PLEASE NOTE AN APPLICATION FORM AND SHORT COVER LETTER WILL BE REQUIRED, AND THE CANDIDATE MUST HAVE A RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK
We are delighted to be expanding our Family Support Team here at CAAS, and are looking to recruit two part time family support workers, ideally with lived experience of caring for an ADHD/autistic child.
The
Family Support Worker
will deliver direct services to families of ADHD /autistic children, in group settings and on a one2one basis. Our ideal candidate will have:
Excellent communication and organisation skills
A passion for supporting parents and families of neurodivergent children and young people
The confidence to facilitate groups and deliver workshops or training
The ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a supportive team
The role requires flexibility, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement. We can offer a dynamic and supportive work environment where you will have the chance to be part of a dedicated team making a real difference.
The role will be based both in our office in Eastcote and in locations across the 8 boroughs of NW London, and as we deliver our projects when our clients need us, includes some evening and weekend work.
Note the salary listed is a full time equivalent salary based on 35hrs per week, so actual salary will vary depending on hours agreed.
Hours: 2 part time roles are available, so we can be flexible to what you need. Ideally we're looking for someone who can work between 24-32 hours per week, and can offer reduced hours in the schools holidays if desired.
Terms: Permanent role
Additional project work may be available on an ad-hoc basis. Flexible hours, evening and weekend work will be required, and the work pattern may vary each week.
Full can be found on our website, but key elements of the role are:
Job Summary
CAAS provide an ADHD and Autism Support Service for the 8 boroughs of NW London, from our base in Eastcote, with a team of Support Workers. Our work includes offering information, advice, and support to ADHD / autistic people, their families, and professionals in NW London, with the aim of improving quality of life and developing neurodiverse-aware communities. Some of the support is offered through one2one meetings, some of the support is provided through groups and courses which aim to increase understanding and awareness, and provide opportunities for peer support, and some of the support is offered through training and workshops to educate professionals and aims for accommodations to be made to services to allow greater access for our client group.
In this role, you will join the CAAS established family support team as they seek to support, educate and empower ADHD/autistic individuals, their families and the community in which they live. The Family Support Worker will offer specialist advice and support to families of children and young people with a diagnosis/suspected diagnosis of ADHD or autism, with the aim of improving quality of life. They will signpost to other services where appropriate and be involved in facilitating courses at CAAS. They will work with professionals to share best practice and appropriate reasonable adjustments, as well as deliver training to develop autism-aware communities.
The role requires passion for supporting the families of neurodivergent children, strong organisation skills and excellent communication skills.
CAAS seeks to ensure our support is offered by peer support workers who fully understand our clients, as we know that lived experience as a parent or carer of an ADHD/autistic child is invaluable in providing empathetic and effective support. As such, applicants who have such experience will be prioritised.
Key Responsibilities - Direct Support for Families
Offer one to one support as requested by families and professional agencies to further our clients understanding of conditions and to help build a toolbox to support their children to thrive.
Attend or support with preparation for meetings with schools/health/social services to provide specialist advice and support for families to advocate for themselves.
Promoting partnership working between families, schools, health and social services.
Diligently record actions and monitor client progress using live reporting software, and assess risk and accommodation needs of the clients, to support their individual needs and protect them.
Promote CAAS parenting resources, both in person and online.
Develop knowledge and relationships of regional voluntary and statutory organisations and be able to signpost families to local agencies as necessary.
Facilitate our Drop-In Support Groups
Our drop-in support service is the bedrock of our family support work, and we have offered drop-In support sessions for parents for over 20 years. Our drop-in support service has grown in the last year, and now encompasses daytime and evening groups, both in our centre and online, during the working day and in the evenings. You will act as a facilitator in drop-in , providing ADHD/autism specialist advice to families, signposting the range of services available locally, and encouraging peer to peer support.
Facilitation of Parenting Courses and Workshop Courses
CAAS offers specialist parenting courses, including Understanding ADHD, Understanding Autism, 123 Magic and ADHD & Autism Parenting Boost as in-house 6-week long courses, at varying times of the day, including in the evening.
We are also developing a range of 8 week 'Understanding' workshops, which will be delivered as online courses, again at various times of the day, including in the evenings, to best suit client demand.
The FSW will be expected to deliver up to three courses each year, including at least one of the evening courses. Dates will be agreed well in advance. The total hours per week will stay consistent, with the agile working policy being used to flex when the hours are worked to accommodate the necessary course delivery each week (eg, if you are delivering an evening course, you will be able to start work later or work a shorter day on another day to accommodate).
Facilitation of Youth Social Groups
CAAS offers a wide range of social groups for young people. These could be at our centre, online or in other NWL locations. These are generally held in the early evening or on a Saturday.
