Autism project worker jobs

Job Description

Brent Mencap has been passionate about a healthier and fairer Brent since 1979. We’ve developed and run successful housing, employment, health, advice, wellbeing and self-advocacy services. During austerity and Covid we diversified, successfully taking on NHS work with people with long-term health conditions. We provide social prescribing support and health and wellbeing coaching to patients for Brent GPs. In 2024-5 we helped over 18000 people. We’re a leading partner on the Brent Health Educators Programme. Recently we’ve focused on developing and retaining a much larger staff group, using our data better and improving our marketing.

Brent Mencap offers fantastic free creative and wellbeing activities for people with a learning disability, autism and long-term health conditions. These have flourished since Covid. People love yoga, poetry, singing, gardening, Breathe and Move, self-advocacy, campaigning, awareness raising, CREATE art activities for young people, external trips and parties. Small grants, donations and our reserves fund this while we get longer term funding. Our self-advocates want us to focus on paid employment, youth services and making Brent Council use accessible information properly. People with a learning disability, neurodiversity and their family carers are inclusively supported by social prescribers for advice and by health educators/coaches for health-related matters if needed.

Our current Executive Director, who has led Brent Mencap so well for 25 years wants to retire. The successful candidate will build on Brent Mencap’s history, current success and potential so our long-term passion for a healthier and fairer Brent can evolve and improve the lives of Brent People. Are you the amazing successor to lead and inspire our talented, committed team?

We are looking for someone who  

· Has the relevant voluntary sector experience, vision, determination and leadership skills

· Is committed to developing and supporting our diverse staff group

· Can see the bigger picture but also focuses on the important details

· Supports our ethos of person-centred service delivery and activities

· Can communicate well with users, partners, staff, trustees and funders

· Enjoys influencing and raising awareness

· Is entrepreneurial, savvy, confident and can maintain our current  financial stability and diversify our income streams

· Understands the lived experience of disability, long term health conditions and inequality  and wants to improve their lives

· Understands the importance of marketing and data to challenge inequality, promote positive change and attract new funds.

· Can prioritise reviewing and improving our data collection

· Can develop funding project plans that includes staffing for enhanced  wellbeing and creative activities, for  young people, employment  related support and other identified needs

In addition, they will have to:

· Work with the Board of Trustees and staff to develop our vision, implement strategic plans and  deliver agreed objectives

· Be able to ensure all aspects of our work are done safely, legally, in line with our articles/constitution  and able to assess risks and mitigate them

· Be responsible for staff development, management and all aspects of the administration of the organisation

· Be an ambassador for Brent Mencap, meeting and working with leaders with statutory and voluntary sector, Royal Mencap and local Mencaps

· Represent the lived experiences and voices of people with learning disabilities, neurodivergence, long term conditions and their families who inform our work and the work of others in Brent

· Work late occasionally, attend evening events, meetings and occasional weekends and undertake any other necessary tasks as required to ensure Brent Mencap functions safely.

In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is required and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. This job description will be subjected to review with the post holder, from time to time to ensure it accurately reflects the duties and range of the post.

This post is:

• subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure

• subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.

• Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK

• Please note: Our office base is on the first floor of a Victorian building with steep stairs.

To be shortlisted,

· Candidates must fully complete our application form, and show clearly how their previous experience and knowledge meets all aspects of the person specification with examples given of actual actions/experience relating to the person specification. Please go to our website to complete the application by 9.00am on 28th August. We do not accept CVs

· Be prepared to visit Brent Mencap so key staff and self-advocates can meet them informally before the interview day  or have a 60–90-minute Teams meeting with them. To arrange a face-to-face or Teams  meet up on a Wednesday only  please contact our office manager Simon via the website.

Interview details

· A 4-part Interview with senior staff, self-advocates, operational managers and trustees, will take place at Brent Mencap on Friday 5th or 12th September 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be given a paper-based scenario to complete and send to us on the Thursday before the interview

· We anticipate the full interviews will take 2.5 hours with a 30-minute break at some point.

