Job Description
Senior Autism Practitioner (Team Leader) – Orkney
Full Time | 37 Hours per Week
Fixed-Term Contract | 1 Year
Salary: Starting from £37,, rising after probation, with progression opportunities up to £39, (inclusive of Island Allowance)
Defour Partnership is proud to be supporting a specialist care provider with the recruitment of a Senior Autism Practitioner (Team Leader) in Orkney.
Take the Next Step Into Management – In One of the Most Unique Places to Live in the UK
Are you ready to move into a junior management role where you can lead, inspire, and make a meaningful difference every day?
Do you have experience in social care and want to progress into a position that gives you more responsibility, leadership exposure, and the opportunity to shape high-quality support services?
If so, this could be the ideal next step in your career.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Senior Support Worker, Team Leader, or aspiring Deputy-level professional to take on a first-step management role within a specialist autism service in Orkney.
Alongside the career opportunity, this role also offers the chance to enjoy a completely different pace of life in one of Scotland’s most beautiful and distinctive island communities.
Why Orkney?
For the right person, this role offers more than just career progression.
Orkney provides an incredible lifestyle opportunity — with stunning coastlines, a strong sense of community, open space, and a slower, more balanced way of living. Whether you’re looking for a fresh start, a better work-life balance, or the chance to build a rewarding career in a truly unique setting, this role could be the perfect move.
If you’ve ever thought about relocating to an island community while continuing to grow your social care career, this is a rare opportunity to do both.
About the Role
As Senior Autism Practitioner (Team Leader), you’ll play a key role in supporting the successful day-to-day delivery of the service while developing your experience in leadership and management.
This is a junior management position, ideal for someone ready to take the next step beyond frontline senior support work into a role with greater responsibility, leadership, and influence.
You’ll lead and support a team of Autism Practitioners, helping to create a positive, person-centred, and high-performing environment where both colleagues and the people supported can thrive.
What You’ll Be Doing
Leading and supporting a team to deliver high-quality, person-centred support
Coaching, mentoring, and developing staff in their day-to-day practice
Supporting the implementation and review of individual support plans
Working collaboratively with families, agencies, and multidisciplinary teams
Taking on increasing responsibility as part of your management development journey
Supporting rota planning, service coordination, and team organisation
Playing an active role in recruitment, induction, and staff development
Helping to maintain a service culture built around quality, inclusion, and positive outcomes
Who This Role Would Suit
This role would be ideal for someone who is:
Currently working as a Senior Support Worker, Team Leader, or in a similar senior care role
Ready to take a step into management
Passionate about supporting autistic people in a person-centred and strengths-based way
Keen to build leadership experience within a supportive specialist service
Looking for a new challenge, lifestyle change, or potential relocation opportunity
Essential Requirements
Experience in a supervisory and/or leadership role within care or support services
A relevant Health & Social Care qualification, or willingness to work towards SVQ Level 4 / Leadership & Management for Care Services
Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
Experience of rota planning and team coordination
A genuine commitment to high-quality, person-centred support
What’s on Offer
This is an excellent opportunity to join a service that values difference, development, inclusion, and high-quality support.
Benefits include:
32 days annual leave (increasing with service)
Life assurance
Employer pension contribution matched up to 9%
Employee discount platform
Employee Assistance Programme
Access to excellent training and professional development opportunities
A genuine opportunity to progress your leadership career
This role also includes occasional on-call and weekend work.
Additional Information
Location: Orkney
Contract: Fixed term for 1 year
Hours: 37 hours per week
Please note: Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this role
Interested?
If you’re looking for a role that offers both career progression and a unique lifestyle opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.
Defour Partnership is supporting this recruitment process on behalf of our client.For a confidential conversation or to express your interest, please get in touch.