Practice Advisor - Auchterarder, Tayside

Scottish Autism; Auchterarder; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday (length of service)

Non-contributory life assurance

Workplace Pension

Wellbeing support

Discounts at High Street retailers and

Gym discounts

Smoke Free Organisation

Job summary

Appletree Community, part of Scottish Autism, seeks a Practice Advisor to translate theory into practical, person-centred autism support. You will focus on reducing stress and embedding best-practice across the team, supporting complex needs in a low-arousal approach.

You will collaborate with families, staff and stakeholders, delivering care that honours voice and choice while advancing ongoing staff development and SVQ alignment.

Qualifications

• Extensive, up-to-date expertise in autism across the lifespan.
• Advanced knowledge of trauma-informed practice and its impact.
• Strong communication using visual supports (Now and Next) and Makaton.
• Ability to translate complex theory into practical, person-centred care.
• Commitment to eliminating restrictive practices and rights-based, ethical care.
• SVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) or actively working towards it.
• Experience applying coaching models for practice development.
• Proven ability to manage conflict in high-pressure situations.

Responsibilities

• Be actively involved in service delivery – minimum of 20 hours per week
• Report to the Tayside Services Manager and translate theory into practice to reduce stress
• Develop clear communication with the person and team, create activities, support wellbeing and voice and choice
• Support staff to complete an SVQ relevant to their registration with the SSSC
• Collaborate with services and low arousal leads to ensure consistent application of the low arousal approach
• Form an important part of the person’s support network; liaise with person, family, team and stakeholders to meet needs and goals

Skills

Autism expertise

Trauma-informed practice

Advanced communication

Coaching & reflective learning

Conflict management

Lived experience of autism

Education

SVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Tools

Now and Next visual supports

Makaton

Job description

About the opportunity: An exciting opportunity has arisen to be a part of a change-making service, called Appletree Community. Supporting the individual, who has multiple learning disabilities including autistic traits, you will build a nurturing relationship with him, whilst gaining a rich understanding of him and how best to support. Collaborating with the dedicated team and his mother, you will use coaching, training and practical advice to develop and improve autism practice. As an organisation, we follow a stress reduction model of support, ensuring a low stress environment is achieved.

In this role, you will:

• Be actively involved in service delivery – minimum of 20 hours per week
• Reporting to the Tayside Services Manager, the Appletree Practice Advisor will support the translation of theory into practice and support the embedding of learning that focuses on reducing stress,
• Developing clear communication with the person and amongst the wider team, developing activities, supporting wellbeing and individual voice and choice,
• Support staff to complete an SVQ relevant to their registration with the SSSC
• Work collaboratively with the services and our low arousal leads to ensure the consistent application of our low arousal approach.
• Form an important part of the person’s support network; liaising with the person, their family, the wider team and various stakeholders to ensure the person’s needs and goals are met.

About You:

• The successful candidate will bring expertise and specialist knowledge, demonstrated through the following:
• Extensive, up-to-date expertise in autism, with a strong understanding of the experiences of autistic individuals and their families across the lifespan.
• Advanced knowledge of trauma-informed practice, with the ability to recognise and respond to the impact of trauma on individuals.
• Highly developed communication expertise, including the confident application of specialist tools such as visual supports (e.g. photographic tools, Now and Next) and Makaton to enable meaningful engagement.
• A strong foundation in autism practice and/or lived experience, with a proven ability to translate complex theoretical frameworks into practical, person-centred approaches.
• A clear commitment to eliminating restrictive practices and restraint, championing rights-based, ethical, and evidence-informed care
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset, with experience of driving continuous improvement, enhancing service quality.
• SVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) or actively working towards achievement
• Demonstrated ability to apply coaching models to support practice development, capability building, and reflective learning
• Proven experience in managing conflict and navigating complex, high-pressure situations, with professionalism and resilience

Scottish Autism Offers

• 30 days holiday (which increases with your length of service)
• Non-contributory life assurance scheme
• Workplace Pension
• Wellbeing support
• Access to High Street Retailer and Gym discounts
• Smoke Free Organisation

This post is subject to a PVG Disclosure check. All new employees must have applied to register with the Scottish Social Services Council within 3 months of starting in post and be registered within 6 months. Scottish Autism cover all the costs of PVG membership and SSSC Registration for employees.

We encourage and welcome applications from people with lived experience of autism.