Autism Initiatives

HR Feb 2012

Job Description

Job Title: ASC Specialist Practitioner Department: Autism Initiatives, Denbigh Place of work: Denbighshire, Conwy Reports to: North Wales Area Manager Employees managed: None Purpose of job: The Specialist Practitioner role will comprise of two

areas of work, working within the holiday club and providing an outreach service during term-times. Within The Holiday Club they will work alongside the Play and Recreation Coordinator and Playworkers.

ASC Specialist Practitioner will support children and their families in their own homes, providing practical support to implement the strategies which have been agreed by agencies involved in each child's case. In some cases, where families do not meet the criteria for services from statutory agencies, the project will provide practical support which will help to prevent or alleviate any further decline which may lead to statutory involvement.

Principal contacts: Internal Organisational staff, Area Manager External Children, Families, Health & Education professionals,

Social Services. Main duties and responsibilities: Working with children with an ASC and their Families to support to implement strategies which have been agreed by agencies involved in each child's case. Main Duties:

Create support structures, strategies, activity programmes with service users and families; assist the implementation to promote greater awareness and effective functioning of the family unit

Undertake casework on a flexible basis, meeting with families and visiting them in their own homes as appropriate, providing independent advice guidance, and empowering families.

Autism Initiatives

HR Feb 2012

Provide relevant and up to date information, support and advice to families affected by ASC, to professionals working in the field and to other interested parties.

Develop support for siblings of children with ASC through individual and group work or signposting to appropriate services.

Help establish parent support groups; develop a point of contact offering support and acting as a link or for signposting to other services or support.

Act in an advocacy role to assist families and Services Users in problem solving and resolution.

Work to improve direct service provision for families and service users to enable the development of more autism friendly and autism specific services, in liaison with relevant local authority personnel.

Develop links with Denbighshire and Conwy children’s social services, and contribute to supporting families involved in the Multi Agency Assessment Process as and when required.

General Responsibilities:

To be responsible for planning, organising and executing training and development through goal planning

To undertake a key worker role to the service users if the circumstances so demand.

Attend contribute to, and chair case reviews.

Administer medication to the service users in accordance with their G.P.’s wishes and recognised procedures.

Encourage and maintain, where appropriate a high standard of personal appearance for the service users, with particular emphasis on personal hygiene.

Report to the Area Manager any problems regarding health, safety, behaviour and general welfare of the service users.

Liaise with external agencies and/or parents and relatives to establish the best interests of the service users.

Ensure that adequate and appropriate leisure time activities are available for the service users in their local community.

Work with students, volunteers or visitors, where appropriate.

Autism Initiatives

HR Feb 2012

Ensure confidentiality is maintained to a very high standard. Progress and development in these areas will be continually monitored, discussed and reviewed through supervision.

To be responsible for identifying own training needs, and communicating them to the appropriate person.

To become involved in staff training and attend courses where appropriate. He/she will also be expected to feed back to other members of staff, information and knowledge gained from training.

To identify and support meeting of objectives as expressed in the team development plan and the organisation’s business plan.

To take the responsibility of the Play & Recreation Coordinator as and when required.

Administration

Carry out day-to-day administration, record keeping, ordering and purchasing materials and equipment.

Maintain appropriate records, registers and reports to ensure legal and regulatory requirements are met.

Ensure records and systems are maintained as determined by the management committee.

Be responsible for day-to-day medication and financial administration.

Work within agreed budgets.

Produce regular progress reports for the Board of Trustees.

Attend internal and external meetings as necessary, to ensure the successful delivery and development of the service.

General

To complete any other duties and responsibilities when requested, which are commensurate with this role.

To carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post at all times in compliance with all of Autism Initiative’s policies, especially Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety and CSSIW.