Date as Postmarked

Dear Applicant 

Re: Job Ref JN ZM CEC

Please find enclosed job description and application form for the post with the above job reference.

Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living is only passing this information on to you on behalf of an individual employer. If you are short-listed you will be contacted by our client. 

If you do not hear from them within four weeks from the closing date, you can presume that you have been unsuccessful. Unfortunately we are unable to write to those who have not been short-listed for interview. 

Thank you for applying for the job and Good Luck with your application!

Yours faithfully

Admin Support
Independent Living Team
Job Description for Personal Assistant 

Job Reference: JN ZM CEC

Supporting A Disabled Man Live His Best Life

I live with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, but I refuse to let it define me. 

I'm a passionate man with many interests, including going to the theatre and gigs, films, politics, and disability issues.  I particularly enjoy trad music and learning Gaelic. I hope to return to my online university studies next year. I enjoy conversations about anything from the day's issues to philosophical questions. I also enjoy discussing the most random subjects, such as what if ostriches could fly or if pineapple belongs on pizza (it does not).

My sense of humour can be dark, dry, savage, or silly, depending on what I see or hear. If you're easily offended, this job isn't for you. But we will get along great if you can laugh at yourself and others.

A Personal Assistant is employed to support me in living how way I choose. To be my arms and legs. Getting the right assistance when I need it allows me to achieve my goals and lead my life independently. You'll enable me to do this by listening to what I want and following my instructions. It is, therefore, vital that an employee has excellent communication and listening skills.

You’ll be joining a growing team of PAs, who will provide my 24-hour once fully established. 

I have will have tracheostomy soon once my 24-hour care is in place. Don’t be put off by this – qualified nurses will train you. 

The job also involves moving and assisting/use of a hoist etc. Training will be provided in the form of shadowing my current PAs.

You don’t need to be strong to do the job well, but good health is important. After a period of familiarisation with the duties, you will be required to assist me with the following tasks, sometimes without close supervision. The post holder will therefore need to be able to work on their own initiative whilst at the same time being respectful of my wishes.

You'll be working with me alone most of the time. However, you'll be working alongside other PAs at times for example for showering or if I want to take a trip outside Edinburgh.      

I have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, which PAs can be insured to drive. 

If you're looking for a job that will challenge you, make you laugh, and help you make a difference in the world, this job is for you.

The job involves assisting me with a variety of tasks. Like most people, my day varies, so it isn't possible to list every task that a Personal Assistant expects. These tasks will be shared among the team.

Tasks could include:

Personal Tasks

•	Assistance me with showering / washing / brushing teeth / brushing hair / shaving / toileting. 
•	Assisting me with dressing and undressing.
•	Using a hoist to lift me.
•	Assistance me getting into/out of bed.
•	Positioning me in bed or my wheelchair.
•	Assistance with eating, drinking, and taking medication.
•	Assistance with non-invasive ventilation.
•	Eventual tracheostomy care.

Domestic Tasks

•	Making and changing my bed.
•	Keeping my bathroom clean.
•	Preparing my meals, snacks, and drinks.
•	Washing dishes, kitchen equipment etc. used for my meals.
•	Washing and drying and ironing my clothes.
•	Keeping my bedroom and living clean and tidy.
•	Assisting me with shopping.
•	Assistance to look after my dog.
•	Watering my plants if I have any.

Social Tasks

•	Helping me to go to pubs, cinema, theatre, museums, gigs and social events with or without friends.
•	Assistance me to attend classes/courses.
•	Assistance while on day trips.
•	Assistance when going out for a walk (roll).
•	Shopping for pleasure.
•	Assistance with other leisure activities and hobbies, e.g., using games consoles using my record player.
•	Assistance with correspondence and general admin: phone calls, holding letters for me to read, printing, filling in and copying forms.
•	Assist me with any voluntary work commitments I might have.

Transport 
•	Helping me on public transport.
•	Driving my accessible car (if you drive).
•	Strapping my wheelchair into my car.

Other Tasks

•	Basic upkeep of my wheelchair, e.g., charging, inflating/deflating cushion).
•	Alerting me to faulty equipment or household appliances.
•	Pushing my manual wheelchair if my power chair breaks down.
•	Any other reasonable task.

