Autism Practitioners/Support Workers

Routes To Work South; Lanark; Hybrid; GBP 19,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday pro rata

SVQ fully funded training

Non-contributory life assurance

Workplace Pension (Employer matched up

Discount platform

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Routes To Work South is seeking Autism Practitioners to support autistic individuals across Lanark, Biggar and Carluke. The role involves personalized plans, community engagement, tenancy support, and promoting independence within a low-arousal environment.

Join a close-knit team with extensive autism training, shift flexibility including weekends, and a strong emphasis on collaboration, compassion and growth within the organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience and commitment to engaging with autistic individuals
• Ability to work in a supportive, collaborative team
• Willingness to learn and grow within the role and Organisation values

Responsibilities

• Develop, review and implement personalised support plans for the supported individual
• Build positive relationships with the supported individual
• Work with the supported individual and their network to centre life goals
• Support individuals in accessing activities and local community opportunities
• Assist with tenancy support and decision making
• Care for wellbeing, including outdoors and nature; flexible shifts including weekends/evenings

Skills

Engaging

Resilient

Low-arousal environments

Team player

Motivated

Wellbeing outdoors

Continuous learning

Wellbeing

Communication

Developmental awareness

Emotional regulation

Community work

Education

Relevant social care qualification

Job description

Job Specifics

• Reference No:LO399
• Location:Lanark & surrounding areas
• Hours: Full Time & Part Time
• Salary:Starting at £13.45 per hour, rising to £13.67 after engagement. Opportunity to progress to £14.15 at your own pace. Sleepover rate - £107.60
• Closing Date: Friday 13th November 2026
• Why should you apply for this role:Exciting projects and challenges

Job Overview

Join our Southwest team who currently support over 30 autistic people across Lanark, Biggar & Carluke to live fulfilling, independent lives.

From supporting individuals to access work placements and voluntary projects to supporting meaningful social opportunities, no two days are the same.

Be part of a team that encourages potential, champions inclusion, and supports autistic people to access the opportunities that matter most to them.

We acknowledge the specialist support our staff provide toautisticindividuals, thereforethose doing supportwork are known as Autism Practitioners.

We continuously improve to ensure all our Autism Practitioners are supported and have the skills to deliver a quality service. This post is a good opportunity for those with a generic support worker experience to specialise.

As an Autism Practitioner, experience of working within social care is desirable but not essential as we are seeking to appoint people who are willing to learn and develop into the role and share our organisational values:Collaboration, Compassion, Change Makers, & Contribution.We will support you to do this by offering an extensive autism specific training programme.

Benefits include:

• 30 days holiday pro rata (which increases with your length of service)
• Sector leading training from day one, including fully funded support to complete your necessary SVQ
• Non-contributory life assurance scheme
• Workplace Pension (Employer matched up to 9%)
• Discount platform
• Employee Assistance Programme.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Key Tasks

Autism Practitioners work as part of a team to:

• Develop, review and implement personalised support plans for the supported individual,
• Build positive relationships with the supported individual,
• Work in partnership with the supported individual, and their support network,
• Work with stakeholders to ensure the supported individual’s life goals and aspirations are at the centre of their support.

On a day-to-day basis, Autism Practitioners enable supported individuals:

• To take part in their chosen activities, and access local community opportunities,
• To help maintain their tenancies and support them to make the decisions that matter to them.
• To promote independence and active citizenship, community inclusion, support with household chores. Required support may include personal care.
• As part of your role, you will be required to undertake shift work, including weekends and evenings, so flexibility towards working hours is key.
• We encourage and welcome applications from people with lived experience of autism.

Employer Expectations Skills/Knowledge/Experience

• Engaging, and able to inspire joy & happiness
• Resilient, with an understanding of transactional stress and reflective practice
• Committed to creating stress-free, low-arousal environments
• Willing to work as part of a close-knit, supportive team, including partnering with families and other professionals
• Motivated to be a part of someone's life, actively looking for ways to support them to reach their goals and aspirations.
• Interested in supporting holistic wellbeing, including getting outdoors & close to nature
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning to enhance the lives of those we support.
• An understanding of wellbeing and human development
• Experience or understanding of different communication styles and strategies
• An awareness of developmental stages and how to support them
• Familiarity with low-arousal approaches
• Knowledge of stress and emotional regulation support
• Previous work with community-based settings (e.g. local scout halls or activity groups)

Qualifications/Tickets/Licences Required

• Full UK driving licence.(preferred)
• To maintain mandatory training requirements and develop knowledge of autism in order to demonstrate continuous professional development.
• Develop understanding of and implement low arousal support, following Studio 3 principles, focusing on reducing restraint and achieving our aspiration of eliminating restraint.
• To be registered with SSSC or equivalent and hold or be willing to work towards a relevant qualification.
• To be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme (PVG)