Salary: £15.00 per hour
Work Hours: 5 hours per week
Contract Type: Part-time
Holiday Entitlement: 5.6 weeks or equivalent
Benefits: Employers Pension Scheme
Looking for an additional Personal Assistant (PA) to join a small team providing support to a13-year-old boy, who has Autism and severe learning disabilities. This new role will enable 2:1 staffing when out in the community so he can safely take part in activities and enjoy new experiences.

Advertised on behalf of a family:

Location: Carlisle, CA1
Job Type: Part-time (Direct Payment role)
Pay Rate: £15.00 per hour

About the Role:
A family in Carlisle is looking for an additional Personal Assistant (PA) to join their small team providing support to their 13-year-old son, who has Autism and severe learning disabilities.

He is currently out of education and supported by one PA. This new role will provide additional support, enabling 2:1 staffing when out in the community so he can safely take part in activities and enjoy new experiences.

The young person is pre-verbal and fully reliant on adult support for all aspects of his care. He is not known to be aggressive but may occasionally refuse activities or support and will “vote with his feet” when he wants to do something different. He has no awareness of danger, so close supervision and careful planning are essential.

This is a rewarding role for someone patient, understanding, and creative in their approach — someone who can help make a real difference in his day-to-day life.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Work alongside the existing PA to provide consistent, safe, and engaging 2:1 support.
  • Support the young person in the community, planning activities in quieter, safer environments.
  • Provide personal care and assistance with daily routines, always maintaining dignity and respect.
  • Use (or be willing to learn)alternative communication methods such as visuals, Makaton, or objects of reference to support understanding.
  • Encourage and enable participation in activities suited to his interests and sensory needs.
  • Be patient and flexible, particularly when he refuses activities or support, using gentle, supportive approaches.
  • Ensure safety and wellbeing at all times, given his lack of danger awareness.
  • Communicate effectively with the family, existing PA, and professionals involved in his care to provide consistent, high-quality support.

About You:

  • Kind, calm, and patient with a genuine interest in supporting children and young people with additional needs.
  • Reliable and able to work well in a family environment
  • Willing to provide personal care and support in all areas of daily life.
  • Experience supporting people with Autism and/or severe learning disabilities is helpful but not essential – training can be provided.
  • Able to think creatively, plan engaging activities, and adapt to the young person’s needs.
  • Good communication skills and a commitment to person-centered, respectful care.

Additional Information:

  • Hours: Currently 5 hours per week, worked flexibly during the daytime on weekdays. Hours and routine will change when he returns to education next year. The support would then be needed on evenings, weekends and during school holidays.
  • Employment: This is a Direct Payment role, where you will be employed directly by the family.
  • Training: Full induction and ongoing support will be provided.
  • Safeguarding: This role is subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check (paid for by the employer).

Job Type: Part-time

Benefits:

  • Company pension
  • Employee discount

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: ILC-C-134

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