Personal Specification 
	
		ESSENTIAL		DESIRABLE	
Education and Qualifications	Educated to secondary level	Relevant professional qualification or higher education training
	
Skills and Abilities	Excellent communication and listening skills.
Ability to recognise work and personal boundaries.
Ability to work with or without close supervision.
Basic IT skills.
Basic cooking skills.
Be appropriately confident in taking the initiative.
Respect for confidentiality
Ability to react appropriately when challenging situations/emergencies occur.
Negotiation skills.
Creative problem-solving skills.
Advocacy and negotiations skills.		
Experience/ Knowledge
(Paid or voluntary work)	
	Direct personal experience of disability.
Understanding of person-centred working.	
Personal Attributes	Reliable and trustworthy 
Flexible and responsible
Non judgemental
Ability to recognise work/personal.
boundaries
Sensitive & approachable 
Sense of humour
Enjoys a challenge.
Persistence
Team worker		
Other Requirements	Occasional work at evenings or weekends according to needs of service		

The Post is for a Personal Assistant.

The rate of pay is £13 per hour. 

Full-time, 35-hour and part-time contracts are available. 

Contracted hours include waking nights, during which you need to stay awake.

Shifts could be any day Monday – Sunday. Non-sleepover shift times could occur between 8 am and 11 pm. Sleepover and waking night hours are between 11pm and 8am.

There may be occasional sleepover shifts required. The rate of pay for sleepovers is £10.81 per hour and is supplementary to contracted hours.

4-week rotas are agreed upon between us and my other PAs.

Application Form for Job Reference JN ZM CEC

Please complete the following application form as accurately and in as much detail as possible.  Shortlisting for interview will be based on the information you supply on the application form read in conjunction with the job description.
Please do not send in the job description or covering letter when returning the application form.  If you require more room please use a separate piece of paper with the job reference and your name on it.  If completing electronically press tab whilst the final cell in a table is selected to insert a new row.
Personal Details
First Name		
Surname		
Telephone Number		
Mobile Number		
Email Address		
Postal Address, first line.		
Postal Address, second line		
Postal Address, third line		
Postal Address, Town.		
Post Code		

Declaration
I agree that the information I have supplied in this application form is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.  I understand that any deliberate falsification on my part will be viewed as gross misconduct and may lead to my dismissal without notice.
Signature of applicant: ____________________ Date: ________
(Please leave the signature and date blank if you are sending in the form electronically.  If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to sign a printed out copy then.)

History of Education and Training
Name of Educational Establishment	From	To	Qualifications Gained	

				

				

				

				

				

				

				

Work History (including voluntary work)
Name of Employer	Position held	From	To	Main Duties and reason for leaving 	

				

	

				

	

				

	

	

Additional Information 

After reading the Job Description carefully, consider what skills and experience you have that are suited to this post.  They need not have been gained in paid employment and may include special interests relevant to the post.  	

	

Work Availability
Please indicate in the table below what times you would be available for work within the period of the day, i.e. if you are available from 7am to 11am Tuesday morning, then put 7-11am in the box.  If you are available for any time write yes and please write no if you are not available.
	Morning	Afternoon	Evening	Overnight	
Sunday					
Monday					
Tuesday					
Wednesday					
Thursday					
Friday					
Saturday					
Supporting information
You do not need to fill out the following questions if they are not applicable to the post.  e.g. if the job description does not ask for PVG membership, then you may put N/A in the space provided.
Are you a member of the PVG Scheme? 		
PVG Membership Number		
Do you have a full driving licence that is valid in the UK?		
Do you have the use of a vehicle?		
If applicable, would you be prepared to use the vehicle for work?		
When could you start work?		
Where did you see this post advertised?		

References
Please write the names and contact details for two independent people who would be willing to provide a reference for you.  One of them should be your most recent employer.  Note that a telephone number is not sufficient.
	Reference 1	Reference 2	
Name			
Position			
Relationship to you			
Title of referee 			
Company			
Postal Address, line 1			
Postal address, line 2			
Postal address, town			
Post code			
Email address			
Telephone number			
			
Please return the completed application form by 4 pm on the closing date. 
Application forms may be returned by email to: pajobs@lothiancil.org.uk or can be posted to:  PA Recruitment, Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living, Norton Park Centre, 57 Albion Road. Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Please ensure that you have paid adequate postage to send any application forms by mail as LCIL does not accept postage otherwise.