An exciting opportunity has arisen for a warm, friendly and chatty Live-In Companion/Support Worker to support a 19-year-old with autism.
The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the teenager both practically and socially, with the emphasis on developing a genuine friendship and trusted relationship.
They are bright, funny and very direct, and can sometimes be blunt in their communication. It is therefore essential that the successful candidate is confident, emotionally resilient and able to take direct comments without taking them personally. A good sense of humour and a naturally sociable personality are highly desirable.
About the Role
The successful candidate will initially live in the family home in SE10, London, supporting the young adult alongside the family.
The longer-term plan is for them to move into their own flat, at which point the role will transition to providing support within their own home and helping them develop and maintain their independence.
The role will include:
- Providing friendly, consistent companionship and support
- Spending time together, chatting and encouraging activities and interests
- Accompanying them to medical and other appointments
- Ensuring medication is taken as prescribed, providing appropriate prompts and oversight
- Supporting daily routines and independence
- Acting as a proxy parent when required for them and also their brother (who is 17 years old)
- Providing additional hours when needed to cover nanny or proxy-parent responsibilities
- Cleaning the bedrooms of both children
- Completing laundry for both children
- Taking the 17 year old to school and making him a packed lunch
- Caring for the family's three cats, including feeding and general care
- Supporting a calm, positive and happy home environment
This is much more than a traditional care position. The ideal candidate will be someone who genuinely enjoys companionship and conversation and who can become a trusted friend and consistent support in the young person's life.
Working Pattern
The position involves working approximately half of each month, comprising:
- Mondays
- Tuesdays
- Every other weekend
- Additional hours as required to provide cover for nanny or proxy-parent responsibilities
Flexibility will be required, particularly when additional cover is needed.
The Ideal Candidate
The family is seeking someone who is:
- Warm, friendly and naturally chatty
- Sociable and enjoys building genuine relationships
- Patient, calm and emotionally resilient
- Comfortable around autism and neurodiversity
- Able to communicate clearly and sensitively
- Able to handle blunt or very direct communication without taking it personally
- Reliable, responsible and organised
- Confident using initiative and managing practical responsibilities
- Comfortable supporting with medication prompts and appointments
- Happy to undertake household tasks including laundry and bedroom cleaning
- Comfortable caring for cats
- Able to maintain appropriate boundaries while remaining warm and approachable
Previous experience supporting autistic young adults would be advantageous, although personality, maturity and the ability to form a positive relationship are considered equally important.
You must have a full and valid driving license. This is non negotiable.
The role can be either live in or out.
A Rewarding Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working closely with a young person and wants to make a meaningful difference to their day-to-day life.
The successful candidate will initially become part of the family household, before potentially supporting them through the significant transition to living independently in their own flat.
If you are a friendly, resilient and genuinely people-focused individual who loves conversation, has a good sense of humour and can embrace someone else's very direct personality, this could be an excellent opportunity for you.
