Lead Autism Support Practitioner

**Dedicated Support Practitioner and Team Leader required for a challenging and rewarding role.**

**Would you like to join a team of dedicated practitioners and family carers to provide genuine person-centred support to a man with autism, mild learning difficulties and complex needs?**

**Would you like to co-lead our small team, with the confidence that you have become a specialist in his support and gained his trust, first?**

You will provide social & emotional support while he explores the countryside around Bristol and the surrounding counties. You will help him develop confidence within his community, so expanding the range of settings and opportunities he is able to access and enjoy. You will support his wellbeing and increase his independence through planning and delivering structured activities in his home, which enable him to develop his independence skills and interests.

You will provide and inspire outstanding Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and create an environment that enables him to reduce his anxiety and manage his behaviour, so he can thrive and achieve his life-goals.

**You will have the opportunity to gain professional qualifications in PBS and leadership while working, and develop an advanced understanding of autism.**

This is dual-role in which you will spend the majority of your time providing direct support to our client. As such, you will remain a hand-on ‘practice leader’, leading and inspiring the team by example. In addition, you will have dedicated time each week assist the manager with management duties. As your expertise grows, you will take on specific responsibilities such as training, supervision, coaching & supporting the team, implementing & reviewing support plans and care co-ordination. The Manager and you, the Team Leader, will work closely and in partnership to lead the team, each working to our strengths and with clear areas of responsibility.

You will require a driving license and your own car.

**26.5 to 35 **(to be negotiated) **contracted hours per week**.

The role will require at least 2 full days 9am -5pm, plus 2-3 mornings per week. In addition, you will be required to support the client on a 3-4 night holiday per year in the UK. Working days may be negotiated to _some_ degree.

**Salary £30,030 to £33,150 pro-rata (based on 37.5 hr week).**

**The M.R. Trust**

We are a small family trust who receive a personal budget from the Local authority to enable our relative to live at home with his family.

We employ a small team of dedicated practitioners who enable him to live as fulfilled a life as possible. We provide him with genuine person-centred support. We seek employees who we are passionate about enabling those with autism and behaviour which sometimes challenges to enjoy full rights and access to our community, and who are able to provide him with the emotional security and the structured, stimulating days he needs.

We offer extensive training and on-going support to our extremely valuable staff.

**If you share our values, and have personal or work experience of supporting or teaching/tutoring people with autism/ASD, learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, brain injury and/or mental health problems we would love to hear from you.**

**Further details of role**:
**Key role and responsibilities**:

- To listen, strive to understand and empathise with the client
- To support client with communication and help him articulate his thoughts, feelings, needs and preferences.
- To support client on his 1-2 hour walks of his choice in the countryside around Bristol and surrounding counties. To drive your vehicle to take him on his outings.
- To provide client with emotional support and help him manage his anxiety.
- To support client on a 2:1 basis in the community, and a 2:1 or 1:1 basis in the home, according to level of experience.
- To provide client with a stimulating programme of activities during the day.
- To help client to increase his life skills & confidence through structured activities such as cooking, literacy, using his PC, horticulture and DIY.
- To positively manage risk, to enable the client to do his chosen activities safely.
- To support the client with his anxiety, and help him manage his behaviour using Positive Behaviour Support.
- To participate in training, weekly team meetings and regular supervision
- To work collaboratively with the client, his family, care team and other professionals to ensure he receives consistent support.
- To use ‘planning & preparation time’ to ensure client outings go smoothly, to prepare indoor educational sessions, and to ensure important information is recorded and communicated across the team.
- To participate in any training required to become a proficient Practice Leader in Positive Behaviour Support
- To work in close partnership with the manager (James’ sister) and, once your training period has ended, co-lead the team and take responsibility for the implementation of PBS Plan &