The FSW will be expected to facilitate a range of youth groups each month, so will need to be available for reasonable evening/Saturday work accordingly. Dates will be agreed well in advance. The total hours per week will stay consistent, with the agile working policy being used to flex when the hours are worked, to accommodate the necessary group delivery each week (eg, if you are delivering an evening group, you will be able to start work later or work a shorter day on another day to accommodate).
Facilitating Workshops/ Webinars and Training
The FSW will be expected to deliver training or workshops/webinars to clients, and to professionals in schools, education settings and the community as required by our services needs.
Sleep work
CAAS offers a sleep service for parents and carers of children with ADHD and ASD or suspected ADHD or ASD. As part of the FSW role you will be expected deliver the sleep services to these groups. Training will be provided if appropriate qualifications are not currently held.
Front of house support and referrals process
FSW will be expected to answer both written and telephone enquiries from members of the public about CAAS services, with a warm and welcoming style, so clients feel comfortable to attend our services.
FSW will be expected to welcome visitors to the centre and provide information about CAAS and local services accordingly. FSW are to manage the referral process, including maintaining records on the internal Client Management system, triaging eligibility, and liaising with referring agencies or introductory staff members.
CAAS offers a wide range of family services, so FSW will be expected to proactively support clients in accessing the appropriate services and provide consistent follow-up and communication.
Other Responsibilities
Wider support
The FSW will be expected to contribute to the support and empowerment of young ADHD and autistic people and their families in a range of other ways, such as:
Build networks within and across the CAAS team, to share best practice and develop projects that best support the children and families we support.
Keep abreast of national and local trends and developments affecting ADHD and autistic children and their families and identify opportunities to promote awareness of their needs and the development of appropriate services and support.
Organisational
To create resources and content to be used within our family services
To provide written reports as required by professional agencies and CAAS.
Assist in promoting the organisation's services.
Attend regular supervision and training sessions.
To ensure the monitoring requirements for the project are met.
To provide regular progress reports to the Family Service Manager.
To comply with such policies/procedures, guidelines and codes of practice as laid down by CAAS and the Law.
To carry out other tasks appropriate to the post and as agreed with the Family Services Manager.
To actively participate in and undertake training and development of self and others.
Please note job descriptions only reflect 80% of a role and are not an exhaustive list of duties. You are expected to carry out other activities that are within the scope of the role.
Person Specification - Essential
Knowledge of ADHD/autism and how families can support their young people.
Experience in working with and providing support to young people.
Ability to build good working relationships with families who may find it difficult to access support.
Experience/knowledge of the challenges facing neurodiverse children and young people, and their families.
Knowledge/awareness of reasonable adjustments, strategies, and coping mechanisms to support the needs of neurodiverse children.
Ability to provide reliable support to families and other adults surrounding a child, and to act with integrity in times of stress.
Clear communication skills and an ability to represent the organisation internally and externally.
Strong organisational skills with great time management. There is a heavy demand for the personal organisation of your workload and managing appointments, and you will need to be able to manage a diverse workload with competing demands.
Ability to develop relationships with relevant statutory and voluntary sector bodies.
Ability to develop professional relationships with schools, local authorities, and other partner organisations.
Experience in safeguarding children, data protection, equal opportunities and diversity legislation and best practice.
Ability to monitor and evaluate work.
Good oral and written skills and the ability to write and present clear and comprehensive reports.
Computer Software Skilled and confident (much of the work is managed via technology and computers)
Person Specification - Desirable
Lived experience as a parent or carer of an ADHD/autistic child.
Qualified facilitator / demonstratable experience in facilitating groups and delivering training.
Voluntary Sector Experience.
Counselling or coaching skills.
Knowledge of SEN / Social Care Legislation.
Experience of delivering a sleep service or appropriate training in sleep.
Equal Opportunities
CAAS recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equity and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds, including applications from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority communities, people who identify as having a disability, and LGB+, Trans and non-binary candidates.
We also recognise the value of flexible working, so will consider different types of flexibility (such as term time, annualised or compressed hours, and a minimum requirement of 60% working in the office for all staff), as well as the possibility of offering the role on a job share basis.
CAAS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.? The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS disclosure.
To Apply
PLEASE NOTE WE WILL NOT ACCEPT INDEED APPLICATIONS, AND WE WILL NOT ACCEPT CVS INSTEAD OF APPLICATION FORMS. TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE YOU MUST FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORM ON THE VACANCIES PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE
adhdandautism. org
Job Type: Permanent
Pay: 32,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Flexitime
Work from home
Schedule:
Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ruislip HA4