Autism Community Link Worker (Bristol Autism Spectrum Service)

at  Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic person to join the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS) as an Autism Community Link Worker. This is a full-time, Band 4 position on a fixed term contract until 31 st March 2025. BASS is a multi-disciplinary team providing services to autistic adults across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.
The purpose of this post is to provide a social prescribing intervention by supporting autistic individuals to access social opportunities (e.g. hobbies, volunteering, education, support groups), and non-medical support, by conducting assessments, providing one to one support, advice, and signposting.
Part of the role will include promoting autism awareness and good practice across the care pathway, and removing barriers to accessing services and participation in society for local autistic people.
Alongside 1-1 interventions we have developed Social Prescribing groups that the successful candidate will be expected to support. These include an EcoHome Garden, an allotment, and a monthly social group at different cultural spaces across the BSNSSG.
The successful candidate will also be supporting a research project that is being carried out with the University of Bristol. This study is trying to find out the experiences of autistic people receiving social prescribing with a community link worker through the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service and measure whether it helps improve their quality of life.
Experience of social prescribing and/or working with autistic adults is desirable, as is experience of teaching/training staff and conducting service evaluations. What is essential is that any prospective candidate has a genuine respect for autistic people, and a profound commitment to reducing the levels of social exclusion often experienced by autistic people and their families.
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
To undertake the role of autism community link worker for an agreed number of service users, organising and participating in the ongoing assessment, planning, delivering and review of care to meet identified social care and wellbeing needs. This will include:
Explaining the role of the autism community link worker
Organising and participating in defined assessment methods/activities
Developing and reviewing appropriate action plans identifying and organising other resources as appropriate.
Completing relevant paper and electronic documentation in line with the autism community link worker role
Planning and undertaking defined interventions and treatments to enable the individual to meet and develop their social care and wellbeing needs, to increase confidence and independence in line with agreed action plans. This might include;
Preparing for and delivering defined groups.
Therapeutic activities to improve an individual’s coping skills
Planning and undertaking activities to enable the individual to meet and develop their social care and wellbeing needs, to increase confidence and independence in line with agreed personal action plans. This might include supporting individuals to:
access information on appropriate and safe social opportunities
move into new accommodation or respite care.
complete forms or letter e.g. housing benefits
Contact employment advisors or education facilities
Or it might include providing any of the following
Emotional support to individual focusing on motivation and encouragement.
Effectively build hope inspiring relationships which acknowledge the personal journey of each person, and focus on strengths and aspirations to allow the creation of meaningful personal action plans.
Communicate effectively with a wide range of people in order to build and sustain effective, and positive relationships with individuals, and carers, team members and other agencies. This may include accessing translation and interpreting services.
To work collaboratively with service users and their carers to understand and manage their needs in line with their personal action plan
To undertake specific activities and interventions in the support of carers including engagement and involvement, assessment and provision of support or services.
Organise and participate in the development of risk assessments
Respond to the needs of individual with sensitivity with regard to their age, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, social class or disability, modifying behaviour to optimise the helping relationship.
Promote the rights of individual by recognising differences and acting in accordance with the relevant legislation, recognising and reporting discriminatory behaviour, and taking appropriate action.
Work collaboratively and sensitively with autistic individuals to develop skills to manage their social care and wellbeing needs, in accordance with their personal action plan, by actively promoting and using approaches which are affirming, build on strengths, identify past positive experience and success, and use small steps to move towards the person’s goal.
Promoting independence and increasing confidence by providing appropriate self-help materials, information about available resources/services, facilitating identified group work and educational workshops.
To be responsible for maintaining own caseload on a day to day basis, ensuring that time is prioritised effectively.
Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local safeguarding policies and procedures, by recognising and reporting any signs that may indicate an individual is at risk of neglecting or harming themselves, or at risk from others, and by participating in processes with other agencies to keep the individual safe.
Develop own knowledge and practice, and contribute to the development of others, making use of available feedback, supervision and appraisal to identify appropriate areas of development for this work role, taking responsibility for accessing identified learning and training opportunities.
Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others, taking appropriate action where required.
Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing reports and letters, utilising electronic record and other systems available within the organisation.
Report and record within agreed timeframes, all activity relating to information reporting and performance requirements.
To participate in local arrangements in order to ensure consistent care to service users across the local geography

Please refer the Job description for details