Job Overview
This post is within the Autism in Schools Team, which is part of the Educational Psychology Service. This specific role is within the East of the county. The successful applicant will work alongside the existing Autism Advisors and Autism Support Workers and be line managed by an Autism Advisor or a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. The team works to meet the needs of autistic children and young people throughout Cornwall, in order to improve their access to the full curriculum and improve outcomes.
We are a proudly neurodiverse team and welcome applications from neurodivergent applicants with relevant skills, experience and qualifications. We recognise the value of lived experience.
Key Responsibilities
* Carrying out individual casework with children and young people under the direction of an Autism Advisor
* Carrying out group work with children and young people
* Co-delivering training for school staff, and workshops for groups of parents/carers
* Training in and beginning to deliver therapeutic approaches (e.g. VIG, Overcoming) and accessing supervision to support this
* Prioritising child voice and advocating for children's needs
* Diary management and organisation to make best use of time
* Maintaining and updating knowledge through relevant CPD
* Being aware of boundaries of own role and seeking support / signposting as appropriate
This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.
This position will be subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check.
Working Pattern
This is a permanent position starting in September 2026. There are 20 hours available, and the working pattern can be mutually agreed within these hours.
The role will involve face‑to‑face work with schools and families across the East of Cornwall. The successful applicant will need to be able to travel independently around this area of the county and occasionally to other locations within Cornwall, taking into account that many of our schools are remote and difficult to access by public transport. We have a number of key office bases around the county which the successful applicant could use alongside hybrid working. Our main bases in the East are in Bodmin and Liskeard. A mutually‑agreed base will be identified.
Required Qualifications and Experience
The successful candidate will have knowledge and experience with autism and with the UK school system.
Preferred Qualifications
* Qualification at NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, ideally in a relevant subject such as Childcare and Education
* Knowledge of autism and neurodiversity and experience of working with autistic children and young people
* A commitment to working in a neuro‑affirming way, demonstrating respect to children and adults of all neurotypes
* Knowledge, skills and experience in effective communication with autistic young people, including alternative and augmentative forms of communication such as visual support strategies
* Ability to communicate information to individuals and groups both in writing and verbally
* Experience of promoting children and young people’s voices and supporting them to advocate (this could be professional and/or lived experience)
* Understanding of safeguarding and experience of working within organisations with safeguarding procedures in place
Benefits and Rewards
We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate, and reward our employees. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance while still ensuring that service needs are met.
* a competitive salary
* a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings, including the option for extra voluntary contributions
* a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave
* A national award‑winning employee health and wellbeing programme
* Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services
Additional Information
Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.
Contact
Please contact Lucy Yeomans on lucy.yeomans@cornwall.gov.uk for more information or an informal chat about the role.
Equal Opportunities Statement
Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer, and we will assess applicants on their merits. Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk.
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