Person Specification

Essential Skills

• Proven experience working with autistic children with varying needs and who could display distressed behaviours
• Understanding of and experience in supporting children with a PDA profile of autism
• Deep understanding of trauma-informed practice and low-arousal approaches.
• Ability to work flexibly and creatively in a non-traditional educational setting.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Experience supporting children in EOTAS or alternative provision settings.

Desired Skills

• Have Physical Intervention training (for example Team Teach)
• Relevant qualifications in education, psychology, or therapeutic disciplines.
• Familiarity with EHCP processes and person-centred planning.
• Experience supporting children who have been out of mainstream education for a significant period of time

Standard skills expected of all staff

• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) adaptable to different populations including: colleagues, external professionals, service users, families, volunteers, donors
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Good understanding of Safeguarding
• IT skills: proficient with Office 365
• Self-starter and able to work independently, using own initiative
• Non-judgemental, compassionate

Confidentiality and Safeguarding

You will have access to confidential information concerning families and other service users and will be required to maintain confidentiality at all times. All staff have the following safeguarding responsibilities:

• Actively promote the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children, young people and vulnerable adults accessing our services.
• Follow organisational safeguarding policies, procedures and codes of conduct at all times.
• Maintain clear professional boundaries and model safe, respectful and appropriate behaviour.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding, welfare or behaviour-related concerns, reporting these promptly and in line with organisational procedures.
• Work in a way that reduces risk and supports positive behaviour, emotional regulation and individual communication needs.
• Contribute to a culture where safeguarding concerns are shared appropriately, listened to, and taken seriously.

Staff Benefits

• 90% of our staff say that Resources for Autism is “a great place to work”.
• Not only will the work you do ensure we are making vital differences and inspiring others, but our other benefits also include:
  • flexible working patterns with the option to work in a hybrid way (only available for some roles)
  • 25 days of leave (pro rata for part-time roles) each year plus 8 bank holidays and an additional 3 Celebration days that could be used between Christmas and new year, but may be used for other religious days or significant days such as your birthday
  • access to ongoing training and progress in the areas that interest you
  • access to our wellbeing initiatives and an Employee Assistance Programme
  • enrolment on to our pension scheme
  • a supportive, warm and fun working environment made up of values driven people who are passionate about changing the world for autistic people

Application process:

In order that we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes, all applicants are required to complete an application form which must include your full employment history with clear details, any gaps in employment need to be outlined and explained. You are also required to provide details of your full education history.

Regulated activity roles statement (anyone working directly with children or vulnerable adults such as support workers, group leaders): This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a check of the relevant Barred List(s), in line with DBS eligibility criteria and the DBS Code of Practice.

In your personal statement we would like to see how you feel you meet the essential and desired skills of the role.
If for any reason, such as due to accessibility, you feel completing an application form will present a challenge, you can contact us via the below email and we may explore other options with you.
To discuss the role informally or if you need to contact us you can contact the HR team via recruitment@resourcesforautism.org.uk

We particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at Resources for Autism. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for our community.

As you would expect, we are a neuro-affirming employer, with a strengths and rights-based approach to neurodiversity which affirms neurodivergent identity – we don’t want to “fix” or “cure” autism, and we don’t see it as a “disability” however we do recognise it can be “disabling”. We are working to improve the ways in which we recruit and support neurodiverse employees and those with lived experience of neurodiversity.

RfA is a Disability Confident employer and candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria, that have a disability will be guaranteed an interview.