Alex

My Requirements

Role Overview
We are seeking a calm, intuitive, and experienced Specialist SEN Nanny or Personal Assistant to provide 1:1 care and co-regulation support for a bright 5-year-old boy diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile.
?Our son is currently recovering from acute neurodevelopmental burnout and sensory overstimulation. We are moving away from a fragmented care model to establish a single, highly consistent "anchor carer" who can build deep, long-term trust, facilitate low-demand routines, and provide a safe, predictable environment.
?Key Responsibilities
?Low-Demand Scaffolding: Implement low-demand, non-declarative communication techniques to support co-regulation without triggering autonomic threat responses.
?Child-Led Engagement: Facilitate low-pressure, parallel play based on his special interests (e.g., imaginative play, building, nature/habitats).
?Sensory & Emotional Regulation: Recognise early signs of sensory overload or threat spikes, proactively dropping expectations to maintain physical and emotional safety.
?Daily Living Support: Gently assist with morning routines, meal times, and transition periods, working collaboratively alongside the parents in the family home.
?EOTAS / Activity Support: Provide a reassuring, familiar presence during flexible learning, therapy sessions, or child-led outings as an EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School) package develops.
?Candidate Requirements
?Autism & PDA Experience: Proven experience working with autistic children, specifically those with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile or high-arousal threat profiles.
?Communication Style: Mastery of non-declarative language, indirect requests, and low-arousal approaches (avoiding direct questioning, rigid discipline, or demand-heavy instruction).
?Personal Attributes: Exceptionally calm baseline energy, high emotional resilience, patience, and strong intuitive empathy.
? Safety & First Aid: Enhanced DBS check (on the Update Service) and pediatric first aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
?Qualifications: Backgrounds in Special Educational Needs (SEN), Early Years Education, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, or Speech & Language Therapy are highly desirable.