Personal Assistant​/Autism Support Worker Wynyard TS

Personal Assistant / Autism Support Worker – £17.50ph – Wynyard TS22 - Billingham - TS22

Job Title: Personal Assistant (PA) / Specialist Support Worker – Specialist Support for Young Adult with Autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), and Sensory and Motor Skills Differences

Location: Wynyard, Billingham (TS22)

Hours: School/College Holiday Periods (14 weeks per year, including Bank Holiday Mondays – availability during all holiday periods is essential) + Additional Cover Shifts Available Year-Round – See Hours Available Below

Pay: £17.50 per hour (negotiable depending on experience)

We are seeking a calm, reliable and thoughtful Personal Assistant (PA) to join an established support team for a young adult male with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), learning disability, and complex sensory and motor needs.

One member of the current team is leaving, and we are now recruiting to maintain continuity of support.

He is currently in further education with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and receives ongoing Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT). Support is delivered using consistent strategies aligned with therapy input.

At home, the family use an ABA-informed approach to promote communication and independence. College follows a TEACCH-based structure, and while PAs do not work in college, maintaining consistency with familiar routines is important. Support is provided at home and in the community, following a structured routine developed by the family.

This is a meaningful opportunity to support someone in building confidence, communication, and independence in a low-arousal, person-centred environment.

This is an exciting opportunity to be directly employed by a private family, working in close partnership with the family, a speech and language therapist (SALT), an occupational therapist (OT), educators, and two PAs as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team.

Hours are part of a 40-hour weekly support package shared across 3 PAs.

The vacant hours include:

• 26 weekday hours during college holidays (14 weeks per year)

(Typically Monday–Thursday daytime hours)

Availability during all school/college holiday periods (including Bank Holiday Mondays) is essential.

• Additional cover shifts are available throughout the year, including weekday evenings during term time and weekends, by agreement.

All hours exclude periods when the individual is accessing respite care (36 nights per year).

A consistent schedule will be agreed based on availability and team fit.

• Supporting community access (e.g. walks, local outings, cinema, bowling, trampolining, museum visits, shopping, eating out, medical/dental appointments)
• Suggesting and planning new activities in line with the individual’s interests and developmental needs
• Providing calm, one-to-one support with structure and predictability
• Supporting personal care, meal preparation, eating, and other daily living tasks as needed
• Ensuring safety and wellbeing at all times
• Using or learning visual, gesture-based, and modelling techniques to support communication
• Recognising and responding to sensory and motor needs, with support from the family
• Following guidance from the individual’s family and therapy team
• Supporting safety awareness and decision-making in real-time situations
• Promoting a respectful and enabling environment

• Good standard of spoken and written English (GCSE, equivalent qualification, or proven experience)
• Experience (or interest in developing experience) supporting individuals with:
  • Complex language and communication needs
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Sensory and motor needs
• Willingness to learn and adapt to individualised communication, ASD and sensory regulation strategies
• Calm, consistent, and responsive approach
• Ability to work under family guidance and respect established routines
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a small team, including family members and professionals
• Own car and full UK driving licence (essential)
• Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to undergo one)
• Two references
• Legal right to work in the UK

• Familiarity with TEACCH, low-arousal approaches, or ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) informed strategies
• Experience supporting Childhood Apraxia of Speech or language impairment
• Background in speech and language support, social care, or SEN education (especially ABA-based programmes)
• Suitable for students or graduates in clinical psychology, speech and language therapy, or special education

• Meaningful, person-centred role in a supportive family-led setting
• Structured and rewarding work with opportunity to build rapport over time
• Training opportunities available where appropriate
• Flexibility in planning sessions within agreed hours

along with a short covering note explaining your relevant experience and why the role appeals to you. Informal enquiries are welcome before applying.