Neurodiversity Practitioner

Neurodiversity Practitionerpart-time, flexible up to 15 hours per week. Accepting applications.  No fixed closing date.Questions to: lauragomersall@autismearlysupport.org.uk Applications to: mandysimons@autismearlysupport.org.uk Who we areWhat we doOur ApproachOur Strategy and PurposeOur Vision, Mission and Values3What you can expect from usThe TeamJob DescriptionContentsWelcome from our CEOAbout usThe role242Your applicationHow to applySafeguardingEquity diversity and inclusionSummary of terms and conditions479Thank you for considering a role with Autism Early Support. I’m delighted you’reexploring the possibility of joining our team.You will be joining us as we grow. In 2023, we launched our digital platform, TheParent’s Portal, to support more families more often. Today, we’re supporting morefamilies than ever before and our aim is to continue to expand to fill some of thegaps in the SEND system and ensure no child is left behind. This recruitment pack gives you an overview of the role, our ethos, and the supportthat will be available to you here. I hope it helps you see how your skills and passioncould contribute to our mission and that you’re excited by this opportunity.At AES, we’re passionate about providing early, individualised help to make ameaningful difference in the lives of the children and families we’re here to support. Whether through our direct contact with children or indirectly through our Parent’sPortal our child-led approach underpins our practice.  Should you become one ofour valued practitioners, you will be encouraged to work creatively andresponsively, tailoring environments and strategies to meet children’s individualneeds. Working here is rewarding. You will manage your own caseload and you will be partof a small team, so you will quickly see and feel the direct impact you are able tomake both to families and to wider team development. You’ll become part of aforward-thinking multi-disciplinary team that values curiosity and compassion.We believe in investing in our staff. We do this through well-being initiatives,continuous professional development, training and supervision.  We encourageeveryone to work together with mutual respect to create a happy culture with anappetite for quality, learning and growth at its heart.  You can watch a video of ourwork in action here. Welcome from our CEOSarah Sweet-Rowley3I  hope I have given you a flavour of what you can expectfrom us, and if you share our values and drive, we’d love towelcome you to an interview.Very best wishes4Who we areAutism Early Support Trust Ltd. (“AES”) offers early support and specialist education to autisticchildren, children with sensory, communication and interaction differences and their families.We believe every child should have the chance to find their place in the world, be able tocommunicate their needs and learn alongside their peers with acceptance and support.We aim to work alongside parents and practitioners to give every child the foundations they need forthe next stage of their education. If we can enable a child to feel safe and understood, they becomehappier and they can flourish. AES was established in 2001 and was formerly known as ‘The Puzzle Centre’.What we doOur early support and specialist education encompasses specific, structured and targetedneurodiversity affirming approaches founded on established research, evidence-based practice andour extensive experience.Through our services, we aim to equip all children with the tools and confidence they need tocommunicate, explore, play and enjoy the world around them. In response to the child’s needs,wants and preferences, we make environmental adaptations and create the support a child needs tofeel ready to learn.Help is accessed through the Circle Centre, our specialist nursery near Buckingham and ourOutreach Service, which supports families in the community and online through projectsincluding The Parent’s Portal and Assessments and Support Packages.Our ApproachThrough our services, we encourage autistic children and childrenwith sensory, communication and interactions differences to betheir authentic selves without needing to mask or changethemselves to feel accepted in a non-autistic majority society. Our specialist multi-disciplinary team of teachers, occupationaltherapists, speech and language therapists, nursery co-ordinatorsand learning assistants identify and put the supports in place tomake a child feel safe and regulated so they can enjoy learning. Alongside this, we work with parents and carers to help them feelconfident in supporting their child and in advocating for theirindividual needs. About Us 5Deliver exemplary children’s servicesDevelop and grow our outreach servicesBuild a sustainable income and resource base. And within our objectives we have five aims:Children’s services are an exemplar of best practiceMaintain ‘Outstanding’ (Ofsted) in our flagshipnurserySupport more families and practitioners throughoutreachDevelop and empower an active parent supportnetworkCultivate, retain and develop our key stakeholdersDrive growth through voluntary and trading income.Our Strategy & PurposeTo fulfil the purpose and aims of our organisation, we follow a strategic plan as aframework for our roadmap. Our current strategy focuses on three key objectives: Our longer-term plans include our drive to:Improve outcomes for more autistic children and their