Job Title: Personal Assistant
Wages: £15 per hour
Hours: 2 hours per week, any time on Friday between 4.00-8.00pm or Saturday 10.30am-1.30pm, plus occasional cover
Location: Edinburgh
Contract: Zero hours, with holiday pay
Hello! I’m a wheelchair user, with a professional background in academia, third sector, government and the arts. These days I work full-time from home, running a social enterprise. I need someone to provide me with 2 hours support a week. I already employ someone for one 2-hour shift and am looking for someone for a second shift on Friday or Saturday morning, and occasional cover sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday if my other PA is away. There is a range of possible hours for your shift, as shown, but once we have agreed a usual time it needs to be regular and reliable. I need support with housework, other household tasks, and minor personal care. There may occasionally be scope for more hours if it suits you.
Attitude is important. I need practical support to get on with my life. I don’t need ‘looking after’ and protecting! Attention to detail matters, e.g. I have limited reach, so it’s important to leave things where I can reach them. Good communication is important too, e.g. if you’re unavoidably going to be late. I sometimes work with senior people in government and elsewhere, so confidentiality is a must. Previous experience of supporting a disabled person would be helpful but isn’t essential if you’re willing to learn. And it’s obviously important (for us both!) that we get on well.
I have some health issues which mean I’m still at risk from Covid and airborne infections, so I need my PAs to be careful about ensuring my safety, e.g. by wearing a mask in the house (I can supply). Happy to talk through any queries or concerns.
You must have the right to work in the UK and you will need to have, or be eligible for a National Insurance Number and membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme (https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme). This is now a requirement for all such care roles in Scotland. Please don’t let that put you off. I am very happy to assist you with the process, if necessary.
No closing date for application but I would like to fill the post as soon as possible.
Thanks so much for your interest!
Key tasks
- Carry out routine basic housework at my direction, e.g. wash up, cleaning, laundry, put clothes away, water plants, fill kettle, put shopping away, etc.
- Assist with minor personal care, as required, e.g. help with compression socks, or to put a coat on.
- Occasional shopping, collect prescriptions, post letters, etc.
- Occasionally assist with food preparation, as required.
- Undertake other tasks that need doing around the house – and garden if you’re up for it! – as may reasonably be required.
- Take all possible Covid-safety measures.
- Possibly accompany me, e.g. to (very occasional) in-person seminars, meetings, medical appointments.
- Occasional 2 hours cover on Tuesday or Wednesday when my other PA is on leave.
- Support efficient effective administration related to this role, e.g. promptly check and sign timesheets, provide me with prompt information if you change address.
Person specification
Essential things you need:
- Good organisational skills
- Good listening skills
- Reliability and punctuality
- Flexible approach
- Attention to detail, thoroughness
- Respect for confidentiality
- Happy to be directed but also able to use initiative appropriately when needed.
- The right to work in the UK, have/ be eligibility for a National Insurance Number and the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme (I can help you with the process)
Desirable things you might have:
- Previous experience of supporting a disabled person, or of living or working with a disabled person.
- Interest/s in any of the following: social policy, sociology, economics, politics, equality, the arts, clinical science, environment, health and social care, aerosol physics/ clean air technology, languages.
How to apply
To download an application pack please click Application-pack-September-2026 or call our recruitment line on 0131 475 2558 quoting SW CG.
Please note Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCIL) provides support to individual disabled employers. LCIL is not the employer and only provides the recruitment and administrative support to the individual employer.