HOPE for Autism is a registered charity providing services for autistic children/young people in North Lanarkshire.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced individual with a background in sports to work with our groups of children and young people to help develop their ability for sports and improve their health and wellbeing.

You will be required to co-ordinate operate and develop our sports groups and activities. You will work closely in partnership with other sports and youth organisations whilst providing practical and emotional support to young people and their families and carers across various locations in North Lanarkshire.

Responsibilities will include producing group activity plans for each sports session, in addition to setting and regularly reviewing targets for each child and young person in consultation with them and their family. You will manage a team of staff and volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the sports programme. You will liaise with the Autism Lead to ensure Good Autism Practice and Children’s Rights/Human Rights are embedded within all the sports practices.

A successful track record of working in the sports field is essential. It is desirable that you have experience working with autistic children and young people or with children/people with additional support needs.

This post involves day and evening working, with some weekend hours (project dependant).

PVG Disclosure is required for this post.

HOPE for Autism is a registered charity providing services for autistic children/young people in North Lanarkshire.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced individual with experience working in autism to develop and implement a bespoke programme of online social groups and activities for autistic children and young adults that builds on our young peoples’ strengths, interests, and abilities. This post has a key remit to help reduce social isolation, which is commonly experienced by autistic people and their families. Its overall aim is to promote community participation and emotional wellbeing using a range of online platforms. You will work closely with a team of staff and volunteers, families, and partner organisations.

Responsibilities will include developing a bespoke programme of online activities for autistic young people, their families, organising and assisting with online events and training and exploring new ways of engaging with the wider community. You will manage a team of staff and volunteers to ensure the smooth running of a new online programme of social activities. You will liaise with the Autism Lead to ensure Good Autism Practice and Children’s Rights/Human Rights are embedded within all online groups and services.

This post involves day and evening working, with some weekend hours (project dependant).

PVG Disclosure is required for this post.

HOPE for Autism is a registered charity providing services for autistic children/young people in North Lanarkshire.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced individual with experience working in autism to develop and implement a bespoke programme of social groups and activities for autistic children and young adults that builds on our young peoples’ strengths, interests, and abilities. This post has a key remit to help reduce social isolation, which is commonly experienced by autistic people and their families. Its overall aim is to promote community participation and emotional wellbeing. You will work closely with a team of staff and volunteers, families, and partner organisations.

Responsibilities will include producing group activity plans for each social group and activities, in addition to setting and regularly reviewing targets for each young person in consultation with them and their family. You will manage a team of staff and volunteers to ensure the smooth running of a bespoke programme of activities that is inclusive of a wide range of needs. You will liaise with the Autism Lead to ensure Good Autism Practice and Children’s Rights/Human Rights are embedded within all HOPE groups and services.

This post involves day and evening working, with some weekend hours (project dependant).

PVG Disclosure is required for this post.

HOPE for Autism is a registered charity providing services for autistic children/young people in North Lanarkshire.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced individual with experience working in autism to develop and implement a bespoke programme of social groups and activities for autistic children and young adults that builds on our young peoples’ strengths, interests, and abilities. This post has a key remit to help reduce social isolation, which is commonly experienced by autistic people and their families. Its overall aim is to promote community participation and emotional wellbeing. You will work closely with a team of staff and volunteers, families, and partner organisations.

Responsibilities will include producing group activity plans for each social group and activities, in addition to setting and regularly reviewing targets for each young person in consultation with them and their family. You will manage a team of staff and volunteers to ensure the smooth running of a bespoke programme of activities that is inclusive of a wide range of needs. You will liaise with the Autism Lead to ensure Good Autism Practice and Children’s Rights/Human Rights are embedded within all HOPE groups and services.

This post involves day and evening working, with some weekend hours (project dependant).

PVG Disclosure is required for this post.

Contractual Status: Renewable Annually

Reporting to: Programme Coordinator

Hours: Sessional hours - to be discussed at interview

Job Purpose

To help facilitate social groups and activities for autistic young people in North Lanarkshire to help reduce social isolation/exclusion and promote emotional wellbeing. This will include face-to-face and online group work when required. To develop strong, positive relationships with autistic young people to help them develop their confidence, a strong sense of identity and belonging. To engage in play and a range of different fun and meaningful activities, provide feedback on group activities and young peoples’ engagement and enjoyment levels. To support young people to communicate their needs, make friends, and regulate their emotions as well as supporting them to achieve their personal goals within a social group setting. This is an important community-based, preventative role.

Key responsibilities

• To take a professional approach to their role and develop strong positive relationships with autistic children and young people
• To work as a team to facilitate social groups and other community-based activities. Online digital group may be required.
• To adopt a calm and positive approach to support children and young people to enjoy their group, make friends and develop meaningful self-regulation/coping skills
• To promote communication, play, self-advocacy, and independence for young people as well as their understanding of autism and neurodiversity
• To demonstrate a positive, relational, and inclusive approach at-all-times, building on children and young people’s strengths, special interests and abilities
• Provide support to autistic children and young adults to participate in social activities within planned youth group activities and within the local community.
• Work in a person-centred manner with children and young people in keeping with HOPE’s vision, objectives and policies
• Respond to requests to fulfill organisational requirements in keeping with HOPE’s youth group structure.
• When necessary, participate in training and continuing professional development relating to the role.
• Participate in HOPE’s Monitoring Scheme, including participating in briefing and debriefing sessions, reporting observations and incident form filling

This list is not exhaustive and any other duties as requested.

Attributes and Experience

• Experience of working with autistic children and young people and/or experience of working with children and young people with and/or without disabilities
• Experience in delivering fun social/play based activities with children and young people in the community in a paid or voluntary capacity
• Ability to form positive relationships with children and young people ensuring that they are respected, valued and treated with dignity at all times
• Willingness to share personal talents, skills, interests, and hobbies with children and young people in social groups (e.g., art skills, musical skills, gaming knowledge, ect)
• Openness to coaching and feedback from Senior Autism Group Worker to develop knowledge, understanding and use of Good Autism Practice within a social group/community-based setting
• A willingness to take part in ongoing training and Continuing Professional Development
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends

HOPE for Autism is a registered charity providing services for autistic children/young people and their families. Our work is based in North Lanarkshire. This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and administration experienced individual to support our work to continue to develop and to support the implementation of our services. This post is key to the support of our staff and management teams. The overall aim of the role is to further develop and maintain HOPE’s administration and management systems to ensure children/young people, their families, and the wider community continue to receive appropriate support. Our work includes the further development of community participation and emotional wellbeing for our families through a range of support services. You will work closely with a team of staff and volunteers, families, and partner organisations. Responsibilities will include office-based administration and some basic financial tasks. You will manage a data base of members, be a main point of contact for enquiries, support the CEO and senior management with administration and reporting. Please see Job Specification for full details of this role. This post is office based and involves mainly day working but will require some weekend and evening work at times.