Are you looking for a role where you can make a lasting difference in the lives of autistic young people with complex needs?
- Minibus transport to work service direct to Prior's Court from Newbury, Thatcham, Reading, Calcot, Swindon, Basingstoke, Oxford, Didcot and Wallingford
- Flexible shifts available - permanent contact
- Support to gain your Level 3 qualification in Residential Childcare
- No experience is required - but more experience equals a higher salary
As we prepare to open our 13th children's home (pictured above), we’re looking for dedicated and compassionate Autism Practitioners to join our team. This is a rare opportunity to be part of something from the very beginning, helping shape a safe, nurturing and consistent environment for young people from day one.
You’ll begin your journey at Prior’s Court with a full induction and hands-on training in one of our established homes. Here, you’ll learn from experienced colleagues, build your skills and your confidence. When the new home opens, you’ll be fully prepared to support the young people in your care and help them thrive.
We operate a "levels" system within this role:
We also have vacancies for Weekend Autism Practitioners.
Your role as an Autism Practitioner
In this role, you’ll support autistic young people in all aspects of daily life, helping them develop their communication, independence and wellbeing. Every day will bring meaningful opportunities to help a young person learn new skills, build confidence and live a more purposeful life.
What you'll do:
- Use structured approaches to support communication, learning and routine.
- Promote health and wellbeing through personal care and positive daily experience.
- Support learning in education, care and leisure setting.
- Create and maintain a safe, clean and positive environment.
- Work in close partnership with families and professionals.
- Follow robust safeguarding, medication and health and safety procedure.
- Be part of a team that works with empathy, respect, and consistency.
Whether you’re starting a new career in care or already have experience supporting autistic individuals, you’ll be joining a team that values curiosity, collaboration and compassion.
See more staff stories of how they came to Prior's Court and why they stayed
Training, salary and career progression
For those who are not experienced in care, we offer a comprehensive, free training programme including hands-on working alongside experienced and senior team members, resulting in the completion of a Level 3 diploma – you will gain a salary increase upon completion of the Diploma (usually within your first 12 months) and become eligible for promotion to Autism Practitioner Level 2.
We have colleagues who completely changed their careers to come to work with us and now thoroughly enjoy how rewarding it can be to support the autistic young people at Prior's Court.
If you are interested in this role as part of a College industry placement or University work experience, please see more details here.
Can't drive?
We offer a direct-to-site transport service for our Autism Practitioners, with pick-up and drop-off points in Oxford (including Kennington, Blackbird Leys, Littlemore, and Cowley), Didcot, Wallingford, Newbury, Thatcham, Reading, Calcot, Theale, Swindon, & Basingstoke.
Find out more about the transport service
Benefits
We believe in valuing and supporting our staff through comprehensive training, competitive salaries, and the tools needed to excel in your role.
Find out more about the benefits we offer
How to apply
We're excited about the possibility of you joining the team at Prior's Court! To ensure the safety and wellbeing of the young people we support, all offers of employment are subject to the successful completion of pre-employment checks. These include references, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, proof of right to work in the UK, and any other relevant clearances. Once all pre-employment checks are in place we will be able to issue your start date and contract, we appreciate your understanding and cooperation throughout this process.
Read through the application documents below, then complete an application form. The recruitment team will be in touch within three working days. You can read about our application process in detail here.
Please note: Once you've applied, you'll get an email with some follow-up questions. Please take a moment to answer them, otherwise we will not be able to process your application.
Contact us about this role
t: 01635 247202
e: recruitment@priorscourt.org.uk
All positions at Prior's Court are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, references and receipt of the appropriate Right to Work documents. Prior’s Court Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Prior’s Court is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek and embrace differences in thinking, experience, ethnicity, age, gender, faith, personalities and styles.
The different skills, experiences and backgrounds our employees bring to their roles create a workforce as diverse and individual as the young people we support and makes Prior’s Court a special place to work.
We strive for an inclusive environment where employees feel safe, engaged and supported to make a difference.
Apply now