At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to provide high-quality support for autistic individuals and develop tailored care plans.
- Company: Join a dedicated charity focused on making a real difference in the lives of autistic adults.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 32 days holiday, sector-leading training, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible shifts, excellent career progression, and comprehensive benefits package.
- Why this job: Make a lasting impact while growing your career in social care with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience in social care management, coaching skills, and a health & social care qualification.
The predicted salary is between 34939 - 37434 £ per year.
Full Time Position Available – 37 hours per week
Pay Scale: Starting at £34,939 rising to £35,505 after engagement. Opportunity to progress to £37,434 at your own pace.
Are you looking for your next step in your social care career? Are you a dynamic leader who thrives on building strong relationships, adapting to new challenges, and bringing out the best in others? If you're passionate about coaching and developing teams to grow and succeed together, this is your opportunity to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact.
Join our friendly and dedicated team as Senior Autism Practitioner in Lanark within our South West Area Services. Across our South West Area Services, we support 48 autistic adults across several welcoming locations. Our care is tailored to each person's needs, including Housing Support, residential care, and transitional assessment services. You'll be joining a warm, dedicated team that's passionate about making a real difference and always looking for ways to grow and improve.
About the Role:
As the Senior Autism Practitioner, you'll ensure the successful delivery of each person's service across our South West Services. Leading a team of dedicated Autism Practitioners, you will inspire them to provide a consistent, high-quality support service to autistic people. You will coach and mentor them to ensure they perform to the best of their ability. Using your outstanding communication skills, you'll collaborate closely with families, agencies and multi-disciplinary teams to implement and further develop support plans designed to help individuals succeed in their day-to-day lives. Actively involving yourself in the recruitment process, you will always be on the lookout for talented individuals who could make the team even stronger. This is a superb opportunity to gather experience of a different role, to undertake additional training and lead a hard-working team to success.
About You:
- Experience gained within a supervisory and/or management role within social care
- Demonstrated experience in supporting autistic people
- Experience coaching and mentoring colleagues
- A health and social care qualification, or the willingness to gain an SVQ Level 4 in health & social care and Leadership and Management for Care Services (LMC) qualification provided by the organisation
- A good level of IT literacy, including MS Word and Excel
- A Full UK Driving License
- Able to work a variety of shifts including evenings and weekends and support with regular on-call support. This can be discussed further at interview.
Scottish Autism offers you:
- A comprehensive colleague benefits package which includes a competitive salary and a personalised learning pathway for all.
- 32 days holiday pro rata (which increases with your length of service)
- Sector leading training from day one, including fully funded support to complete your necessary SVQ
- Non-contributory life assurance scheme
- Workplace Pension (Employer matched up to 9%)
- Discount platform
- Employee Assistance Programme.
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. Valuing diversity and promoting equal opportunities is at the heart of our vision, mission, and values.
Closing Date – 29th July 2026
Registered charity number is SC009068
Locations
Senior Autism Practitioner in Lanark, Scotland employer: Scottish Autism
Scottish Autism is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its staff, offering a competitive salary and a personalised learning pathway to help you progress at your own pace. With a strong focus on teamwork and a supportive work culture, you'll be part of a dedicated team making a meaningful impact in the lives of autistic individuals in Lanark. Enjoy sector-leading training, generous holiday allowances, and a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to valuing diversity and promoting equal opportunities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Autism Practitioner in Lanark, Scotland
✨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 Scottish Autism.
✨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 Scottish Autism!
✨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 Scottish Autism, 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 Scottish Autism 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 Senior Autism Practitioner in Lanark, Scotland
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 Scottish Autism:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Scottish Autism! 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 Scottish Autism
✨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.
