Trainee Employment Officer

Job Title: Trainee Employment Officer

Hours of Work: Our current average full-time working week is 37.5 hours per week (09.30 to 17.00 hours Monday - Friday and one Thursday in every six late night until 20.00 hours). As a salaried post you may be expected to work additional hours where required.

Base: Across sites

Responsible to: Employment Manager

**Salary**: £18,525 p/a rising to £21,210 p/a on successful completion of training and appraisal process.

Mission Statement:
Specialist Autism Services’ (SAS’) mission is to support people with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome by the provision of health, education, training, sports, creative art and counselling activities, which promote their social inclusion, training opportunities and ultimately employability.

Context of Role

To enable our members (clients/service users) on a daily basis to access our provision of specialist Autism specific employment services and to support, empower and encourage them to progress and gain skills that lead to increased employability. This demanding environment requires the commitment of its entire staff team to SAS’ mission statement and to conduct themselves in a professional, discreet yet sensitive and friendly manner. The Employment Officer is expected to liaise with potential employers, to accompany and encourage our members off site on work related visits and in the utilisation of community facilities as well onsite in the workshops.

Main Duties:

- To assist the Employment Manager in the implementation of our employment programme.
- To work as part of a team in developing good communication systems, maintaining effective relationships and promoting good practice within our Autism specific environment.
- To reinforce appropriate behaviours and be a role model and mentor to the individuals we support.
- Promote and further develop skills in communication, interaction and social behaviour.
- To analyse information and situations and take appropriate action seeking advice where necessary.
- Whilst encouraging self-advocacy, advocate for the individuals at Specialist Autism Services where necessary, to speak up where and when they cannot whilst valuing individual rights at all times.
- To carry out the information as described in guidance material such as ‘Facilitator Expectations’.
- Promote and support the employment new referral process, engaging and supporting members to access employment support.
- To provide written reports, carry out administrative tasks and update members’ files.
- To attend and contribute to events, meetings, discussions and training
- both internal and external.
- To provide a positive, Autism specific environment which supports and meets the needs of our members.
- To constantly be aware of, and be flexible in, meeting the needs of our members.
- Ensure consistency of approach, in line with other team members and supervisory staff. This may also include professionals from other agencies.
- Liaise with a range of employers, placement providers, parents/carers, DEAs in order to create opportunities for members to access work orientation visits, gain new employment experiences or practice the skills they possess or are in the process of learning.
- To provide support to members outside of Specialist Autism Services’ premises including trips to theme parks, social outings (including licensed premises, colleges or other leisure facilities) as well as on employment related visits.
- Enable members to maintain positive relationships with other people both internally and externally.
- Work within the staff team to identify and assess difficulties and behaviours and agree constructive solutions to problems in partnership with the members and other staff.
- To implement Specialist Autism Services’ Policies and Procedures to the highest possible standards.
- To learn and try to understand more about Autism Spectrum Conditions and operate within the Organisation’s best practice approach for each individual.
Activities:

- Network with other organisations to secure opportunities for our members (Work Orientation Visits, Work Experience, Work Placements, Volunteering and Paid Employment)
- Facilitate suitable placements / job matches by identifying the specific needs of the member and the employer.
- Develop programmes of support to enable members to carry out the placement / job to their own and the employer’s satisfaction.
- Assist the person with Autism/Asperger syndrome to learn the skills of the job where necessary and gradually phase down support in a planned programme.
- Be flexible in providing support in a variety of working environments according to the needs of the individual members.
- Encourage the person with Autism/Asperger syndrome to develop his/her own coping strategies thus reducing the need for external support whilst also being mindful of reinstating support when requested by the individual or their employer.
- Work with other employees in the work setting to he