Pre- & Post-Diagnostic Support Officer

Autism Bedfordshire; England; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Autism Bedfordshire is hiring a Pre- & Post-Diagnostic Support Officer within Adult Services Hertfordshire. The role is home-based with travel across Hertfordshire and to the Bedford Office, requiring 37.5 hours per week including some evenings and weekends.

The post provides 1:1 coaching and mentoring to autistic adults to understand their diagnosis, build self-awareness and practical coping strategies, while contributing to peer support and social groups across the region.

Job description

Job Title: Pre- & Post-Diagnostic Support Officer – (Coaching & Mentoring) Adult Services Hertfordshire

Hours: 37.5hrs (including some evenings and weekends)

Fixed Term: 12 Months (potential to renew)

Location: Home working, with travel across Hertfordshire and to the Bedford Office required.

Reports to: Senior Adult Services Manager

This role will provide practical, person-centred 1:1 coaching and mentoring support to autistic adults in Hertfordshire, particularly those who have recently received an autism diagnosis. The role will support individuals in understanding and processing their diagnosis, developing greater self-awareness and confidence, and identifying and implementing practical strategies that work for them in everyday life.

The role will also contribute to the wider delivery of Autism Hertfordshire’s adult services, including facilitating peer support, running social groups, supporting social groups across Hertfordshire, responding to helpline enquiries, and providing information, advice, and signposting to autistic adults, their families, carers, and professionals.

Autism Hertfordshire is part of Autism Bedfordshire, an independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and their families. We provide impactful services across Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire, and this post will support our work across Hertfordshire.

Our adult support services primarily work with autistic adults who do not have a learning disability.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 post-diagnostic coaching and mentoring to autistic adults, tailored to their individual needs, strengths, goals and preferences.
• Support individuals to understand and process their autism diagnosis and develop greater self-awareness.
• Work alongside individuals to identify practical coping strategies and approaches that can support them in managing everyday challenges.
• Support individuals to build confidence, independence and self-advocacy skills.
• Provide information, advice and appropriate signposting to other services and sources of support, including where an individual may benefit from an assessment of care needs or additional support.
• Run an evening social group in Hertfordshire (Location TBC)
• Facilitate peer support groups for newly diagnosed autistic adults.
• Support and facilitate social groups and activities across Hertfordshire, helping to create welcoming, inclusive and supportive environments for members.
• Develop positive and professional relationships with members and provide a consistent, person-centred approach to support.
• Answer the Autism Hertfordshire helpline and respond appropriately to enquiries from autistic adults, families, carers, supporters and professionals.
• Assess enquiries received through the helpline and coordinate or resolve issues where appropriate, including providing information, advice and signposting.
• Carry out service assessments with autistic adults to identify their support needs and determine appropriate support.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of support, contacts, assessments and outcomes using the organisation’s internal database.
• Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of services, including recording outcomes and providing information for reporting purposes.
• Promote Autism Hertfordshire and Autism Bedfordshire services and act as an ambassador for the organisation.
• Develop and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant services, resources and support available to autistic adults across Hertfordshire.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and external organisations to support positive outcomes for members.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of and comply with Autism Hertfordshire and Autism Bedfordshire policies, procedures and safeguarding requirements.
• Manage your own caseload, workload and competing priorities effectively, seeking support where appropriate.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings, supervision, training and other meetings as required.
• Undertake other reasonable duties that support the effective delivery of Adult Services.

Confidentiality and Data Protection: All staff are required to respect the confidentiality of all matters that they may learn relating to their employment, other members of staff and to the general public. All staff are required to adhere to the regulations regarding the Data Protection Act 1998.

Safeguarding: Autism Bedfordshire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults in its care. The Development Officer is often required to be the named officer for groups they are overseeing and attend relevant training.

To ensure that this is achieved we expect all employees to share this commitment and staff working with these vulnerable groups will be recruited and selected in line with safer recruitment policies and practices including the completion of DBS check.

Equal opportunities and diversity: Autism Bedfordshire is an equal opportunities employer. The aims of the equal opportunities policy is to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, religion or any disability nor disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.