At a Glance
- Tasks: Support autistic adults by coordinating care and bridging gaps in their support.
- Company: Join a leading charity dedicated to enriching the lives of autistic individuals.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous annual leave, free healthcare scheme, and specialist training.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of autistic adults while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Relevant qualification in Autism or Mental Health and experience with complex needs.
The predicted salary is between 30900 - 30900 £ per year.
Autism West Midlands is a leading charity in the West Midlands for Autistic adults, children as well as offering families support and guidance.
We use our expertise to enrich the lives of autistic people and those who love and care for them.
Our passionate, expert staff and volunteers work across all age groups and abilities, by providing personalised support.
Autism West Midlands will work in partnership with NHS Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust to deliver a dynamic service for autistic adults who are at risk of admission to inpatient services or who require additional support to help assist quicker discharge from inpatient service.
The Keyworker Service provides coordination and direct support to autistic adults, who also have mental health needs.
This project uses intensive, direct interventions with the aim of supporting neurodiverse people to remain living at home, in the community, preventing avoidable admissions to inpatient mental health services.
The post holder will need flexibility to work as part of a small team including the need to offer support out of office hours.
A full driving licence and access to a car is essential for this role.
This is a Monday to Friday role with some flexibility for work out of office hours.
Key aspects of the Autism Specialist Key Worker role
- To be a key point of contact for autistic adults allocated to you, identifying gaps in their support and coordinating efforts to bridge those gaps.
- To work closely with inpatient settings, local mental health teams (including crisis teams), social care and other organisations involved to ensure that the system is working in a coordinated and joined up way for the person, helping to reduce any blockages/barriers to accessing support.
- Develop positive working relationships with individuals in your caseload and gain insight into each person’s specific autistic needs and develop support plans accordingly.
This will involve seeking consent for people to share their “health passport” to help influence how they receive support from other professionals.
- When necessary, advocate on behalf of a person based upon predetermined preferences, choices and wishes.
- Coordination of support by promotion of multidisciplinary approaches.
This will involve developing positive working relations to enable a person to benefit from input from a variety of sources.
- Pro-actively initiate and chair MDT meetings either in the community or in acute hospital settings.
- Arrange and participate in assessments (including risk assessments) considering a range of information provided by other professionals and the person being supported.
- Develop and utilise other available services that can contribute to the overall support of a person.
- When appropriate work alongside parent/carers and (dependent on consent given by person being supported) involve them as part of support planning.
- Report vulnerable adult safeguarding/child protection issues that may arise directly to the appropriate agency in coordination with the Assistant Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead and together agree appropriate action, following Autism West Midlands’s procedures.
- Collate and compile performance information based upon a person’s individual support plan and the overall objectives of the Key Worker Service
- Provide cases studies to evidence outcomes, promote good practice and demonstrate system/process/practice issues
- Provide feedback gathered by people using the service to help develop the service to best meet needs
- Comply with General Data Protection and Regulation (GDPR) when partnership working ensuring that consent is obtained.
What we are looking for from you as a Autism Specialist Key Worker
- Support colleagues across the system to become autism aware and provide autism friendly services.
- Rethink systems and approaches based on what is in the best interests of people and can provide the best possible outcomes.
- Champion the use of reasonable adjustments to support better engagement and overcome barriers for engagement with support from Key Workers and mental health support.
- Positively raise awareness of the needs of autistic adults when opportunities arise and specifically by attending information events and strategic working groups meetings.
- A relevant qualification related to Autism or Mental Health or associated field or discipline
- Knowledge of how autism and mental health challenges may interplay.
- Detailed understanding of the autism spectrum
- A good understanding of a variety of mental health issues and how difficulties can affect people.
- Working knowledge of safeguarding practice and confidentiality.
- Specific experience of working with autistic adults with complex additional needs including mental health.
- Experience of carrying out needs. assessments, developing recovery-focused support plans and risk assessments.
- Experience of working collaboratively using multi-disciplinary approaches.
- Experience of working as part of a team.
- The ability to manage a caseload and to prioritise workloads based on needs.
- IT literate, with practical experience of using Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel and the internet.
- Current driving license, access to a vehicle and a willingness to travel.
- Have a genuine desire to improve the lives of autistic adults.
- Your values are in line with those reflected below.
In return we can offer you
- A supportive management team
- Annual leave to increase yearly to 33 days
- Free DBS check paid for by Autism West Midlands
- Free Medicash Healthcare cash back scheme’
- Employee assistance scheme providing support to you and your family
- Specialist autism training you are paid to attend and travel to
- All staff are provided with a Life assurance
- Company Sick Pay Scheme
- Refer a friend scheme – £200 for each referral
The closing date for applications is the 18th of August 2026 however, if we receive a high volume of applications, we do reserve the right to close the advert early.
Therefore, early application is advised.
Interview will held on the 25th of August 2026.
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Autism Specialist Key Worker in Birmingham employer: AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS
Autism West Midlands is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and empowering work environment for its staff. Located in the vibrant community of Marston Green, employees benefit from generous annual leave, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative culture that prioritises the well-being of both staff and the individuals they support. Joining our team means being part of a mission-driven organisation that values your contributions and encourages personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Autism Specialist Key Worker in Birmingham
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Autism Specialist Key Worker in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AUTISM WEST MIDLANDS
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
