Female Personal Assistant – BLNT Needed in Wallsend, North Tyneside

Location: Wallsend, North Tyneside

Hours of work: 8 hours per week, with additional holiday and sickness cover available

Thursday: 8:15am – 4:45pm, although I’m open to a slightly later start time if needed

Rate of pay: £14.05 per hour

All shifts over 6 hours include a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

Driver Essential

I’m registered as severely sight impaired and live with my two lovely children, my amazing guide dog, and our very cheeky pet dog. We’re a lively household that loves long walks, especially when they end with coffee and cake (bonus points if you love cake too!).

Speaking of cake, I’m a keen baker. My son says I should open a bakery because my bakes are that good! So, if you enjoy taste-testing muffins or being around the smell of fresh cookies, you’re in luck.

When the sun’s out, we love pottering in the garden and trying to grow things (sometimes successfully, sometimes not!). Weekends and school holidays are all about fun days out – think National Trust adventures, soft play chaos, swimming and even bouncing around at trampolining parks.

Life in our house is busy and fast-paced! With two children, two dogs and a busy family schedule, there’s usually plenty going on. I also have ADHD and autism, which means I tend to live life at quite a fast pace and can have lots of things happening at once. This is definitely an active, hands-on role, so I’m looking for someone energetic who is happy to get stuck in, keep up with our busy days and take things in their stride.

The job? You’ll be my extra pair of eyes out in the world, helping me to remain independent and get on with everyday family life. One day might involve shopping and household jobs, while another could include walking the dogs, helping with the children or joining us on a family day out.

You’ll need to be a confident communicator, as describing things clearly helps me to stay independent and involved. You’ll also need to be comfortable helping around the house with a variety of domestic tasks and be happy working in a busy family environment.

A full, clean UK driving licence is essential. I have an automatic car that you’ll use as part of the role.

Supporting Me as a Parent

It is important to understand that this role is primarily about supporting me, rather than providing childcare or taking over the care of my children. You will naturally spend time around my children, talk and interact with them and, over time, hopefully build a positive relationship with them. However, I remain their parent and will continue to take the lead in caring for them.

Both of my children can take quite a long time to build trust with new people, particularly as they have experienced people coming and going from our lives. It is therefore important that their relationships with my PAs are allowed to develop naturally and at their own pace. As trust develops, there may be times when a PA becomes a little more involved with them, but this should never be expected or rushed.

Your role is to support me to do things with and for my children, rather than stepping in and doing those things instead of me. For example, on a family day out, I may need you to guide me, describe what my children are doing, help me navigate the environment or provide the practical support I need so that I can be the parent.

I am looking for someone who understands this distinction and is happy to become part of our busy family environment without feeling that they need to take over.

An Active Role

This is a physically active role, and it is important that you are comfortable with this. Walking is a big part of my everyday life, and a typical Thursday will usually include a walk of at least 5km, lasting around 1–1.5 hours. This is my normal minimum daily walk rather than an occasional activity, so I need a PA who genuinely enjoys walking and is physically able to keep up with an active lifestyle.

The role also involves normal everyday lifting and carrying, such as shopping bags, boxes and occasionally children’s bikes or scooters. From time to time, I may also need support with jobs such as a trip to the household waste and recycling centre. I am happy to do heavier lifting myself, but I will need you to guide me safely around the site and help to carry lighter items where needed. I am looking for someone who is happy to get stuck into the practical side of everyday family life and understands that the role can be quite hands-on.

No experience? No worries! Training will be provided. What really matters is that you’re enthusiastic, reliable, energetic, have a positive attitude towards disabled people and, importantly, have a good sense of humour – because we love a good laugh around here!

If you’re someone who enjoys being busy, doesn’t mind a bit of organised chaos and would be happy joining us for everything from dog walks and errands to family adventures and cake breaks, I’d love to hear from you!

For further details, please see the Job Description 

Positions are subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS criminal record check.

This post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, paragraphs 1–4.

This vacancy will close as soon as a suitable candidate is appointed.

At the time of starting their employment, the successful candidate must have permission to work in the U.K.