What is a support person?

Somebody who assists others with things they are not able to do by or for themselves.

I was born with cerebral palsy, which affects my movement, speech and use of hands. This means that there are many things that I cannot do by or for myself and that is why I require support people to assist me in living my life.

A bit about me

I am 35 years old and very happily married to a wonderful woman called Sarah and we have one child who is 11 months old and her name is Amber. (She is an absolute honey!) We have just found out that we are pregnant with our second, who is due in late November! Sarah and I have been back in Wellington for just over a year, prior to this we had been living in the America for about a year and a half. I work for a software company, as a Senoir Technical Solutions Architect - which is one of the reasons we lived in the US and the main reason why we are back. Before living in the U.S, I lived in Wellington for 15 years.


I see myself entering a stage in my life where I want to surround myself with my loved ones and great friends. After being overseas, I have realised the value of my New Zealand friends and am really looking forward to putting energy into existing and new friendships.



In terms interests I love music (Favourite genres: tech house/hi-tech soul) though I don't get out dancing as much any more – so I'm getting into mixing and having parties with friends. I like to eat out as much as possible and going for drinks is also high on my list of recreational activities! I love to travel or simply going away for a long weekend when I get the chance.

Other interests include:
  • Technology
  • Design
  • Socialising
  • Films
  • Photography


Personal Care

Due to the fact that I do not have good use of my hands personal care is required in this job.

Personal care is assisting me in going to the toilet, helping me: eat, drink, shower, get dressed etc. This requires no prior experience you simply have to be comfortable with doing it.

Support Person Shifts

Here are the shifts I am looking to fill at present, these are shared between up to 4 people:

Mornings: 7.00am -– 10.00am Monday - Friday
  • You would be assisting me with showering, shaving, going to the toilet, getting dressed -– what you would do yourself in the mornings.
  • During the time when you were not directly assisting me you would do my share of the morning household duties, such as washing the dishes, etc.
  • I would leave at 8.20 each morning to go to work and you would accompany me to my office. Upon getting me set-up at my desk you would make me breakfast and assist me to eat it at my desk.
  • Necessity and time permitting I may get you to do general admin tasks for me.

Midday: 12.30pm -– 2.30pm Monday - Friday
  • Assisting me to eat my lunch - this may mean eating at my desk, making sandwiches and going to civic square or accompanying me to meet a friend at a cafe/restaurant.
  • Assisting me in the bathroom, etc.
  • Necessity and time permitting I may get you to do general admin tasks for me.

Evenings: 5.00pm -– 8.00pm Monday - Sunday
  • This shift will vary depending on what I feel like doing. I could be going home to bath Amber, going for after work drinks, meeting a friend for dinner, going to the supermarket, going home to cook dinner or doing personal/household tasks which I have not otherwise had time to do. Therefore, your role will vary during this shift.

Weekends: 9.00am - 12.00pm Saturday and Sunday
  • Getting up and showered and all that normal morning stuff. Maybe make breakfast for Sarah and I or help me do my share of the housework or other things I cannot do by myself.

The above shifts will be shared between a group of support people. Due to my speech impediment, I find that people need to do at least three shifts per week in order for them to gain competency in understanding and assisting me.

Attributes I look for in my support people

  • patience

  • good sense of humour

  • cleanliness

  • punctuality

  • good use of initiative

  • good presentation

  • make good use of time

  • intelligence

  • considerate

  • relaxed

  • not overbearing

  • good communication

  • positive

Due to the highly personal level of the role I look for people that can adapt to different environments and have the ability to put themselves in my position and adjust their behaviour accordingly to the situation.


Some examples of different environments and situations are

  • professionalism at my work or during business lunches.

  • unobtrusiveness in mine and Sarah's home.

  • when I'm out for lunch with friends and only need your assistance with eating so you simply have to sit there quietly.

  • when I am out with somebody that is still learning to understand my speech and you would need to be very aware of when to assist them in understanding me or when to not help them so that they learn to understand me by themselves.