Emily

My Requirements

Live-in care assistant/housekeeper – salary range £19,500 to £26,000 depending on hours agreed (plus full board and own room). Permanent position. Position can be suitable for combining with a daytime job or full-time study.

Surbiton family (including 2 children, ages 17 and 11) need a care assistant for their physically disabled son, aged 15.

The successful applicant would live-in as part of the family with their own room. They will be part of a team of carers, teachers and therapists with this team largely covering the day time period. In addition to their caring responsibilities, they would be expected to do light daily housework like clothes washing, ironing and cooking, as part of the family. The family already has a cleaner.

Hours required are between 30 and 40 hours a week and are to be agreed at the start of the contract. The core hours being 6.30am to 8.30am and 6pm to 8pm Monday to Friday. The remaining non core hours a week to be agreed, the hours tend to be after 8pm to cover evening meetings or mornings until 10am. So the successful applicant will be free most daytimes during the week, and at weekends. Previous holders of this post have combined it with full-time post-graduate study, long distance study courses and second jobs during the daytime.

The position has four weeks’ holiday a year pro rata.

Helping with the personal care of the disabled son is the core of the position. He is weight bearing and can walk with assistance. Duties include helping to get him up and put him to bed, washing and dressing him and preparing his food. No nursing qualifications are required, but some experience of caring is highly preferable, as is a “can do” attitude to the son’s disability. Tasks will include assisting with basic massage and gentle physical exercises. Help with the younger able bodied daughter may be required from time to time.

A good level of conversational English is important, as is a good level of fitness and strength. Basic cooking skills would be an advantage.

Any candidate should contact us with a letter of interest and a CV, including referees. We are looking to interview at a mutually convenient time in the next week or two, with the successful candidate ideally starting as soon as possible after a job offer is accepted, and no later than the end of September.