Home School Link Worker (Autism)

Job Description

The purpose of the Home-School Link Worker (HSLW) Support for Autism - is to provide a range of targeted supports to families (carers), children and young people that address barriers to learning caused by autism and reluctant attendance to school: to build initial relationships and support self-expression, support transitions, and promote resilience, wellbeing and positive engagement with school, family and community based learning opportunities. Barriers include but are not exclusive to family (carer) social and communication needs, physical and mental health, parenting skills, family (carer) circumstances, school attendance, understanding Autism.

You will work under the direction of Moray Autism Service and in partnership with schools and early learning centres, relevant professionals, and community partners to effect positive outcomes and signpost to relevant support resources. You will receive and manage referrals, work to establish trusting and empowering relationships with families (carers), children, and young people; you will assess need. You will plan, deliver, and evaluate family, individual and small group work programmes to meet identified priorities for those on your case load. You will deliver face to face support interventions including but not exclusive to relational family work, Understanding Autism, using augmentative and alternative communication, nurture and restorative interventions, Emotions Coaching, Circle of Friends and Seasons for Growth.

Responsibilities

To work relationally and in partnership to deliver targeted supports that address barriers to learning caused by autism and reluctant attendance to school, support transitions, and promote resilience, wellbeing and positive engagement with school, family and community based learning opportunities

To work in partnership to assess the needs of families (carers), children and young people who are part of your caseload

To develop, deliver and evaluate programmes of need based support for the families (carers), children and young people on your caseload

The Individual

• Experience of working relationally with families, children and young people
• Experience of work within an educational or community setting
• Experience of needs assessment
• Experience of working with children and young people with Autism
• 4 SQA National 4s, or Standard Grade Level 3 or above, or equivalent. Must include English and Maths
• Self-confident and self-motivated
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to implementing equality of opportunity in all areas of work
• Ability to work on own initiative and respond appropriately within sensitive work environments
• Effective communication skills, oral and written
• Effective organisational, information recording and collation and time management skills
• Ability to work as part of a team, including contributing to service development
• Display ability and commitment to training and subsequent staff development as required
• A working knowledge of Word, Outlook, Excel
• Ability to work relationally with a range of partners
• Ability to work with challenging and/or vulnerable families children and young people
• Ability to respond flexibly and with resilience to emotionally demanding situations
• Knowledge of child development and childcare
• Ability to participate in /contribute to assessment and planning
• Ability to plan, facilitate, lead and evaluate activities
• Ability to work directly with small groups or on a one to one basis
• Commitment to undertake training / staff development as relevant to the post
• Effective communication, presentation and negotiation skills
• Capacity to make balanced decisions under pressure and to manage change
• Capacity to form productive working relationships with colleagues, families, children and young people
• Willingness to accept direction/ delegation
• Appreciation, acceptance of and a commitment to the importance of confidentiality in line with policies and procedures
• Confident to deliver 1:1 and small group work in a professional manner
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs and demands of the service
• Ability to work in a range of settings from homes/schools/ community buildings to detached work
• Ability to work peripatetically and virtually

Temporary appointment, maternity cover for approximately one year

Closing Date: 7 April 2023
Starting Salary: £24,278 (pro rata)
£12.88 per hour
15 hours per week (term time only)

For further information, contact Louise Ssozi, 01343 557914