Date as Postmarked

Dear Applicant 

Re: Job Ref AT ED

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 you submitting your application, 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 AT ED
Personal Assistant

Hours: 15-20 hours per week, however, this is negotiable on successful interview
Pay: £14.82 per hour

The position
We are looking for 1 or 2 female PAs to support a young autistic woman with cerebral palsy to lead her life. The young woman wants to become more independent in her life and being in her 20s she is keen to learn new skills, gain new experiences and make some friends. 

Below are the qualities she is looking for and the types of things she wants to do together. 

Qualities
•	Sociable, easy going & calm
•	Building trust and relationship
•	Able to take the lead when needed
•	Respectful 
•	Wide range of interests and happy to try or learn new things
•	Understanding of cerebral palsy/autism/disability

Things to do together
•	Going into town
•	Building up independence within the house
•	Cooking and budgeting
•	Support at her job/course
•	Developing independent travel skills
•	Accessing sports and activities – helping to keep active and do physiotherapy

Things that the young woman wants you to understand
Autism:
•	Can struggle with the grey area
•	It helps to have a choice between 2 concrete options
•	Experiences heightened noise so can become overwhelmed
•	Sometimes processing 2 things at once is hard – eating and talking; dealing with several noises at the same time
•	Social battery can be drained and so need time to build it up again but also important that it doesn’t get completely drained

Physically:
•	Uses a manual or power wheelchair when needed
•	Sometimes likes to walk but rests are needed, even if it looks like they aren’t
•	Useful to remind her to have a rest and to find places where she can take a break

Sensory:
•	Heightened senses especially noise/unexpected sounds
•	Lights in one shop might be too bright
•	Strong smells can be difficult
•	When dealing with different senses, it can be very hard to concentrate on a task

Anxiety:
•	Can become overwhelmed quite easily by noise; demands for interaction; unfamiliar places and unfamiliar people
•	Changes of plan triggers anxiety
•	Parts of anxiety that are autistic and parts that are non-autistic

Mood:
•	She can experience different types of different moods, and sometimes low mood. 
•	She needs support at these times to be reminded how important it is to get out of the house and to do the things she wants to do

Selection Process

Application – the first stage is the application form, including CV, and a few people will be selected for interview. 

Interview – the young woman will not be present at the initial interview, and this will be screening for the most suitable candidates. 

Meeting – the final stage will be the young woman meeting the candidate(s) and having a trial shift, which is paid. Then a decision will be made about an offer of employment. 

We are looking for one or two PAs who would work 15-20 hours each a week. However, this could be more or fewer hours, depending on availability and suitability of the candidate. 

The post will be offered subject to successful interview and references and based on the completion of a paid trial shift. 

Application Form for Job Reference AT ED

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 		
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, ie. 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.  eg. 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 valid in the UK?		
Do you have the use of a vehicle?		
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. Please indicate whether referees may be contacted prior to interview. 
	Reference 1	Reference 2	
Name			
Position			
Relationship to you			
Title of referee 			
Company			
Postal address			
			
Town			
Post code			
Email 			
Telephone number			
Mobile			
			
May be contacted prior to interview? 			
 
Application forms may be returned by email to: pajobs@lothiancil.org.uk or 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.