Personal Assistant VWMREL

A Job Description for a Personal Assistant

It is the job of the personal assistant to assist ***** in all areas of personal and domestic need and to act as an escort and aid her to participate in social and day to day activities.

By providing assistance at the right time, ****** is enabled to lead an individual and independent lifestyle, in her own home, within the community.

The personal assistant should understand their role in facilitating the self-defined needs of ******. They should feel confident to ask what ********’s needs are, always to listen to her requests and to interpret them correctly.

Assistants should be able to handle the physical skills of lifting, handling, pushing and bending. The personal assistant does not have to be a strong person physically to do the job well. However, general good health is important.

Personal requirements
• Preparing and cooking of fresh food. Serving of food as required.
• General domestic duties.
• General housework, including the cleaning and dusting of all rooms, furniture and fitments and other household maintenance.
• Laundry duties; ie: washing, ironing, putting away and sequencing of clothing.
• Making and changing of beds.
• Shopping for food and other items.
• Running errands if required.
• Some driving required.
• Assistance to wash, dress and shower.

Other duties
• Assistance in and out of car
• Maintenance to exterior of house; i.e. Clearance of snow from paths, cleaning windows etc.
• Accompanying to appointments, events and activities.

Note: All needs will vary daily and the personal assistant’s duties and tasks will fluctuate accordingly.

Personal Assistant’s responsibilities
As far as possible resolve any questions regarding the task prior to beginning work.

Arrive at the agreed time ready to work. Give notification if you are going to be more than ten minutes late.

It is important to establish a close working relationship when working on a one-to-one basis. If any problems arise it is important to discuss and resolve them as soon as possible. Be as open in your communication as possible.

Confidentiality: respect the privacy of the person you are working with. Many problems can arise from casual conversation about the help and assistance you might give. Try to maintain a professional approach at all times.

Attitude: appreciate the strains and stresses involved for ******* and the effect that this can have on the acceptance of help. Understand that the preservation of dignity and independence is important.

Learning the tasks involved
For the most part, areas of assistance can be learned and familiarised through the assistant and disabled person working together. Where required, practical training and guidance will be provided.

Points to bear in mind
Personal assistants should respect the possessions of and equipment in *****’s home. Use of the telephone, television, radio, etc. Should only be with *******’s prior consent.

Personal assistants should also respect the relationships of ****** with other household members and with visitors. Joining in at social occasions etc. should be at the invitation of ******.

Qualifications and personal qualities required
Personal assistants should be:
• Reliable and trustworthy;
• Able to accept responsibility;
• Able to work on their own and work with initiative as the occasion arises;
• Clean and have no unhygienic habits;
• Willing to learn the job well;
• Diligent;
• Conscientious.
• Flexible
• Sensitive

Hours
15 hours per week – flexible to be agreed with the employer.

Rate of Pay
£7.50 per hour