Personal Assistant x2
Ref: RGES972
Location: Hailsham
Details
Employment status: Employed
Hours per week: 20 hours per week, days/times to be discussed
Hourly pay rate: £15 an hour
The client is a 34‑year‑old man, a university graduate, intelligent and physically very fit. He is independent with all personal care and enjoys long walks, often comfortably walking several miles. We are looking for one or more support workers in Hailsham who can bring energy, positivity, and enthusiasm to spending time with him, ideally one female and one male for this role.
Following an iatrogenic brain injury in 2017, he experiences difficulties with short‑term memory and complex executive functioning, alongside a compulsion to walk and occasional phonic tics. The severity of these symptoms fluctuates and is closely linked to stress levels and diet (he avoids sugar and caffeine). Importantly, his core cognition, personality, and sense of humour remain very much present beneath these challenges.
He is able to follow instructions, engage in card and video games, and participate in structured activities, though he may find extended or abstract conversations challenging. His interests include music (particularly rap — he wrote his own lyrics prior to his injury), dogs (he has grown up around German Shepherds), and activities such as snooker, archery, quad biking, and music festivals, although he rarely has the opportunity to enjoy these at present.
Once highly sociable, he continues to thrive in the company of others and gains confidence and motivation through positive social interaction with people close to his own age.
About You
We are looking for one or more support workers who can bring energy, positivity, and enthusiasm to spending time with him.
* You will be youthful in outlook, ideally of a similar age (male or female)
* Natural positive, empathetic, and energetic
* Someone who takes genuine pleasure in seeing a client engage with people and activities that build confidence, improve focus, and support cognitive and executive functioning
* Comfortable encouraging activity, companionship, and shared experiences, rather than passive support
This role would suit someone who values connection, creativity, and fun, and who wants to make a real difference by supporting a client to re‑engage with life in rewarding and meaningful ways.
The role requires a Personal Assistant to be able to provide consistent, skilled supervision and structured community‑based engagement, with a particular focus on managing risks associated with Matthew’s compulsion to walk for extended periods. The PA must be confident in dynamic risk management, able to respond appropriately in real time, maintain clear boundaries and predictable routines, and actively support purposeful activities that help sustain Matthew’s attention and engagement. The role also requires the PA to recognise and respond effectively if Matthew becomes unsettled or attempts to travel beyond agreed limits.
Due to the level of responsibility, the need for high reliability, and the requirement to build a trusting rapport while consistently prioritising safety, recruiting and retaining a suitable PA is expected to be challenging. A higher rate of pay is therefore considered necessary and proportionate to attract and retain an appropriately skilled and dependable worker, reduce the risk of unsuccessful recruitment, and support continuity and stability of care.
Duties include
* Administration
* Companionship
Candidate qualities
* Respectful of the employer's privacy and confidentiality
* Reliable with good timekeeping
* Hygienic, tidy and well organised
* Patient and possess excellent interpersonal skills
* Honest and cheerful
Notes
* All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check if required.
* If you are successful in your application for this position, you will be either engaged directly or employed by the individual employer and not by Independent Lives. The role may be offered on an employed or self‑employed basis, depending on the suitability and agreement with the employer. If the role is employed, you will be entitled to holiday pay and issued an employment contract.
* Please note: If you do not hear back within three weeks of applying, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion.
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