Autism Lead

Salary: £47,573 - £49,590 (Bar at £48,587) per annum pro rota

Working Hours: 35 Hours per week

Additional Payments: Casual Car User Allowance

Closing Date: 10 May

This role is subject to -

Qualification - Social Work or other relevant registered qualification or extensive experience in working with people with Autism

Registration - Social Work England / HCPC

Casual Car Documentation - The successful candidate will be a designated Casual Car User which means that car journeys may be necessary on an occasional basis but are not essential to the role. If you do drive, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work, as well as provide all the appropriate documentation. You will receive an allowance per mile of business use.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you, or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders, and it is available upon request.

Evidence of conduct in previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to. Health or social care or Children or vulnerable adults

Proof of identity including a recent photograph

Full Employment history

This is an exciting new role, which has been created in Manchester’s Adult Social Care Service, to lead on the development of our offer for Autistic and Neurodiverse Citizens. The Autism Lead is a citywide role, which is part of the Complex Needs Service. The role holder will be instrumental in developing the Autism Team, which will initially comprise of 3 specialist Autism Support workers and a specialist occupational therapist.

The role holder will initially work with citizens with lived experience of Autism, the Autism Commissioner, Adult Social Care Departments, and stakeholders to develop what Manchester’s Adult Social Care’s Autism Service will look like and then the development and implementation of the team. Key duties will be:

• Developing a highly specialist team, of Autism and neurodiversity experts and developing the interface of how this team works with wider adult social care services and stakeholders.

• Initially focus on working with people, families, staff and partners to establish 'what good looks like’ and what is currently working/ not working in Manchester. To achieve this a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches/ methods will be used including, literature reviews, interviews, surveys, group sessions and data.

• Work with staff and managers to build the confidence of the workforce to work differently and effectively with Autistic and Neurodiverse people. To do this the role holder will develop a robust training and mentoring plan and will work with other parts of the system to ensure the assessment and support planning process is autism and neurodiversity friendly.

• Ensure data on the recording system is accurate and use the information from the assessment and support plans to inform the work of the autism commissioner.

• Be a subject expert in Multi-Disciplinary meetings, where due to the complexity of a person’s presentation or situation the staff involved need support to develop and implement positive interventions.

• Advocate for Autistic and neurodiverse people on various platforms, both operationally and strategically, including leading on the implementation for Adult Social Care of the GM all age Autism Strategy, attending Autism board and working with partners such as MLCO, GMMH, ICB, Voluntary and community sector organisation.

About the Candidate

The role holder will have extensive lived or working experience of working with Autistic and Neurodiverse adults and be a subject expert, will be able to support staff with understanding Autism and Neurodiversity and also have experience of implementing tried and tested interventions, with emphasis on supporting Autistic people to understand their condition and develop self-awareness and self-management skills.

The role holder will be a skilled communicator with extremely effective interpersonal skills, and the ability to influence and engage a wide range of stakeholders, including Autistic and neurodiverse people, families, staff, partners, and organisations. Working within the framework of "Our Manchester", the role holder will ensure that citizens, families, staff, and partners are all involved in service design and improvement, by developing and implementing a 'communication, engagement and co-production strategy’ which reaches out to autistic and neurodiverse people from all backgrounds and experiences and ensure the ethos of 'Nothing about us, without us’ is a reality in Manchester.

About Us

We’re the local government authority for Manchester and have teams across the city helping to make this a great place to live for everyone. We’re proud to do local government differently, in a city with an international reputation for diversity, creativity, culture and passion.

When you join us, you’re joining a team of over 7,000 council staff helping to make our ambition for Manchester a reality. Whatever your role, you’ll be supporting our residents and communities to be the best they can be and helping to build a Manchester that's fairer for everyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies or plays here.

To make our ambition a reality, every person we recruit needs to play their part. It takes a certain type of behaviour, attitude and way of working to get Manchester where it wants to be.

A career with us means you can be yourself, thrive, and build the career your talent and ambition deserve.

Please click 'apply’ to be taken to our website, where you can see more details and can complete your application.