Specialist Autism Counsellor

POST: Specialist Counsellor for Autistic Adults

LOCATION: RfA Head office (BAYC, 581 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B29 7EL) and other Birmingham community outreach locations

SALARY: £35,000 FTE (£18,720–£21,000 pro rata for 20–22.5 hrs/week)

HOURS: 20-22.5 hours per week. Fixed term 18 month contract.

Reports to: Director of Services

Direct Reports: None

About Resources for Autism (RfA)

Since 1997, Resources for Autism (RfA) has grown into a major deliverer of services and support in London and the West Midlands with a turnover of around £2.5m per year. Our mission is to support and enable autistic people to live happy and fulfilling lives. We want to change society’s attitude to autism whilst also providing essential services and enriching opportunities to autistic people. We are a values-driven organisation which employs values-driven people who want to make a difference. Our values are: Inclusion, Creativity, Compassion, Courageousness and Expert.

The Role

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Specialist Counsellor for autistic adults to join our team in the West Midlands. This role involves delivering structured, time-limited counselling support to autistic adults, many of whom could also be experiencing poor mental health. The sessions will be free for the clients as this project is fully funded. The postholder will provide person-centred, autism-informed therapeutic interventions, supporting individuals to improve wellbeing, build coping strategies, and enhance their quality of life. You will manage your own caseload of clients, attend triage and supervision. This service is part of a wider project, partnering with two other specialist organisations to improve all-round holistic support for this cohort of vulnerable people.

Main Responsibilities:

• Deliver one-to-one counselling sessions to autistic adults (up to 12 clients per week)
• Provide structured therapeutic support of up to 16 sessions per client
• Deliver sessions at the BACY site and at identified, accessible community centres across Birmingham
• Apply appropriate, evidence-based therapeutic approaches adapted for autistic adults
• Access the shared referral system with our partner organisations and complete all relevant documentation
• Maintain accurate, confidential, and timely client records
• Monitor client progress and adjust interventions accordingly
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and our external partners to support holistic care and good communication.
• Attend regular clinical supervision
• Adhere to safeguarding, equality, and professional practice standards at all times
• Uphold and adhere to the values of RfA at all times
• Ensure there is always compliance with RfA’s safeguarding policies and procedures
• All staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in our services
• Undertake any other duties asked of you that are commensurate with your grade

Flexible working: Some flexibility with hours / evening availability may be required.

Person Specification

Essential Skills

• Recognised counselling qualification (e.g., Level 4 Diploma or equivalent)
• Membership (or eligibility for membership) with a professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP)
• Significant experience working with autistic people, particularly adults
• Experience supporting individuals with co-occurring mental health difficulties (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma)
• Ability to adapt therapeutic approaches to meet the needs of neurodivergent clients
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently across multiple locations
• Good understanding of Safeguarding
• IT skills: proficient with Office 365
• Self-starter and able to work independently, using own initiative
• Non-judgemental, compassionate

Desirable Skills

• Additional training in autism, neurodiversity, or related fields
• Experience within community-based or outreach services
• Familiarity with local mental health and support services
• Understanding of sensory, communication, and accessibility needs in therapeutic settings

Confidentiality

You will have access to confidential information concerning families and other service users and will be required to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Staff Benefits

• 90% of our staff say that Resources for Autism is “a great place to work”.
• Flexible working patterns with the option to work in a hybrid way (only available for some roles)
• 25 days of leave (pro rata for part time roles) each year plus 8 bank holidays and an additional 3 Celebration days
• Access to ongoing training and progress in the areas that interest you
• Access to our wellbeing initiatives and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Enrolment on to our pension scheme
• A supportive, warm and fun working environment made up of values driven people who are passionate about changing the world for autistic people

Application process:

In order that we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes, all applicants are required to complete an application form which must include your full employment history with clear details, any gaps in employment need to be outlined and explained. You are also required to provide details of your education history. In your personal statement we would like to see how you feel you meet the person specification and the requirements/responsibilities of the role. If for any reason, such as due to accessibility, you feel you would struggle to complete an application form you can contact us via the below email and we may explore other options with you.

To discuss the role informally or if you need to contact us you can contact the HR team via recruitment@resourcesforautism.org.uk

We particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at Resources for Autism. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for our community.

As you would expect, we are a neuro-affirming employer, with a strengths and rights based approach to neurodiversity which affirms neurodivergent identity – we don’t want to “fix” or “cure” autism, and we don’t see it as a “disability” however we do recognise it can be “disabling”. We are working to improve the ways in which we recruit and support neurodiverse employees and those with lived experience of neurodiversity.

RfA is a Disability Confidant employer and candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria, that have a disability will be guaranteed an interview.

Deadline for applications: 12th June 2026

Interviews: week beginning 22nd June 2026