familiesBecome recognised as UK leaders in autism educationAchieve financial stability & independenceDevelop strategic partnerships to raise our profile and influence changeOur supports are always:Child-led: We look at everything through the child’s lens first, their well-being andhappiness is always our priority. We focus on understanding and appreciating the child’sperspective, we do not work towards trying to change them. We accommodate eachchild’s needs to maximise function and use their skills and strengths to enable the child tothrive, learn and develop.Needs-led: Regardless of diagnosis, we listen to the parent, we observe the child and wework with them to support the areas of need.Focussed on a child’s strengths: We design our support around the child’s strength,interests and preferences to optimise engagement and enable the child to thrive.Neurodiversity affirming: We listen to and believe there is always more to learn fromthe neurodivergent population. We strive to adapt and tailor our support to reflect theseperspectives.6Our Vision, Mission and ValuesOur VisionEvery autistic child and child with sensory or communication differences receives timely,appropriate and high quality education, therapy and support.Our MissionUsing specialist education and therapies we support autistic children to find their ways tocommunicate and interact with others and we empower parents to understand andadvocate for their children’s needs.Our ValuesIntegrity. We’re being trusted to impact the course of a child’s future.Compassion. We proactively support and empower parents to help to improve wholefamily well-being.Empathy. Understanding and listening is at the heart of our service. We never judge,because ‘we get it’.Expertise. Our beneficiaries need specialist knowledge, support and guidance.Excellence. The children & families we support deserve the highest quality education,therapy and support.What people say about our work"We have learnt so much more about how we can work with our son to make everyday activitieseasier for us all. We have all learnt about his coping strategies and this has been a gamechanger. We have a much better understanding of what is going to work best for him once hestarts school."“Good advice from friendly people — lots of empathyand understanding.”“The support I have received has had a positiveimpact on my wellbeing. ““You just get it.”7The RoleWhat you can expect from us (employee benefits)Hybrid workingA company pension33 days annual leave (inclusive of statutory bank holidays) pro-rated Comprehensive induction programme including face-to-face training, online modules,shadowing, and a well-planned induction period. Learning and development opportunities, including involvement in 3 organisation-wideinset training days,Access to a BlueLight card and other charity discounts,An employee assistance programme, free confidential support At AES, we pride ourselves on our commitment to Employee Wellbeing. Our Wellbeingcharter is available to read hereThe TeamThis role is part of our small Outreach Team, consisting of 8 employees.The charity employs 30 staff, based across our 2 sites. We also have the support of severalvolunteers, a Board of Trustees and our Charity Ambassadors.Role DescriptionYou will play a key role in our outreach team, primarily working on our digital platform The Parent’s Portal and our online programmes for parents.We are looking for an experienced professional who is passionate about enhancing theirneurodiversity-affirming practice. Are you able to join our team of online presenters tohelp with the creation and development of resources and content?You will be helping to fulfil one of charity's key purposes - to educate and empowerfamilies and professionals to support children aged 2-17 who have sensory,communication and interaction differences. Our service is needs-led, so the range ofchildren we support may be autistic, ADHD, autistic and ADHD co-occurring and/or theirfamilies maybe at the early stages of exploring their child's differences.8We are looking for candidates who are natural neurodivergent advocates and/or haveworked in any of these professional backgrounds:Specialist education (e.g. specialist teachers, SENDCos)Educational PsychologyClinical PsychologyAllied Health (e.g. Occupational Therapy or Speech and Language Therapy)Specialist nursing (learning disabilities, neurodiversity, mental health)Neurodiversity coachingPortage Social workExperienced in:Producing and delivering engaging interactive learning resources for parents andprofessionals.Supporting neurodivergent children with communication, interaction, and sensorydifferences.Working in advisory or counselling role, supporting families and parents.Liaising with and providing direct support to parents, teachers and practitioners.Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team (e.g. education, psychology,allied health).Essential skills:Strong research and content curation skills aligned with neurodiversity-affirmingpractice.·The ability to present and explain complex topics clearly and confidently acrossdifferent media.Skilled in distilling information into practical strategies for families and professionals.Competent in ICT and online platforms for resource delivery and engagement.Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality, and SEN code of practice.