Ruth Everard's ongoing search for personal assistants! [assistants.org.uk]

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Frequently Asked Questions

There are many questions that I am often asked about working for me as my Personal Care Assistant. I hope that these answers help you to understand this unusual job better.

If there is more you need to know please don't hesitate to e-mail me: Ruth@assistants.org.uk.

Ruth

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I am only looking for work for a few months. Would I have to commit to working for you for a long period?

I am ideally looking for people who can work for a long period so that they can get used to the job, but I am open to suggestions. It is better to have the right people for shorter times, if they can't do more.

Where will I live?

This is up to you. You can stay where you are now if you are able to travel (remember you will only have to do the journey once every three weeks). You may choose to live in London if you don't already.

Do you live alone?

Yes, although I am often in situations where friends and family are with me. I have been living with assistants around for some time now. I will try hard to make you feel at ease in my home. You will be involved to an extent in my social life but it is important to remember that you are at work, and you need to feel comfortable with withdrawing from a social situation, and giving me and my friends and family privacy.

Will I need to work over Christmas and the New Year?

You might have to. There must be one of my assistants working at all times, but if you work at Christmas, you won't have to work at New Year and vice versa. If there is a particular event which you want to have time off for it can usually be arranged with notice.

Do I need to have experience in this kind of work?

No. I will explain exactly what I need and I can train someone without previous training specifically for me. I often find that people with no experience learn what I need quicker because they don't need to un-learn what they have learned with other people. Every disabled person is slightly different and my needs, like everyone else's, are unique.

Then will my experience in care work with other people make me unsuitable?

No! If you have experience then you have already learned important skills, and this could be an advantage too.

Just how personal is what I have to do for you?

It is very personal. You will need to take me to the toilet, and wash me and do all the other things that you do for yourself and I would do for myself if I could. You will know private things about my life that lots of my friends don't know. Discretion (and absolute secrecy) is vital.

Will I have to do anything for you during the night?

Yes. I call for help to turn in bed on average a few times in the night. This can be tiring to begin with, but you will have opportunities to rest during the day, and it is not too disruptive as I rarely need more than five minutes help to move.

Do I need to be able to lift you?

Yes. I weigh around 40 Kg (88 lbs) and unfortunately, although there will be hoists both at home and at work you don't often get them elsewhere. Also, because of my lack of strength I am floppy like a baby, which makes me more difficult to lift.

I smoke. Is that a problem?

Cigarette smoke can affect my breathing sometimes. If you need to smoke, there will be opportunities for you to have a cigarette, but not indoors.

How will you choose your assistants from the applicants?

Interviewees will be selected from applicants who have completed an application form. The interview is an opportunity for each of us to decide whether you are right for the job.

I am quite small, will this be a problem?

It could be. I have generally found that care assistants need to be tallish, though there are exceptions. They do not need to be particularly athletic though. If you think you will be able to manage, contact me to talk about it.

Will I come with you to work?

You will need to accompany me to and from work and come in for an hour or two during the day to give me personal assistance. I often have to work late and after the end of the working day you will have to be in the office with me.

Would you be completely incapable without my help?

Yes. My disability means that there are large numbers of every day things which I can't do. If you are ill then I can use an agency to cover the time that you miss, but otherwise your first priority during your week on duty must be my care. For instance, if I don't need you for a while and you have a few hours off you MUST be back at the time we agree. Otherwise I may be stranded outside a door I can't open or incapable of continuing with whatever I am doing.

Will I be responsible for your emotional well-being while I am with you?

No. There is no kind of supervisory role in this job. Your responsibility will be for my physical well-being and ability to lead my life.

In social situations, what will my role be?

When I am with my friends, my assistant's role is to blend into the background as much as possible. You are there so that I can behave as if I am not disabled, and so that my friends don't have to be reminded that I am. The problems I face are generally to do with moving around and carrying things. Your role will be to enable me to do things like cooking for my friends, or serving them drinks, rather than being involved in the party.

What happens if I have a problem?

You and I will need to build a strong working relationship right from the start. That requires honesty with each other. If you have a problem with anything, come first to me and I will do everything I can to sort it out. If you prefer, you could ask one of your colleagues for help, but I am often the one who can organise practical solutions and you will spend the whole week with me, so I am the person easily available to talk problems over with, whether it is related to work or home. I have one senior P.A. who is responsible for assisting me in overseeing the organisation of my care team. She is also available to help you. Usually there is some solution to a problem and if I can I will help you find it.

What if I don't get on with you?

If I don't think that we will get on, I won't offer you the job. Similarly, if I offer you the job and you don't think you could stand me for a whole week at a time don't accept it! All my assistants work for a trial period before their contract is confirmed. If at any point during that time or afterwards we are finding that our relationship is under strain it is possible to cut short the contract, although this is unusual and I would aim to resolve any difficulties.

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