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Are you a recent graduate and not sure what to do next? Or are you someone with a passion for making a positive impact on others’ lives?
We have an amazing opportunity for you to become a Personal Assistant to our client who is a bubbly and fun wheelchair user, starting her studies in Accounting & Finance at the University of Sussex.
StartDate: Training to start July, in preparation for September 2025 enrolment date.Location: Sussex (Term Time)/Surbiton (Holidays)Shift Pattern: 7 days on / 7 days off (live-in)
Care experience is not required as full training in our client's particular requirements will be provided.
Rate of Pay & Benefits
-Pay: £200 per day / £1,400 per week
-Free accommodation while on shift
-Holidays: 5.6 weeks (pro rata)
-Bespoke training in the client’s particular requirements
-On-call support from client coordinator
About our Client
Our client is a first-year Accounting & Finance student at the University of Sussex. She has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, a neuromuscular condition that causes muscle weakness and fatigue. She uses a powered wheelchair full-time and requires assistance with everyday tasks such as personal care, dressing, cooking, cleaning, and general support.
Personality and Interests:
- Independent and Social: she wants the freedom to attend events, socialise with friends, and lead a university life that is adventurous, active and fun.
- Dedicated: she represents GB in the paralympic sport of Boccia and trains regularly to maximise her success and enjoyment of sport.
- Determined: she manages her studies, sport, health and social life with organisation, perseverance, and enthusiasm.
- Other interests: Music (Indie,Pop, Rock), Travel (anywhere!), TV/Film, Reading (currently sports psychology), Puzzles.
AbouttheJob
This is a fantastic opportunity to truly make a positive difference in somebody else’s life. To assist our client in achieving her goals and aspirations, therefore, this job offers the prospect of meaningful job satisfaction.
You will provide our client's personal, health care (therapy), some sporting and social support. This role includes all the things you’d expect a university student to be doing, supporting our client to access her social life and make the most of her university experience, whilst also taking care of herself and managing her condition.
Whilst our client will have an academic and sports timetable that changes each term, she is particularly looking forward to the spontaneity of student life and her activities / required support may differ from day to day.
Her care will be structured as a 3 person team with 2 carers working alternating weeks, and a 3rd specialist carer (already in post) supporting her at most training camps and all international competitions.
AboutYou:
You are unlikely to have experience in every aspect of our client's care; therefore, full training in her particular needs is provided. She is an excellent communicator and likes things to be done in a certain way, so you will be someone who can remember her preferences and be open to ongoing feedback until you are both comfortable with her routines. Training will also be given to support her with therapies including stretches, orthotics, use of a standing frame, massage and hydrotherapy.
There may be times when our client is socialising or developing her independence and would like the reassurance of you being on hand nearby, without necessarily being right beside her. You will therefore ideally have your own hobbies and pursuits that you can do whilst being "on call" which can easily be paused when you are needed.
She will be somewhat time pressured at university as she will be studying for quite an intensive degree whilst training 10 hours per week and also maintaining all her therapies to manage her Muscular Dystrophy. Ideally you will be a very organised person who is excellent at timekeeping and preparing ahead so you are ready to support her as needed, and able to carry out tasks on her behalf for time efficiency e.g. during lectures.
Our client is hoisted for transfers from her wheelchair but there is some physical exertion in the manual handling element of the role. You will be privy to almost all areas of our client’s life. You will be able to respect our client's privacy and have an understanding of the need for confidentiality in all areas of your work.
Overall, our client is looking for someone with common sense, patience, lots of fun, reliability, flexibility, open and honest communication, and an unswerving commitment to never make her feel like her requests are an inconvenience.
Requirements:
- Valid UK Driving Licence (Essential)
- Fluent English communication- both verbal and written (Essential)
- Own transport or public transport with access to Falmer, Sussex and Surbiton, Kingston-upon-Thames
- Physically fit for manual handling and therapy delivery
- Domestic skills: Capable of cooking as directed by the client; light cleaning and laundry including ironing
- Non-smoker (due to the clients respiratory weakness)
Application Process: If you would like to apply for this position, please describe your interests in your covering letter.
Due to the personal care needs of the client, this role is open to female applicants only. This requirement is an occupational requirement as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
About Us: AskJules is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults. All applicants must be willing to undergo the appropriate screening, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