This is an exciting opportunity to invest in the lives of autistic young people (aged 9-19). You will work in our Aspire Team to further develop specialist youth work provision in Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire, supporting young people’s emotional well-being and helping them to overcome challenge and develop social skills. You will join our team of youth workers and volunteers to develop and deliver weekly social groups, shared interest groups, one-to-one work, family support, school-based alternative education, and trips and residential experiences. The normal working week will be 37.5 hours (5 days), there is a need for flexibility. The role requires regular evening work. Part-time hours will be considered, minimum 22.5 hours (3 days).

Duties include:

• Build positive relationships with autistic children and young people through different programme activities.
• Support individuals making the transition from primary to secondary school, and from secondary school to post 16/18 options, giving them the best possible opportunity of staying in education, employment or training that is fulfilling and helps them reach their potential.
• Work with others in the team to expand the provision and develop new youth clubs in specific geographical areas based on identified needs.
• Create opportunities for children and young people to develop life skills, in response to the needs identified by participants themselves, their families and others, through courses and one-off sessions, with individuals and small groups.
• Facilitate the exploration of young people’s values and beliefs thereby encouraging their personal, social and spiritual development.
• Contribute to partnership working with external organisations and agencies in developing effective youth work provision.
• Support the recruitment, training and management of teams of volunteers and young leaders to act as positive role models who can support the delivery of youth clubs.
• Be a face-to-face contact with the public, representing Romsey Mill to individuals and organisations and reflecting the Christian values of the organisation to those whom the organisation serves.

We are seeking individuals who have 2 or more years of youth work experience and a general qualification to Level 3 (A levels or equivalent) including Level 2 (GCSE) in English and Maths.

This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people while working within a supportive team environment. If you are enthusiastic about empowering youth and fostering positive change, we encourage you to apply.

We're looking for 2 kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Behaviour Support Workers to join our Birchall Wood Service in Hertfordshire.

£27,352.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Specialist Behaviour Support Workers are responsible for supporting people with learning disabilities and behavioural needs to live full lives, develop skills and maintain their wellbeing.

We are looking for a skilled, creative and experienced Specialist Behavioural Support Workers to support one customer in her own home in Welwyn Garden City. Specialist Support Workers within Look Ahead are required to have either an extra dimension of experience or a higher qualification level as determined relevant for the particular post. Specialist Support Workers provide information, social inclusion and vocational opportunities to support people to recover and stay well; exercise choice and control in their care and lives; and participate on an equal footing in the community. Support is also provided to develop a model of re-enablement towards self-advocacy, self-management and empowerment, incorporating the principles and practice of recovery, co-production and peer support. This role must have an excellent value base to support the customer to build their life and develop their skills and passions as an independent person.

A full driving licence is required for this position.

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

What you'll do:

Supporting the customer to lead a full and active life and do things they enjoy, sensitively and persistently trying to new things to open new opportunities for the customer.
Developing the customer's independent living skills and involving them in aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning, and decorating.
Supporting the customer in their sensory routine, trialling and testing new sensory experiences.
Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs and develop new ways of doing this, communicating with them in a person-centred way.
Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches.
Collating a range of behavioural data and essential paperwork to be analysed within our local management structure.
Driving the customer's (manual) vehicle to support them to go about their daily life.
Communicating with a range of other key stakeholders including social work, psychology, and commissioning teams.
Acting in accordance with the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care & Support plus those specific to the service including any statutory requirements.
Consistently reviewing the customer's life goals and their progress towards achieving them, in partnership with them and those important to them.
Supporting the customer with personal care.
Reporting any observations relating to customer welfare.
Maintaining records as required at the project.
Participating in team meetings/reviews, support planning, risk management and the general development of the service.
Undertaking any other duties as requested by management.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in with the hobbies and interests of the customer and can facilitate connections with new people and places.
Has a reasonable level of physical fitness and is able / likes to participate in active pursuits such as running and swimming.
Is confident enough to try new things and take positive risks on a regular basis.
Exudes a warm friendly and fun presence.
Prefers working as part of a group or team.
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
ildren and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for the full job description.