L’Arche provides care and support to adults with learning disabilities within small homes integrated into ordinary neighbourhoods. A L’Arche community is made up of these homes plus a wider network of community members and friends. The support worker model that is used in L’Arche is predominantly what L’Arche refers to as a Live-In Assistant. So, in a typical house in Edinburgh there are 4 adults with learning disabilities ( or core members) and between 4 and 6 live-in assistants. We seek to supplement that with some more typical ‘live-out’ posts. This post is a new one that is created to provide additional support to one man in his 50’s whose care and support needs are increasing as he ages. He requires particular support with evening routines in his home. Because of the nature of the shared home and the live-in team, and based on our previous experience, we wish to recruit someone who can work as a part-time member of the team providing support to any of the people with learning disabilities but with a particular responsibility to provide 1-1 support to one individual. The job description on the left is that of the typical live in assistant, with some added tasks specific to this role.

This post is to provide support to a woman in her 30’s that enables her to access community based opportunities for her day service provision. L’Arche are responsible for providing her full day service. The support starts and ends from the person’s home. The role-holder will provide physical care and support, as well as support that enables the person to take part in home and community-based activities. The person has a good sense of fun and is interested in people. She likes activities such as baking and cooking, going to the library, swimming, meeting friends, magazines, puzzles. She uses a wheelchair and has her own adapted car. She lives in the Leith area of Edinburgh. The post holder would work as a ‘lone-worker’ for much of time.