Job Description

Job Title:

3 Personal Assistants (PAs) / Specialist Support Workers - Specialist Support for Young Adult with Autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), and Sensory and Motor Skills Differences

Location:

Wynyard, Billingham (TS22)

Hours:

See breakdown below (shared across 3 PAs)

Pay:

17.50 per hour (negotiable depending on experience)

About the Role:

We are seeking calm, patient, and reliable personal assistants to support a young male adult with autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), a learning disability, and complex sensory and motor needs. He is currently in further education and has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place. He receives ongoing Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), and support is delivered using consistent strategies aligned with therapy input.

At home, the family use an ABA-informed approach to promote communication and independence. His college follows a TEACCH-based structure, and while PAs will not be working within the college setting, maintaining consistency with familiar routines is important. Support will be provided both at home and in the community, following a structured routine developed by the family.

This is a meaningful opportunity to support someone in building confidence, communication, and independence in a low-arousal, person-centred environment.

This is an exciting opportunity to be directly employed by a private family, working in close partnership with the family, a speech and language therapist (SALT), an occupational therapist (OT), and educators as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team.

Hours Breakdown:

Three PAs:

o 8 weekday after-college and evening hours per week (52 weeks per year)

o 16 weekend hours per week (52 weeks per year)

o Remaining 32 weekday hours during college holidays (14 weeks per year)

o Hours to be shared between three PAs

o Schedule to be agreed based on availability and compatibility

o All hours exclude time when the individual is accessing respite care (36 nights per year)

Key Responsibilities:

Supporting community access (e.g. walks, local outings, cinema, bowling, trampolining, museum visits, shopping, eating out, medical/dental appointments) Suggesting and planning new activities in line with the individual's interests and developmental needs Providing calm, one-to-one support with structure and predictability Supporting personal care, meal preparation, eating, and other daily living tasks as needed Ensuring safety and wellbeing at all times Using or learning visual, gesture-based, and modelling techniques to support communication Recognising and responding to sensory and motor needs, with support from the family Following guidance from the individual's family and therapy team Supporting safety awareness and decision-making in real-time situations Promoting a respectful and enabling environment

Essential Requirements:

Good standard of spoken and written English (GCSE, equivalent qualification, or proven experience) Experience (or interest in developing experience) supporting individuals with:
o Complex language and communication needs

o Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

o Sensory and motor needs

Willingness to learn and adapt to individualised communication, ASD and sensory regulation strategies Calm, consistent, and responsive approach Ability to work under family guidance and respect established routines Ability to work both independently and as part of a small team, including family members and professionals Own car and full UK driving licence (essential) Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to undergo one) Two references Legal right to work in the UK

Desirable:

Familiarity with TEACCH, low-arousal approaches, or ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) informed strategies Experience supporting Childhood Apraxia of Speech or language impairment Background in speech and language support, social care, or SEN education (especially ABA-based programmes) Suitable for students or graduates in clinical psychology, speech and language therapy, or special education

What We Offer:

Meaningful, person-centred role in a supportive family-led setting Structured and rewarding work with opportunity to build rapport over time Training opportunities available where appropriate Flexibility in planning sessions within agreed hours

To Apply:

Please email your CV along with a short covering note explaining your relevant experience and why the role appeals to you. Informal enquiries are welcome before applying.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 17.50 per hour

Expected hours: 16 - 24 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Flexitime Free parking On-site parking
Schedule:

Every weekend Monday to Friday Overtime Weekend availability
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: MAR - JA