Advisory Teacher for Social Communication and Autism

Derby City Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Team Derby Rewards

Tusker Car Benefit Scheme

27–32 days holiday

Job summary

Derby City Council is seeking an Advisory Teacher for Social Communication and Autism to join the Specialist Teaching and Psychology Service (STePS). The role provides autism-focused advice, guidance, and support to enable autistic children and young people to access mainstream education and enhanced provision.

You will work with schools, settings, families and other professionals, delivering training and coaching to develop understanding and practice across educational settings.

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge of autism and autism-informed approaches.
• Ability to assess needs and develop appropriate support strategies.
• Strong communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to influence and support others to develop their practice.
• Commitment to inclusion and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice to SENCOs, school staff and families, identifying strengths and developing effective approaches.
• Observe, assess, monitor and report on progress on caseload to inform planning and practice.
• Provide targeted support to promote learning, participation and independence with education staff.
• Design and deliver engaging training for schools and settings on autism and social communication needs.
• Identify when additional specialist advice is required and work with colleagues accordingly.
• Contribute to development and improvement of the service.

Skills

Specialist knowledge of autism

Assessment and planning

Communication and collaboration

Independence and teamwork

Influence and coaching

Commitment to inclusion

Education

Experience teaching autistic children

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job title Advisory Teacher for Social Communication and Autism Job reference 000012587 Date posted 20/10/2026 Application closing date 17/11/2026 Working Pattern Full time Salary Soulbury Scale Points 8 - 11, £54,661 - £59,360 a year Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Education / Learning, Teaching Attachments Blank Job description

Salary: Soulbury Scale Points 8 - 11, £54,661 - £59,360 a year

Location: Council House

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent and Temporary / Fixed Term (2 years) roles available

DBS Requirement: Yes

Closing Date: 17th November 2026

The Opportunity

The Specialist Teaching and Psychology Service (STePS) is seeking to appoint an Advisory Teacher for Social Communication and Autism to join the Social Communication and Autism Team.

The post will provide specialist autism-focused advice, guidance, support and intervention to enable autistic children and young people to access, participate and achieve in mainstream education settings, including enhanced provision.

You will work directly with children and young people, as well as with schools, settings, families and other professionals. A key part of the role will be supporting schools and settings to develop their understanding and practice through advice, modelling, coaching and training.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing specialist advice to SENCOs, school staff, colleagues, parents/carers and other relevant agencies, identifying strengths and differences and developing effective approaches to support Autistic children and young people and those with Social Communication needs.
• Observing, assessing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the progress, achievement and attainment of children and young people on caseload and using the information to inform planning, advice and practice.
• Providing targeted support to promote learning, participation and independence, working alongside education staff to support the development of sustainable approaches.
• Designing and delivering engaging training for schools, settings and other professionals, focused on building knowledge, skills, confidence and effective practice in supporting Autistic children and young people and those with Social Communication needs.
• Identifying when additional specialist advice or support is required and working with colleagues and other services as appropriate.
• Contributing to the development and improvement of the service.

About you

You will have a strong knowledge and understanding of autism and inclusive practice, with the ability to apply this effectively in educational settings.

You will be able to build positive professional relationships, work collaboratively with schools and other professionals, and provide clear advice, guidance and support.

We are looking for someone with:

• Specialist knowledge of autism and autism-informed approaches.
• The ability to assess needs and develop appropriate support strategies.
• Strong communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• The ability to influence and support others to develop their practice.
• A commitment to inclusion and ongoing professional development.

Relevant experience of teaching autistic children and young people in educational settings is essential.

Due to the nature of this role involving substantial contact with children, the successful applicant will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check as part of our Safer Recruitment process.

Who We Are

At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guiding by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?

At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people. Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle

Work-Life Balance

• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities

Learning and Development

• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendarFree annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training

Community and Inclusion

• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Derby City Council, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.

As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can choose to apply through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are also proud to hold the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their close family members who meet the essential criteria are also eligible for our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including during your application, interview or onboarding, we'll work with you to provide the support you need.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or need assistance with your application, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK: 18001 01332 640844) or email [e-mail].