Council on the hunt for Personal Assistants

IF you thought a Personal Assistant only did office work, think again.

Swansea Council has joined forces with the Dewis Centre for Independent Living to start the search for Personal Assistants with a wide range of skills to help disabled, elderly or vulnerable adults or children live their lives as independently as possible and achieve their personal aspirations.

The work could include supporting someone with day-to-day activities such as shopping, trips to the cinema or getting to the doctors, caring for an autistic child to give the mother a break or giving someone the practical support they need to manage at home.

Personal Assistants will need to be confident, reliable and caring with plenty of patience and a good sense of humour. In return they’ll get good rates of pay, opportunities for training and the satisfaction of making a real difference to the life of the person they are supporting.

Cllr Jane Harris, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Services for Adults and Vulnerable People, said: “In Swansea one of our top priorities is ensuring vulnerable people have the support they need to live independently at home, choosing the goals they’d like to achieve, maximising their individual potential and becoming involved with their local community.  Personal Assistants can often help make that happen in a way that traditional services can’t.”

Individuals who are assessed as needing support because they’re frail, disabled or vulnerable have the option of receiving a payment from the council, known as a direct payment, instead of having a service provided. This enables them to employ someone who understands what is important to them and can support them in a way that fits comfortably into their way of life.

Cllr Harris said: “It’s designed for those who are looking for a more flexible and individual approach to their support arrangements, allowing them to choose the kind of care they receive and who provides it.

“The one-to-one relationship between a Personal Assistant and the person they’re working for means it’s essential that they are well-matched, and this is something that Dewis helps out with as part of the recruitment process.”

Personal Assistant roles are usually for a few hours each week and could suit someone who already works part-time or someone who’s retired but wants to continue to use their skills and experience in their community.  Some people even work full-time by combining several different Personal Assistant roles.

Go to www.dewiscil.org.uk/recruitment to find out more about being a Personal Assistant and the opportunities available in your area.