Job Description
Autism Anglia is a well-established charity celebrating 50 years. We have opportunities available for Bank Day Opportunities Instructors within our Jigsaw Opportunities Centre based in Colchester. As a Bank Opportunities Instructor, the successful candidate will cover the absences of other instructors, helping the individuals we support with the unique challenges that they face.
This role is suited to a creative and flexible Day Bank Instructor with a diverse skill set that is able to adapt to the different disciplines as required. The Jigsaw Opportunities Centre offers such as sessions on Art & Textiles, Horticulture, Social & Creative Studies, Life Skills, Music, Movement and Well-being.
Autism Anglia is dedicated to providing ongoing training and supervision, continuing professional development and support, and an extensive induction on commencement of employment.
- Location: Colchester, Essex
- Salary: £11.12 per hour
- Hours: Flexible hours available
Jigsaw Opportunities Centre
Jigsaw is a specialist day service for adults with an Autistic Spectrum Condition. Offering a range of person-centred activities that develop skills and independence, within a safe and welcoming environment. The activities are provided on a 2:1 instruction and support basis to enable the centre to actively meet the individual needs of the people that attend. We continually asses and adapt to suit changing needs and monitor progress through daily reports, goals planning, therapeutic input and annual reviews.
Jigsaw Opportunities Centre is open Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with the exception of Bank Holidays and between Christmas and New Year.
By enhancing and improving the lives of the people that attend, we can help them live their lives to the fullest, develop friendships, be accepted into society, and have the skills to find employment and the drive to live as independently as they possibly can.
The role:
- Assisting the instructors with day to day running of the departments and activities, subject to guidance and support of the Jigsaw Opportunities Centre team and management
- Ensure the safety of our individuals and staff is maintained at all times
- Provide daily support to our individuals and help them with the challenges they may face, in line with their support plans.
- To be flexible in your approach and ability to support our individuals within their timetabled department, following activity plans left by the absent instructors.
- Support our individuals within a structured programme of activities to meet their goals.
- Maintain harmonious working relationships with families, stakeholders, and professional agencies and demonstrate good practices and standards
- Promote the development of each individual, adopting a holistic approach which demonstrates an understanding of their personal, physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs
- Ensure that our individuals are supported with personal and/or group project plans, which are subject to monitoring and evaluation
- Accurately record daily records to enable us to monitor progression for the people we support
Applications are welcome from Bank Day Opportunities Instructors who:
- Experience in managing emotional and distressed behaviours
- Ability to identify the needs, wishes, and aspirations of individuals who may have communication needs.
- Offer a flexible approach to supporting the people we support with a variety of different activities, as required.
- Experience in working with people with Autism.
- Experienced with activity co-ordination, knowledge of opportunities in surrounding areas
- Good range of communication skills
- Experience working within a health and social care environment
To Apply:
If you have a genuine passion for supporting and uplifting others, your outstanding future at Autism Anglia could be moments away. Apply now by clicking on the link below or contact Natalie Dwan on 01206 577 678 OR email Recruitment@autism-anglia.org.uk to arrange a confidential discussion.
Autism Anglia considers itself to be a fully inclusive employer, welcoming applications from all individuals who are able to meet and exceed the requirements of the position and may wish to request flexible working or reasonable adjustments to appropriately support candidates.
Autism Anglia is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults or children and expects all staff to share this commitment in the fullest sense. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. For all enhanced DBS roles, we are permitted to seek access to spent convictions under The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, Exceptions Order 1975 (as amended 2013).
Autism Anglia is an independent charity with a range of services across East Anglia which provide care and support to children, adults, and families affected by autism. Our services include an independent specialist school, further education provision, adult residential houses, study centres, supported living packages, professional advice and training, and family support and advice.
The charity offers a personalised approach that provides each individual with the necessary skills and strategies to enable them to realise their own strengths and abilities. Autism Anglia is passionate about assisting people with autism to lead the most independent life style as possible.
The origins of the charity begin in the early 1970’s with families living in Essex and Norfolk independently realising that there was no specialist provision for their children who were on the autistic spectrum. The lack of provision resulted in two separate organisations being operated and managed up until 2008 when there was a successful merger and the formation of Autism Anglia. The charity has continued to expand and grow and now employs over 390 members of staff in a range of diverse roles. We are passionate about changing and shaping the lives of people with autism for the better and are able to do so through raising awareness of the spectrum condition and by being part of Autism Alliance. The alliance has enabled us to increase capacity to campaign and lobby on behalf of people with autism by being part of a national organisation which has the power to reach and campaign for a better life for people with autism.
Autism Anglia is a well-established charity which provides ongoing training, supervision, continuing professional development and support, as well as an extensive induction on commencement of employment. It gives employees the opportunity to help others achieve and maintain their independence within their capabilities.