East London NHS Foundation Trust

Support Worker

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic support worker, with relevant experience of and / or interest in working with autistic adults (without a learning disability).

The successful candidate will work in our friendly and passionate team, primarily working on the post-diagnostic support we offer newly diagnosed adults, whilst also contributing to the screening and assessment pathway where appropriate.

Tower Hamlets Autism Service (THAS) is a specialist diagnostic and brief intervention service. Designed in accordance with NICE guidelines we accept referrals from any source when it is thought that an adult living in Tower Hamlets may have an autistic spectrum condition. We use screening tools and specialist assessments alongside clinical experience and expertise to diagnose autism spectrum condition in adults.

We are a multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprising of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, social work, clinical psychology, psychiatry, administration, and support work. The service aims to develop the provision and accessibility of support in Tower Hamlets in order to make it an autism friendly borough.

After diagnosis, we provide up to 12 sessions of autism specific interventions. Through a local third sector partner (The Tower Project) support and advice around employment is also available.

Main duties of the job

  1. To deliver a high quality specialist service to autistic service users and their families/carers as part of the multi-disciplinary team within THAS.
  2. Alongside the MDT, to support the team in the assessment process for those who may have a Autism Spectrum condition.
  3. To form professional relationships with service users and communicate condition related information to them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
  4. To ensure that identified needs are assessed and met in partnership with independent and voluntary sector specialist providers.
  5. To provide care to service users within the community under the direct or indirect supervision of qualified Autism professionals.
  6. To work within a philosophy of empowerment and provide a person-centred approach to care planning and interventions.
  7. To have an working knowledge of support services within the community for Autistic Adults.
  8. To work with voluntary and mainstream services within Tower Hamlets to promote an Autism friendly borough, for example, linking in to services that provide support with money management, social activities, sports, etc.
  9. To support the development of post diagnostic groups for autistic people.
  10. To contribute to the development of support for carers and families.
  11. To contribute to Autism awareness and training sessions delivered to other services in the borough.
  12. To work positively with people from the diverse communities in Tower Hamlets adhering to the anti-discriminatory practice.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

30 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£33,094 to £36,195 a year per annum Inc HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

363-TH7474612

Job locations

Tower Hamlets Autism Service

86 Old Montague Street

London

E1 5NN


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see detailed attached job description and person specification.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Felicity Bowden, Operational Lead, on 020 7426 2440 / felicity.bowden@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see detailed attached job description and person specification.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Felicity Bowden, Operational Lead, on 020 7426 2440 / felicity.bowden@nhs.net

Person Specification

Education / Qualification / Training

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in health and social care, or equivalent qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a health or social care setting
  • Experience of working with Autistic adults

Desirable

  • Experience of working with people with mental health issues
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of delivering training

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of Autism
  • Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form relationships with service users
  • Effective listening skills
  • Empathic and compassionate
  • Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and written on all levels and to a broad scope of individuals, both internally and externally to the Trust
  • Ability to maintain clear, concise and timely written communication and care records
  • Ability to work independently and also in a team
  • Ability to manage time and organise and prioritise own workload
  • Ability to use email, word, excel and co-produce new information resources as part of the service
  • Ability to travel to and work within service users homes within the borough
  • Cultural awareness including awareness of the potential impact of discrimination

Desirable

  • Knowledge of national policies and NICE Guidelines relating to Autism
  • Awareness of local services and community organisations
  • Knowledge of benefits/employment systems
  • Ability to demonstrate a understanding of mental health issues
  • Ability to speak other languages

Other

Essential

  • Mobility to travel across various locations around the borough
  • Flexible working according to the needs of the service and to support work life balance
Person Specification

Education / Qualification / Training

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in health and social care, or equivalent qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a health or social care setting
  • Experience of working with Autistic adults

Desirable

  • Experience of working with people with mental health issues
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of delivering training

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of Autism
  • Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form relationships with service users
  • Effective listening skills
  • Empathic and compassionate
  • Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and written on all levels and to a broad scope of individuals, both internally and externally to the Trust
  • Ability to maintain clear, concise and timely written communication and care records
  • Ability to work independently and also in a team
  • Ability to manage time and organise and prioritise own workload
  • Ability to use email, word, excel and co-produce new information resources as part of the service
  • Ability to travel to and work within service users homes within the borough
  • Cultural awareness including awareness of the potential impact of discrimination

Desirable

  • Knowledge of national policies and NICE Guidelines relating to Autism
  • Awareness of local services and community organisations
  • Knowledge of benefits/employment systems
  • Ability to demonstrate a understanding of mental health issues
  • Ability to speak other languages

Other

Essential

  • Mobility to travel across various locations around the borough
  • Flexible working according to the needs of the service and to support work life balance

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Tower Hamlets Autism Service

86 Old Montague Street

London

E1 5NN


Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Tower Hamlets Autism Service

86 Old Montague Street

London

E1 5NN


Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Lead

Felicity Bowden

felicity.bowden@nhs.net

02074262440

Details

Date posted

30 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£33,094 to £36,195 a year per annum Inc HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

363-TH7474612

Job locations

Tower Hamlets Autism Service

86 Old Montague Street

London

E1 5NN


Supporting documents

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