1. Suffolk Independent Living, Beccles
2. £12.88 per hour
3. 4 hours per week (morning visit 10.30am – 2.30pm Sundays)
4. Permanent
5. Reference: 0599
Your role
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.
A little 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.
I have several dogs who are my life so I also need someone who is happy around dogs and can pick up after them every visit – unfortunately, I don’t have the mobility for this. I am not able to keep my home as clean as I would like, therefore the Support Worker will also be required to do housework, such as mopping, hoovering, laundry etc.
Essential Criteria:
6. patient attitude
7. understanding or experience of MS and dealing/coping with it
8. understanding or experience of Mental Health conditions and dealing/coping with them
9. comfortable around dogs
10. trustworthy
11. able to think of ideas for interesting activities
12. good sense of humour
13. awareness of the importance of confidentiality
14. happy to work in a smoking home.
Desirable Criteria:
15. awareness of mental health issues
16. willingness to cook with me sometimes
17. enjoyment of art,. painting, ceramics and learning about other types of art – you don’t have to be an artist
18. awareness of independent living equipment,. perching stools.
Main Duties:
19. taking me out to socialise
20. helping me take my dogs out for a walk and clear up after them, if required
21. assisting me to get my clothes ready for the day
22. assisting me with organising my things around the house and keeping it clean and tidy –. hanging out, folding and packing away clothes, loading the dishwasher, changing my bed, etc
23. 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
24. reminding me to take my medication. You will not be required to administer, but you may need to check that I have taken the right medication
25. supporting me to go shopping locally.
Terms and Conditions
26. Expenses: You will be reimbursed any expenses incurred as part of the role as long as you have obtained my permission beforehand.
27. If your application is 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.
28. Annual leave: The annual holiday entitlement for this position will be equivalent to the work which would normally be done during 5.6 consecutive weeks.
29. Trial period: The post is subject to a probationary period of 3 months.