Seeking self-employed PA/home support worker for my mum in Birstall

Self-employed PA/home support worker needed in Birstall
Seeking a self-employed PA for my mum, who lives in Birstall. This is primarily to provide maternity cover for one of our existing PA's, but we also require some permanent ongoing help on a Sunday and on a Monday (the latter for anyone who is a driver). Mum needs support to help her manage her role as carer for my dad, who has vascular parkinsonism and dementia, and is a wheelchair user. Mum also has long-term health conditions.

Maternity cover is needed on:
• Monday to Friday mornings (a 30-minute call at 8am approximately)
• Wednesday evenings (a 1 hour call at around 5:30pm).
We also have a permanent need for someone on:
• Sunday mornings, also around 8am (extra availability on the weekends in general would also be really helpful).

Morning calls consist of providing some company, reassurance and a morning cuppa for mum, while sorting breakfast out for my dad (he sleeps downstairs) so that mum can rest in bed. The Wednesday evening call is to prepare the evening meal, prompt mum to take her evening medication and prepare her medication for the next morning. Part of supporting mum in general is also helping to encourage dad to drink enough, as he has a permanent catheter.

There is a bit of flexibility with timings of calls if needed but the evening meal needs to be ready by 6:30pm latest as dad’s bedtime care call is at 8pm.

In addition, we are looking permanently for someone with a clean, full driving licence who would be able to take mum and dad in our wheelchair adapted Citroen Berlingo (dad is a wheelchair user) to a local exercise/support group once a week (currently Mondays from 1-2pm) and collect them afterwards.

In general, experience with dementia care and catheter care, and knowledge of patient handling and transfers would be useful, but not essential. An ability to be flexible (or even innovative!) with meal preparation would also be helpful: one of mum’s conditions can affect her ability to eat, so some adaptation to her meals may be required at times, while dad has swallowing problems, so there are some foods that are a choking hazard for him, plus he also really needs food to be flavourful (umami flavours are a favourite!). I keep a list of meals and a folder of recipes to help with this.

Please get in touch for an informal chat if you are interested, even if you can’t help with all calls; we know we may need more than one person to cover the hours needed, and in particular we don't want to discourage any non-drivers who could help us with calls but are not able to help with the travel to the exercise group.

Contact Becky on 07745453164 or at [email protected]

Genders which may apply for this job – Any

Hours per week – 4.5 hours approx

Hourly rate – Self employed (between £17.50 and £20 per hour)

Area – Charnwood

Driving licence required – No

Employer has pets – No

Employer is smoker – No

Required care experience – awareness of following prescribed medication protocols, dementia care, moving and handling (such as hoisting and/or help to transfer), older people, physical disability