• Are you studying Psychology or Social Care at University?
• Are you interested in Special Educational Needs and Behaviour Analysis?
• Are you looking to get one step ahead in your career before leaving university?

 JigsawPlus adult day centre for autistic learners aged 18 and over, is now recruiting for their sought after 1 year paid placements for university students who are looking to develop their careers in psychology and social care. Students will have the opportunity to gain hands on experience of supporting autistic adults to grow life skills whilst accessing a wide range of funded training and qualification opportunities in Social Care and Behaviour Analysis. You will receive support and regular supervision from some of the UK’s leading and internationally recognised Behaviour Analytic experts.

What will I be doing during my placement year?

• Providing support, care and teaching to autistic adult learners’
• Planning, preparing and delivering lessons and activities supporting the development of knowledge and skills
• Providing behaviourally based support to reduce behaviours that impact quality of life
• Providing personal care, encouraging and enabling adult learners to maintain acceptable levels of hygiene, including toileting, dressing and washing
• Supporting adult learners’ participation in social, leisure and educational activities within the local community, applying theory-based learning to practice
• Supporting adult learners to access work experience and employment opportunities
• Contributing to research and undertake training to support personal development

What funded training & qualification will be available to me during my placement?

• Access to a range of funded Health & Social Care courses including a Care Certificate
• Behaviour specific qualifications including CABAS Teaching Assistant Ranks (cabasschools.org) and Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) (bacb.com)
• Regular industry training in Safeguarding, Emergency Medication, Behaviour Management, Personal Care, Autism, First Aid and more

What do our past interns have to say?

 ‘It has been an amazing and informative year – the best placement I could have ever asked for. I have had the opportunity to gain so much knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder and ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis), while also having the chance to complete my Care Certificate, First Aid Training and Epilepsy Training. Alongside this, my decision making, communication and problem-solving skills have improved hugely.’

‘My first few weeks at Jigsaw were amazing and the amount of support I received from all staff really helped to make my transition into working here as smooth as possible. Working at Jigsaw is an amazing opportunity and very enjoyable – there is something new to look forward to everyday!’

‘Working at Jigsaw has been very rewarding as I am able to provide support and a positive impact on the learners. The work environment has been very positive and most of all, the Jigsaw team has been very welcoming and supportive’

What are the benefits of a paid placement at JigsawPlus?

• The opportunity to broaden your skills and expand your CV with a range of fully funded training pathways
• Competitive Salary!
• Sociable hours – 9am to 5pm, no shift, evening, overnight or weekend work
• The chance to work alongside a multidisciplinary teams of behaviour analysts, speech & language and occupational therapists
• Free Parking
• Excellent staff wellbeing and support facilities
• Performance related bonus scheme
• Discounts at over 900 retailers via our online ‘Smart Spending’ platform

What do I need to apply?

• Professional, personal or voluntary experience of working with adults or young people with disabilities
• An interest in special educational needs, specifically autism
• Sound literacy and numeracy skills (Maths & English Language GCSE Grade C/4 or above is desirable)
• A passion for helping others learn and develop skills
• A positive, patient, caring and can-do attitude
• Confident working with adults who exhibit challenging behaviour
• Confident supporting others with personal/intimate care where required
• Ability to keep calm in high pressure situations
• Commitment to our regular and ongoing professional development programme and training
• Driver’s licence or access to a lift (due to remote location)

Closing date

Placements are offered on a first come first served basis, therefore we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We anticipate that interviews for shortlisted applicants will commence in November/December 2025.

Start Date

Between July 2026 and September 2026

*Please note that this year we have a few limited spaces for students to apply for a dual placement year spending half their placement within our school setting working as a ‘Trainee SEN Teacher’ and the other half working within our Adult Centre as a Learning Support Worker. We hope this placement opportunity will give students a really comprehensive overview of how their studies translate in practice to the psychology, special educational needs and social care sectors. If this dual role is of interest to you, please let us know within the ‘Personal Statement’ section of your application form