Sirona care & health CIC

Neurodiversity Link Worker (Band 4)

The closing date is 27 March 2026

Job summary

Join our new Neurodiversity Support Team and play a key role in helping schools across BNSSG better understand and support neurodivergent children and young people.

The Neurodiversity Support Team is a multidisciplinary clinical service working in partnership with education settings to deliver high-quality Neurodivergent Needs Analyses. The team provides expert guidance, consultation and quality assurance to ensure needs profiles are consistent, meaningful and impactful.

As part of a system-wide programme, the service is introducing Neurodivergent Needs Analysis across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG). The team works closely with schools across the region, providing training, consultation and practical support to help them better understand and respond to the needs of neurodivergent children and young people.

The service champions early intervention and a needs-led approach, focusing on each child or young person's strengths and challenges rather than diagnostic labels.

We are looking for Neurodiversity Link Workers to join this developing team and help shape a new way of supporting neurodivergent children and young people across the region.

Due to current funding arrangements, this role may be appointed on a fixed-term basis [1 year] or as a long-term substantive post. The contract type will be confirmed prior to appointment.

Main duties of the job

As a Neurodiversity Link Worker, you will provide practical, accessible support and signposting for families and education settings, helping translate Neurodivergent Needs Analysis outcomes into everyday strategies. You will support engagement, confidence and navigation of relevant services for children and young people.

Working within the Neurodiversity Support Team, you will collaborate with school staff to explore strengths, needs and strategies, offer tailored advice, and ensure needs profiles are consistent, reflective and meaningful. The role also includes delivering Neurodivergent Needs Analyses for home-educated children and young people under the guidance of clinical and professionally registered colleagues.

Key responsibilities include:

Providing practical support and signposting to families and schools
Supporting education settings to understand and apply Neurodivergent Needs Analyses
Translating profiling outcomes into strategies that support engagement and participation
Working collaboratively to explore strengths, needs and strategies for children and young people
Ensuring needs profiles are high-quality, consistent and reflective
Completing needs analyses for home-educated children and young people
Gathering and interpreting information from multiple sources
Maintaining safe, accurate and timely documentation
Promoting inclusive, needs-led approaches under professional supervision

About us

Ever dreamt about a career that sparks excitement and fosters your professional growth? Picture yourself waking up eager to make a real difference in our community, surrounded by teams who value your unique ideas.

We are Sirona care & health - England's largest provider of Adult's and Children's Community Services and we'd love for you to join us in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire.

Agenda for Change Salary, full NHS benefits, 27+ days' annual leave, and participation in the NHS Pension Scheme - just a glimpse of the benefits you'll receive.

We welcome and encourage all applicants. We are committed to having a workforce that reflects the communities we support and are proactively seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce. We know diversity fosters creativity and innovation.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We aim to draw upon the widest possible range of views and experiences to meet the changing needs of our colleagues, partners and communities we serve.

Whether you're starting your journey in healthcare, looking for a fresh challenge within the NHS, or contemplating a career change, don't be daunted by the prospect of something different - we create development opportunities for all our colleagues and apprentices.

Interested? View our benefits leaflet which you can find attached to this vacancy.

Date posted

13 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year pro rata, per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

083-7867979-WW

Job locations

Unit 2, Osprey Court

Hawkfield Business Park, Whitchurch Lane

Bristol

BS14 0BB

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.

If you refer to qualifications or employment history in your supporting statement that is not reflected in your application form, this information may be discounted.

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this position, if you require a visa to work in the UK you must have a minimum of 14 months remaining on your visa. If you do not declare your visa end date in your application it may be discounted.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.

If you refer to qualifications or employment history in your supporting statement that is not reflected in your application form, this information may be discounted.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training Required

Essential

GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
Level 3 qualification (e.g., A levels, NVQ Level 3, CACHE Level 3, BTEC Level 3) or equivalent experience.
Evidence of continuous professional development relevant to working with children, families or education settings
Completion of (or willingness to complete) Safeguarding Children Level 3 training.

Desirable

Level 4 qualification (e.g., foundation degree, HLTA qualification, NVQ Level 4, apprenticeship at Level 4).
Training in Neurodiversity (Autism, ADHD, sensory needs, learning differences) awareness or assessment.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Required

Essential

Experience working with children, young people and families, ideally those with neurodivergent (ND), SEND or additional needs, gained within education, health, early years, social care or community settings.
Basic understanding of child development, learning differences and factors affecting engagement, participation and wellbeing.
Understanding of neurodiversity, including Autism, ADHD, sensory differences and related support needs.
Experience building and maintaining positive working relationships with a range of professionals (education, health, social care, voluntary sector).
Commitment to inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming and culturally sensitive practice.

Desirable

Experience supporting families or professionals to identify needs, problem-solve and implement practical strategies.
Awareness of SEND systems, including graduated response, EHCP processes, multi-agency working and education-based interventions.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training Required

Essential

GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
Level 3 qualification (e.g., A levels, NVQ Level 3, CACHE Level 3, BTEC Level 3) or equivalent experience.
Evidence of continuous professional development relevant to working with children, families or education settings
Completion of (or willingness to complete) Safeguarding Children Level 3 training.

Desirable

Level 4 qualification (e.g., foundation degree, HLTA qualification, NVQ Level 4, apprenticeship at Level 4).
Training in Neurodiversity (Autism, ADHD, sensory needs, learning differences) awareness or assessment.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Required

Essential

Experience working with children, young people and families, ideally those with neurodivergent (ND), SEND or additional needs, gained within education, health, early years, social care or community settings.
Basic understanding of child development, learning differences and factors affecting engagement, participation and wellbeing.
Understanding of neurodiversity, including Autism, ADHD, sensory differences and related support needs.
Experience building and maintaining positive working relationships with a range of professionals (education, health, social care, voluntary sector).
Commitment to inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming and culturally sensitive practice.

Desirable

Experience supporting families or professionals to identify needs, problem-solve and implement practical strategies.
Awareness of SEND systems, including graduated response, EHCP processes, multi-agency working and education-based interventions.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.