Regional Practice Support Lead

As a senior member of the Practice Support Team, you will be an engaging leader, demonstrating
our commitment to developing the delivery of quality, person led support that ensures people with
autism are empowered to enjoy a good quality of life and each person achieves their goals. You
will work in collaboration with local staff teams and people supported, providing autism specific
advice, to develop and use strategies successfully.
As a Regional Practice Support Lead, you will support, train and mentor instructors and local leads
across NI. You will significantly contribute to the development and local implementation of our
strategic practice aims and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). You will work in collaboration with
the other Principal Instructors to promote or compliance with Centre of excellence requirements;
alerting the Group Coordinator and Group Head of Autism Practice to any concerns related to
practice and competence.

Contract: Permanent, with the potential for Hybrid working.

Hours: Full time.

Salary: £43,000 (based on 40 hours per week)

As an employee of Autism Initiatives, the post holder will also be expected to:

• Work in the context of Autism Initiatives’ Vision, Mission and Philosophy and use our ‘Five Point Star’ approach to support people in achieving their goals.
• Work to develop their abilities in line with the Autism Initiatives Competency Framework.
• Recognise the strengths and abilities of the people who access our services and support our shared belief in lifelong learning.
• Adhere to the Autism Initiatives’ Code of Conduct, showing a high degree of professionalism, resilience, and a willingness to remain committed during particularly demanding times.
• Observe all legal and procedural requirements in relation to data management and confidentiality e.g. adherence to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and internal data management policies.
• Adhere to all safeguarding requirements and any procedures aimed at the protection of adults at risk.

You will enjoy an enhanced range of benefits designed to reward the outstanding support that staff provide.  Some of these benefits start immediately, whilst others are awarded at later dates in recognition of loyalty, dedication and long service.

• Competitive salary.
• Employer pension scheme.
• Enhanced company sick pay.
• Enhanced maternity pay.
• Access NI paid.
• NISCC fee paid after two years service.
• Generous paid annual leave.
• Incremental increases to annual leave.
• Paid bank and public holidays.
• Birthday leave.
• Option to buy and sell annual leave.
• Long service awards.
• Monthly staff cash prize draw.
• Blue light discount card.
• Employee Refer a Friend initiative.
• Free Autism specific training.
• Comprehensive induction training.
• On the job learning.
• Buddy/mentor for new staff.
• Funded QCF development opportunities.
• Continuous learning & development opportunities.
• Line management support structure.
• Regular 121 meetings.
• Annual Performance review.
• Culture of recognition.
• 24/7 employee assistance programme (confidential counselling helpline) available from day one of employment. Offering free support from experts on a wide range of subjects from childcare and probate, to managing money and work life balance.
• Medicash health scheme, subject to eligibility.
• Menopause support line as part of Medicash scheme.
• Career break policy.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Compassionate & Bereavement leave.

Essential criteria:

• Evidence your creative and dynamic leadership skills and a passion for continuous learning
  of autism, to inform research and practice.
• You will be able to demonstrate a minimum of 3 years recent and continuous employment
  within an autism specific setting.
• Possess significant autism specialist experience and knowledge, including degree level
  qualification in a related area, such as autism or learning disability.
• An understanding of current legal frameworks e.g. Mental Capacity and statutory guidance
  e.g. Department of Health (Positive and Proactive Care).
• The successful candidate will have a willingness to be a certified PROACT-SCIPr-UK®
  Instructor and be prepared to work towards Principal Instructorship with PROACT SCIPr
  UK® if required.
• You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, use your own initiative and
  be a key team player.
• Be a reflective practitioner and be able to use this in all situations.
• Proficient IT skills to support good record keeping, report writing and analysis.
• Driving licence, with access to your own vehicle is essential, as travel will be required with
  this post.

How to apply?

Please submit your application form, detailing the skills and experience that you feel would make
you successful in this post to recruitment@ai-ni.co.uk.
The closing date for applications is Friday 20th June 2025 at 12 noon. We may decide to bring
the closing date forward if we have received a high volume of applications.

Autism Initiatives are an Equal Opportunities employer.  We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in employment and service delivery. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified applicants, however, we particularity welcome male applicants and also those from a Protestant community background as these cohorts are currently under-represented.

Registered Charity No: XR72211, NIC 104641