skills on iPhone, social media, film and photo editing, and spreadsheets to help increase Polly's digital skills

· Good cooking skills and dietary knowledge with ability to prepare healthy and nutritious meals

Polly was born with mild Autism, some learning difficulties and poor muscle tone. Her speech, reading and writing are childlike, but she is very chatty and sociable. She loves nothing more than chatting to shopkeepers and strangers she meets when walking her dogs.

She suffers from chronic ailments including diabetes and Crohns, which keep her in her bed quite often and mean that any nerves or physical strain (even a yoga twist) will upset her bowels - she always needs to be near a loo!

Polly is an adventurous soul and wants to do more than her body will allow. She is not sure on her feet, physically weak and gets tired easily so has to cope with the frustration of these limitations.

Polly's symptoms mean she can have bad days when she is in pain and feels low and lonely - on these days her lack of impulse control will mean she will do some impressive comfort shopping and eating, something she's slowly but surely learning to manage.

Despite her challenges, Polly is a chatty and bubbly person, with an infectious child-like joy of life. She loves to paint her nails and dye her hair in bright colours. She loves listening to romantic music on her headphones and enjoys reading children's books, underlining the words she doesn't understand. She walks her two bouncy dogs (fur-babies!) come rain or shine, and loves nature, horses and owls. She has recently learned how to use an iPhone and takes hundreds of photos and videos of her dogs and the countryside, which she then shares scatterball on social media. Polly is very good at art and loves going to art classes.

Polly is seeking an energetic and kind person who is also adventurous, to help her become more independent.

Hours: 15 hours per week split into three five-hour blocks
Days: One weekday afternoon (noon to 5 pm), one weekday late afternoon (3pm to 9pm), and one afternoon at the weekend (noon to 5pm)
Rate: £16.00 per hour, · Polly will employ you with support from her sister, if you have any queries, you will be able to contact Polly's sister. You will be required to complete your own timesheet and submit this to Polly's sister when this is due.

· Hours, days and times of work: 15 hours per week split into three five-hour blocks.

o One weekday afternoon (noon to 5 pm), one weekday late afternoon (3pm to 9pm), and one afternoon at the weekend (noon to 5pm)

· Pay rate: £16.00 per hour

· Annual leave: The annual holiday entitlement for this position will be equivalent to the work normally done during 5.6 weeks (statutory entitlement).

· Expenses: You will be reimbursed for prior agreed expenses incurred as part of the role.

· Sick pay: I do not operate a private sick pay scheme but provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

· Pension: I do not operate a private pension scheme but I will fulfil my statutory obligations via the NEST pension scheme.

The post is subject to the following

· Background check: A satisfactory Enhanced with Barred List(s) Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this position.

o If you have been convicted of a criminal offence, please send these details to SIL in a separate email or in a sealed envelope together with a stamped addressed envelope. This will not be shared unless you are shortlisted for the post.

· References: If successful, you will be required to provide details of two referees, one of which must be your current or most recent employer, or character references if you have not been employed

· Trial period: This post is subject to a probationary period of 3 months.