Autism Groups Support Worker

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of autistic adults, young people, children and their families?

Do you believe that their voice should be at the heart of the work you do?

Would you like to be part of an inclusive, passionate, enabling, honest and effective organisation?

Our vision is of a society that promotes good mental health for all and that values, as equals, people who experience mental health problems.

Come and join our creative, dynamic and motivated team supporting autistic individuals across Coventry and Warwickshire! We look forward to receiving your application.

Main duties of the job

This role will involve you needing to work as part of a team delivering a range of peer support groups across Coventry and Warwickshire to autistic individuals some with mild to moderate mental health concerns at pre/post assessment stage.

You will need to provide this service in CWW Mind buildings and community settings towards reducing presenting issues/concerns and increasing overall physical and mental wellbeing, community integration and access to education and work opportunities, as well as empower service users to access support and other services as appropriate.

About us

Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind has been developing and delivering quality services with, and for, people with mental health issues for over fifty years.

An independent charity governed by a group of local trustees, Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind is affiliated with the national Mind network, which is made up of over 105 organisations across England and Wales. Each local Mind is unique, working hard to understand the needs of their community and tailoring their services to match.

We want to make sure that everyone with poor mental health gets the support they need and the respect they deserve. This could mean having access to information, a listening ear, or more specialist support and services to help someone to live and recover from their mental health issue.

Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind provide services to all ages, including children, young people and adults, supporting in excess of 40,000 people each year.

Job responsibilities

Job title: CASS Groups Support Worker

Location: Coopers Lodge, Coventry but working across Coventry and Warwickshire

Hours: 14.75 hours (more may be available) Mon 3.30-7.45pm (Warwick) Weds 3.30-7.45pm (Nuneaton) Thurs 3.30-7.45 pm (Coventry) every other Saturday (Coventry) 9am-1pm.

Job type: Permanent

About the service:

The Community Autism Support Service (CASS) is a partnership between Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind, Autism West Midlands and Act for Autism. This role sits within CWW Mind. The service delivers groups, one to one support and peer support to all age individuals training for autistic people, parents, carers and professionals.

Key responsibilities:

• To receive referrals and effectively manage contact of people in the service
• To provide direct support to autistic adults through group support sessions
• To take responsibility for safeguarding issues and concerns identified involving relevant staff and other agencies where appropriate
• To work towards increasing community integration and attaining greater independence within the community
• To collect and input data on outcomes and support needs associated with the service including record keeping, and case studies as appropriate.
• To ensure the rights of the service user are upheld and promoted including through advocacy and enabling them to have a voice in the operation of the service provided
• A minimum of one-year experience of providing support involving mental health or wellbeing needs.
• Experience, either lived or through work, of autism.
• Experience of working in an organisational setting.
• Experience of delivering a wide range of practical and emotional support.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal, non-verbal and written.
• NVQ level 2 or equivalent experience.
• Flexible approach to working to ensure service cover between the hours of 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, and Saturday daytime.
• A driving licence and access to a car.

What we can offer you:

The following are just some of the benefits that Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind offer its employees:

• Working culture: based on core values of trust, honesty, inclusivity, enabling, effective and an unapologetic drive for excellence for children and young people.
• Annual leave: 25 days plus bank holidays plus an extra day for every two completed holiday years.
• Wellbeing day: 1 day, per holiday year, to be used to take care of your own mental health and wellbeing.
• Life insurance: policy Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind are covered by a Life Insurance policy. The death in service payment is 2 x gross salary (tax free).
• Employee development: Active encouragement not only to assist performance in the current role but also for the benefit of personal development via various means. Access to Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind CPD training and opportunities to access external CPD training.
• Flexible working: A range of options available for all employees dependant on role and responsibilities.
• Pension: Minimum 5% employee and 3% employer contribution, with an ethical investment policy option.
• Sick pay: On completion of a 6-month probationary period, Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind employees will be eligible to a period of paid sick leave.

If you are submitting a CV, you MUST include answers to the following questions (these can also be found on our application form):

• Do you have any unspent convictions or conditional cautions? If yes please give details of date(s) of offence(s), nature of offence(s) and sentence(s) passed.
• Are there any restrictions regarding your employment in the UK, e.g., do you require a work permit? If yes, please provide details. Please note, we cannot offer sponsorship.
• Are you the partner or relative of anyone currently connected with Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind (either as a volunteer, service user or employee)? If yes, please confirm their name and project, if known.
• Do you hold a UK driving license?

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Interview date: Wed 7th May 2025

Only successful applicants will be notified. We reserve the right to close the application window early and without notice should a suitable number of applications be received.

Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire values diversity and difference. We welcome applicants from all sections of the community, particularly under-represented groups and people with lived experience of mental health issues.

Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind is a leading mental health service provider and an equal opportunities employer.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 or equivalent experience.

Experience

• A minimum of one-year experience of providing support involving mental health or wellbeing needs.
• Experience, either lived or through work, of autism.

Travel

• A driving licence and access to a car.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.