SEHSCT Children’s Autism Specialist Support Worker Band 4

Job details

• Branch: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
• Location: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
• Salary: Band 4 (£27,485 - £30,162)
• Contract Type: To create a waiting list
• Opening Date: 07/05/26
• Closes: Thu, 21 May 2026 @ 5:30 PM
• Interview Dates: To be confirmed

Notes

There are currently 2 part time (22.5 hours each) permanent vacancies however a waiting list will be complied for any similar Trustwide permanent posts that may arise over the next 6 months. Important Information If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE Children’s Autism Specialist Support Worker

BAND Band 4

DIRECTORATE Children’s Services

INITIAL LOCATION Trustwide - LPCCC/SCC/Downe as appropriate.

REPORTS TO Childrens ASD Intervention Lead

ACCOUNTABLE TO ASD Coordinator

A Trust wide waiting list will be compiled for any similar Permanent / Temporary / Full-Time / Part-Time posts that may arise over the next 6 months

JOB SUMMARY

This post will be based within the Trust’s multi-disciplinary, children and young people’s Autism Service with the primary role of pre and post diagnostic early intervention support and intervention to children and their families.

The post holder will support the development and delivery of training programmes and groups for families, professionals and other agencies, to help them understand the needs of the child/young person and develop management strategies tailored to the individual.

The post holder will work alongside a range of professionals involved in the delivery of specialist support and services to children, young people and adults and their families/carers living in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area.

The Children’s Autism Specialist Support worker will work directly with children to help the child develop skills linked to an autism diagnosis such as communication, social interaction, emotional regulation.

The Children’s Autism Specialist Support Worker will also work with families/carers to enhance their understanding of autism and provide them with advice and support in caring for their child, young person.

This post may evolve over time and this Job Description will therefore be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

KEY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct practice with children and families

Undertake work under the direction of the ASD Intervention Lead and other professionals involved with the child/young person with Autism as identified in the care /family support plan.

Work as part of the multidisciplinary team providing parents/carers with specific information and advice about autism and providing emotional support as required. Including participation in the service initial contact telephone calls, individual work and group sessions.

Provide tools/materials as agreed with other clinicians such as schedules and other visual supports for children and young people with autism and help families understand and implement these at home.

Undertake direct work with children in consultation with and as agreed with other clinicians in the autism service, including both individual and group sessions.

Participate in multi-disciplinary planning and review meetings/discussions as required and requested by the line manager

Participate fully in team, activities and team development.

Contribute to the development of less experienced staff by demonstrating own duties, providing information about autism demonstrating making schedules, work sheets etc.

Undertake any other duties as may be assigned by the line manager.

Facilitation and practice development

Work in collaboration with a range of staff in the statutory and voluntary sector as appropriate

Assist in the delivery of autism training as required.

Contribute to future planning for people with autism and their families, and to the development and delivery of innovative, responsive local services to meet needs, promoting social inclusion / integration, and specialist services were appropriate.

Provide support for practice development to lower grade / less experienced staff within the service through modelling, facilitating, shadowing, mentoring, supervision under the direction of the Team Leader

Provide information and statistics for use in planning, monitoring and delivery of services, and as required by the Trust, the SPPG and DOH.

Attend and participate in regular team meetings and events

Be a strong advocate for those with autism, raising awareness and promoting understanding

Governance and reporting responsibility

Report all identified child, young person concerns or other areas of concerns or risk identified in the course of undertaking tasks with children and young people and their families.

Be responsible for planning and management of the caseload in collaboration with Team Leader.

Assist and co-operate with the achievement of key performance targets especially in relation to maximum waiting times.

Provide Team Leader / Managers with information and data to aid business and/or strategic planning as requested.

Contribute to uni or multi professional audit as required.

Undertake service user evaluation as required.

Continuous Professional Development

Be available for supervision with Line Manager on a regular basis as required by the Trust’s Supervision Policy.

Participate with the line manager in annual appraisal and review, developing and implementing a personal development plan.

Be committed to lifelong learning and engage in appropriate training and learning opportunities.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making .

Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the [org name] are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the [org name] including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the [org name] policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own on-going learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information. PPI_leaflet.pdf (hscni.net)

April 2026

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE Children’s Autism Specialist Support Worker

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE Children’s Services

SALARY Band 4

HOURS 37.5 hrs per week/ PT where applicable

Ref No: LEAD April 2026

A Trust wide waiting list will be compiled for any similar Permanent / Temporary / Full-Time / Part-Time posts that may arise over the next 6 months

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

At least 1 years’ experience working with children/young people with autism (or other developmental needs) and their families within a health and social care, education or community and voluntary setting.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications/Registration

Have NVQ level 3 or equivalent or higher health and social care related qualification.

OR

HNC/D in relevant subject or equivalent

Plus 1 year relevant experience

OR

4 years relevant experience

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Ability to communicate with children with developmental needs.

Experience of delivering early intervention programmes to children with developmental needs.

Ability to form effective working relationships with colleagues.

Ability to manage the caseloads in line with service policy and protocols.

Ability to work under the direction and supervision of professional staff

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Knowledge of working with a range of children with autism and/or child development

Interview / Test

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Training in Autism related areas such as TEACCH, or behaviour management.

Good computing / word processing skills.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications

Applicant will have successfully completed accredited training in child development and/or the delivery of early intervention programmes.

Shortlisting by Application Form

To access a copy of the Access NI Code of Practice, please Click here

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has guidance on the Recruitment of People with Criminal Convictions. To access a copy of this guidance, please Click Here

Protecting and using your information

To access a copy of the Trust’s Data Protection Policy Statement,

Click Here

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for The Organisation to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE ORGANISATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. Request for recognition of previous service with non-direct NHS/HSC organisations towards starting salary and incremental credit must be made via the Retained Recruitment team within 3 months from commencement of employment. Requests made after 3 months will not be considered. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times