(Preferred) Professional registration (e.g. HCPC or equivalent for teachers).Key CompetenciesEmpathetic and committed to supporting neurodivergent individuals and theirfamilies.Innovative and proactive in identifying areas for resource development andimprovement.Collaborative and team-oriented, contributing to shared projects and goals.Adaptable in communication and delivery methods to meet diverse needs.Curious and committed to continuous learning and applying neurodivergent-informedresearch.Creative in designing accessible, engaging materials tailored to varied learning styles.Demonstrates an interest in and understanding of, the neurodiversity paradigm,neurodivergent informed research and practice. You will show a natural interest in thispractice and in sharing your findings with peers.Competent ICT user.9Key ResponsibilitiesContent Development: Research, curate, and create high-quality resources forfamilies and professionals in multiple formats (written guides, videos, interactivetools).Content Delivery: Deliver information online that is accessible, relevant andmeaningful.Quality Assurance: Review and update existing content to ensure alignment withcurrent neurodivergent-informed research and best practice.Collaboration: Incorporate feedback from families, neurodivergent advocates, andprofessionals into resource development.Continuous Improvement: Identify development opportunities within the serviceand contribute to team projects.Compliance: Ensure all content adheres to safeguarding, confidentiality, andaccessibility standards.How to applyWe welcome informal conversations with prospectivecandidates about the role and the charity. We prideourselves on being open and transparent.Please contact Laura Gomersall, Head of Children’sServices LauraGomersall@AutismEarlySupport.org.uk 0300 102 44621.Email your completed AES application form (you can download the form here) toMandySimons@AutismEarlySupport.org.uk attaching your CV if you wish.2.Provide a letter of application, clearly stating how you would meet the keyrequirements of the role to which you are applying, and why this role is attractive toyou3.Provide the name, address and telephone numbers of two referees on the applicationform. Neither of these referees should be a relative and one should be your current oryour last employer. References will only be taken up after interview but before offer ofemployment is sent. All offers of employment are conditional upon suitablereferences being obtained.In line with our safer recruitment procedures and the statutory guidance outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education(KCSIE), we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all individuals. As part of this commitment, we requestreferences that adhere to these procedures to help us make informed and responsible recruitment decisions.Your Application10We aim to create a supportive and inclusive interview experience. If there is anything weshould do to help you feel comfortable or accommodate your communicationpreferences, please let us know on application.If we invite you to interview with us, we'll share our interview themes in advance to helpyou prepare.Successful candidates at first interview will be asked to return for a second stageinterview. This will involve a practical task.SafeguardingWe are committed to safeguarding and protecting the vulnerable adults, children andyoung people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitmentprocess including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure thatwe have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding andsafer working practices across our services.Equity, diversity and inclusionWe are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, andempowered to thrive. We believe that diversity of thought, background, and experiencemakes us stronger, and we actively work to create an environment where all individualscan contribute meaningfully and be their authentic selves.As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates—regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or belief, age, socioeconomic background, genderidentity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, caring responsibilities,marital or civil partnership status, nationality, disability (including invisible disabilities), orneurodivergence.If you are interested in the role, but you don't meet100% of our criteria, don’t rule out applying.  Pleasecontact us to discuss first or submit your applicationdemonstrating why you would like this role.  Allapplications will be read and considered.Role TitleNeuro-affirming PractitionerSalaryDependent on experience.  We’re recruiting at multiple skilllevels, and the final salary will reflect the experience youbring. If you have the core capabilities, we encourage you toapply.Freelance options availableLocationHybrid – this is a mix of home and our Buckingham-basedoffice (Buckingham Industrial Estate MK18 1TF), plus homevisits (likely to be weekly)Hours of workFlexible depending on availabilityHolidays33 days per year (inclusive of statutory bank holidays) FTEPro-rated.ProbationThree monthsDisabilityWe are committed to making every reasonable adjustmentto the workplace or working arrangements so as toaccommodate people with disabilities Closing DateNone11Summary of terms and conditionsAutism Early SupportOffice A 15 Little Balmer (within Pace House)BuckinghamMK18 1TFmandysimons@autismearlysupport.org.uk l 0300 102 4462Registered charity no. 1141868