I’m a political and creative disabled woman in my 50s, living in Eastville BS16, an artist-activist and mother to a young adult. I have a chronic, fluctuating illness which heavily impacts my energy and pain levels, limiting my physical, mental and social activity, and entailing uninterrupted periods of rest during the day. I employ Personal Assistants (PAs) to provide the assistance I need with various aspects of daily living – domestic, personal, work and social – in order to minimise the impact of both chronic illness and discrimination. Having recently completed a long-term PhD and undergone major building works, along with Covid shielding, my life, and therefore PA work, is currently predominantly domestic whilst I work out ‘what next’.

I already have a main PA in post and am now looking for a second Back Up PA for occasional work (for example, to fill in when main PA on holiday or off sick, and when additional cover needed).

Key Tasks

Main domestic and local duties:

l Housework, including cleaning, laundry, etc

l Shopping, or assisting with shopping, post office, general domestic tasks and errands

l Washing hair

l Organising house, post-move and building works

l Planning, preparing and cooking vegetarian meals

l Feeding and caring for cats and plants. Taking cats to vet, flea treatment, etc

l Occasional maintenance of outside of house: cleaning windows, sweeping paths, etc

l Gardening

l Basic household maintenance or DIY

l Driving my van, locally and further afield. Routine upkeep of van (cleaning, tyre pressures, oil, fuel, etc.)

l Assisting with mobility, including chair maintenance, occasional wheelchair-pushing, occasional walking distances (eg. 8 km) in natural environments.

Other duties which may arise:

l Assisting in getting to appointments, meetings, social activities, etc, including occasional overnight stays away

l Basic administration and support with projects

l Occasionally researching impairment-related or household equipment

l Enabling me to carry out any chosen activity whether inside or outside my home, by undertaking other requests which I might reasonably make.

My PAs can be female or male. The exception to this is some overnight work where, for reasons of privacy, I book female PAs only (Schedule 9, part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 applies).

Occasionally, additional blocks of work are needed, subject to the PA’s availability. PAs can be self-employed or employed (PAYE).

Person Specification

Previous experience of PA work is not important, but applicants must be willing to learn and adapt. A commitment to this job is essential.

Essential attributes

l Efficient, with excellent organising and communication skills

l Excellent attention to detail

l Ability to use initiative and accept responsibility

l Reliability, trustworthiness and confidentiality

l Respect for, and co-operation with, the way I choose to live

l Plenty of energy and good general health

l Frugal to keep household waste and costs to a minimum

l Safe, calm and efficient driver with minimum of 12 months' clean UK driving licence (i.e. no endorsements). (A licence restricted to driving automatics is fine.)

l Ability to plan and prepare healthy food, including good understanding of nutrition

l Fluent spoken and written English

l Fully Covid-vaccinated and willing to observe Covid-safe protocols as stipulated by employer

l Non-smoker

l At ease with cats and dogs

Desirable

l Basic DIY

l Basic knowledge of gardening

l Bike maintenance (for wheelchairs)

l Knowledge of bodywork practice (such as massage, stretches, etc)

l Ability to accompany on occasional overnight trips.