Female Support Worker (5020)

To assist a woman with Multiple Sclerosis and mental health problems, supporting her to get out and socialise, take dogs for a walk and help with housework.

About me

I am a 50-year-old woman who has MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and Mental Health conditions. When I go out and about, I need a wheelchair to assist with my mobility. I would like a Support Worker to assist me with accessing the community and also supporting me whilst at home.

My Support Worker will need to be patient and have an understanding of how MS can affect me. I can get anxious and frustrated if I am rushed, and this can affect my mood greatly. I would like to employ someone who can lift my mood by getting involved with activities that I enjoy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

· Taking me out to socialise.

· Helping me take my dogs out for a walk and clear up after them, if required.

· Assisting me to get my clothes ready for the day.

· Assisting me with organising my things around the house and keeping it clean and tidy - e.g. hanging out, folding and packing away clothes, loading the dishwasher, changing my bed, etc.

· Enabling me to keep my house tidy so that I can find things easily - you must be happy to undertake some household cleaning as part of this role.

· Patient attitude.

· Understanding or experience of MS and dealing/coping with it.

· Understanding or experience of Mental Health conditions and dealing/coping with them.

· Comfortable around dogs.

· Trustworthy.

· Able to think of ideas for interesting activities.

· Good sense of humour!

· Awareness of the importance of confidentiality.

· Happy to work in a smoking home.

Desirable Criteria

· Awareness of mental health issues

· Willingness to cook with me sometimes

· Enjoyment of art, e.g. painting, ceramics and learning about other types of art - you don't have to be an artist!

· Awareness of independent living equipment, e.g. perching stools

· Hours, days and times of work:

· Position 1: Wed, Fri, Sat and Sunday: 4.30pm - 6.30pm, Thursday: 2.30pm - 6.30pm

· Position 2: Sat and Sun: 10.30am - 2.30pm

· Pay rate: £12.88 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.