Kind and Patient Mentor for 16-year-old boy NDS9051

Kind and Patient Mentor for 16-year-old boy

Ref

NDS9051

Location

Shoreham-by-Sea

Details

This role is to support a Child

Drivers licence required

Yes

Own vehicle needed

Yes

Employment status

Employed

Hours per week

10 hours per week, term time only. Outside of school hours. Please apply with your availability

Hourly pay rate

£28.50 per hour plus mileage (applicable during working hours) at 45p per mile

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I am looking for a kind, patient and emotionally aware Mentor with a genuinely supportive approach to work alongside a thoughtful 16-year-old young person with ADHD and autistic traits. He can experience low confidence and self-belief, and at times finds social situations overwhelming, so he needs someone who will take the time to get to know him at his own pace.

Building trust is key in this role. I am hoping to find someone who is calm, consistent, and non-judgemental—someone who understands the importance of showing up reliably and creating a safe, steady presence. Honesty and clear, factual communication are especially important to him, so these qualities are essential.

He has a range of interests that can offer great starting points for connection. He really enjoys music, especially playing guitar and keyboard, and also has an interest in computers. He’s keen on keeping fit and enjoys sports such as basketball, which can be a positive and engaging way to build rapport.

The role is centred around providing gentle, consistent support that helps him grow in confidence and independence, while feeling safe and understood. The right person will know how to encourage without pressure, recognising his strengths and responding sensitively to his needs.

Through this support, we hope to

• Build his confidence, self-esteem and sense of self
• Support the gradual development of social understanding and friendships
• Encourage safe, positive engagement with activities in the community
• Help him develop independence and everyday life skills
• Use his interests—such as music, exercise and sport —as a positive and motivating foundation for engagement

Above all, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting difference by offering patience, understanding, and encouragement in a way that truly meets him where he is.

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Duties include

• Transportation
• Companionship
• Accessing and participating in social and leisure activities e.g. Sport activities, music etc (the successful candidate is not expected to know how to play a musical instrument, just someone who is interested in music).
• Encourage healthy routines, including exercise and wellbeing-focused habits.
• Support with developing social understanding (e.g. boundaries, trust, communication skills, friendship building)
• Support life skills such as planning routines, travel training, basic organisation, and decision-making
• Gently challenge negative self-beliefs

Candidate qualities

• Respectful of the employer's privacy and confidentiality
• Reliable with good timekeeping
• Able to both follow instructions and work on own initiative
• Hygienic, tidy and well organised
• Fit and healthy to undertake the required duties
• Patient and possess excellent interpersonal skills
• Honest and cheerful
• Creative
• Able to speak and read English to a reasonable standard
• Must be comfortable with pets
• Able to always work to high standards of health & safety
• Ideally have mentoring experience and have experience of supporting young people with social communication needs
• Non-smoker strongly preferred

Notes

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check if required.

If you are successful in your application for this position, you will be either engaged directly or employed by the individual employer and not by Independent Lives. The role may be offered on an employed or self-employed basis, depending on the suitability and agreement with the employer. If the role is employed, you will be entitled to holiday pay and issued an employment contract.

Please note

If you do not hear back within three weeks of applying, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.