JOB PURPOSE
The Autism Advisory Teacher will work within the Education Authority) Local Impact Teams. The role of the Autism Advisory Teacher is to deliver training, to offer advice and support to school staff and parents/carers, and to work directly with autistic children and young people regards of their stage on the diagnostic journey. This may involve working with school staff and pupils in preschool, nursery, primary post-primary settings, within mainstream, specialist settings attached to mainstream and Special Schools. The Advisory Teacher will liaise with other EA Officers and with other professionals in other agencies.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Advise and support staff working in schools, nurseries and preschool settings
1. Provide advice to schools to facilitate school staff addressing the particular learning, social, communication and developmental needs of Autistic pupils;
2. Work closely with class teachers, Special Needs Co-ordinators (SENCos) and Learning Support teachers in schools to develop effective strategies and interventions in relation to individual or groups of pupils;
3. To encourage a co-ordinated approach in addressing a pupil’s learning, social, communication and developmental needs.
2. Contribute to the implementation of a range of interventions
4. Devise and assist the implementation of an individualised learning programme for autistic children and young people;
5. Facilitate the delivery of a range of support packages that are deemed to be appropriate to meet the needs of the individual Autistic pupil.
3. Work directly with selected individual pupils
6. Contribute to blocks of direct pupil support for pupils who require more specific support in addition to the advice and guidance provided to the school staff;
7. Monitor, assess and review a pupil’s progress and the appropriateness of provision and provide reports at regular intervals as required.
4. Develop Autistic Specific Training Programmes
8. Contribute to the development and delivery of training courses for Teachers, classroom assistants, Learning Support Assistants, other school-based staff, parents/carers and for other professionals. This may also involve working with other EA Officers with expertise in the area of Special Educational Needs.
5. Promote Parental Involvement
9. Liaising with the pupil’s parents/carers to encourage their involvement and to offer advice and support as to how they might support their child at home;
10. Encouraging liaison between home and school to maximise consistency in relation to the effective strategies that are being implemented to meet the needs of the pupil.
6. Provide Advice to the Education Authority
11. By writing educational advice in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs under the terms of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986.
7. Liaise with other Agencies
12. To promote a co-ordinated approach in the assessment and identification of a pupil’s learning, social, communication and developmental needs;
13. Engage in multi-disciplinary meetings, as appropriate, to meet the needs of individual pupils.
8. Be involved with Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
14. Keep informed of current approaches, teaching strategies and resources relevant to teaching Autistic children and young people so that appropriate support can be applied in school contexts.
9. Complete Other Duties
15. Undertake any other related duties as required by the Education Authority