POST:
AUTISM SUPPORT WORKER
LOCATION:
Birmingham
SALARY:
£13.68 per hour (including holiday pay)
HOURS:
Part-time, Saturdays and/or Sundays 9.30am-3pm, Term Time.
Reports to:
Group Leader, Service Coordinator
About Resources for Autism (RfA)
We have been around since 1997 when we started as a small playgroup set up by parents
dismayed at the lack of provision for their autistic children. Since then, Resources for Autism
(RfA) has grown into a major deliverer of services and support in London and the West
Midlands with a turnover of around £2.5m per year. Our mission is to support and enable
autistic people to live happy and fulfilling lives. We want to change society’s attitude to
autism whilst also providing essential services and enriching opportunities to autistic people.
We are a values-driven organisation which employs values-driven people who want to make
a difference. Our values are: Inclusion, Creativity, Compassion, Courageousness and Expert.
You will play a vital part in ensuring that we can resource and sustain this amazing work.
Our Services
All of our services across children and adults and parent/carers, mirror the wider
organisational mission of providing safe, fun and meaningful support that enables personal
development. We provide this support by ensuring our staff are skilfully trained, meet the
highest safeguarding expectations and are encouraged to develop and upskill throughout
their career with Resources for Autism.
Main Responsibilities
The role of an Autism Support Worker is integral to RfA fulfilling its mission as it is the key
role that determines a service user’s experience of the organisation. With really strong
values and openness to training you will receive from us, you will be responsible for
delivering direct practical support to our service users and their families. You will work in
both 1:1 outreach and group settings and be able to work independently and as part of a
team. You will receive further training in order to develop your career progression within the
organisation either as a leader/mentor of other workers or a specialist in another autism
related specialism including behaviour, mental health, trauma, or training. Whilst you will
receive all the training and support you need to develop in your role, you will be expected to
demonstrate the values of acceptance and patience in your interactions with service users,
their families and RfA team members.
Support Worker – Key Responsibilities
Group Support & Delivery:
1. Support the delivery of group sessions for autistic children and young people,
ensuring a safe, inclusive, and fun environment.
2. Assist in setting up and packing down activities and resources.
3. Engage with young people in a person-centred way, adapting support to meet
individual needs.
4. Promote confidence, independence, and enjoyment through meaningful
activities.
Key Working & Communication
5. Act as a key worker for one or more children or young people, building a
trusting and supportive relationship.
6. Ensure all relevant information (e.g., progress, incidents, support needs) is
accurately recorded and communicated in a timely manner.
7. Liaise with families and colleagues to ensure consistent and joined-up
support.
8. Keep individual support plans and records up to date, reflecting any changes
in needs or strategies.
Team Collaboration
9. Work closely with group leaders and other staff to ensure smooth running of
sessions.
10. Participate in pre- and post-session briefings to reflect on activities and young
people’s needs.
11. Communicate effectively with colleagues to share observations and
contribute to planning.
Safeguarding & Risk Management
12. Follow safeguarding procedures and report concerns promptly.
13. Support implementation of individual support plans, medical plans, and
behaviour support strategies.
14. Help maintain a safe environment by being aware of risks and acting
responsibly.
Professional Conduct & Development
15. Uphold RfA’s values and promote dignity, respect, and inclusion.
16. Attend training and supervision sessions to develop skills and understanding.
17. Reflect on practice and seek feedback to improve support delivery.A
Administrative Support
18. Assist with basic record-keeping (e.g., attendance, incident reports).
19. Support monitoring and evaluation by contributing feedback and observations.
Skills and experience
Essential
Desirable
Experience of Working with
autistic people (paid or
voluntary)
x
Experience of working in youth
and play work settings
X
Experience of autism
strategies and skills for
communication, behaviour,
sensory differences
X
Understanding and knowledge
of mental health and
wellbeing for autistic people
Values driven and with a
passion to make a difference
to the lives of those whose
voices are often marginalised.
x
x
Positive attitude, motivating
and creative
x
Standard skills expected of all
staff
X
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
X
X
X
X
Confidentiality
x
You will have access to confidential information concerning families and other service users
and will be required to maintain confidentiality at all times.
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 educational history.
In your personal statement we would like to see how you feel you meet the person
specification and the requirements of the role.
If for any reason, such as due to accessibility, you feel you would struggle to complete an
application form you can contact us via the below email and we will explore other options.
To discuss the role informally, please email: 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 Confidant employer and candidates who meet the minimum essential
criteria, that have a disability will be guaranteed an interview.
Deadline for applications: Ongoing recruitment dependent on the strength of
applicants received
Interviews: Arranged on a rolling basis