Specialisterne Northern Ireland is a not-for-private-profit community interest company which supports autistic people and people with other neurodivergent conditions to get ready for, secure, sustain and progress in careers. As part of the international Specialisterne network which pioneered the Autism at Work movement and which spans thirty-two cities in fifteen countries for seventeen years, we partner with leading employers internationally to works towards the goal of one million careers for autistic people and people with other neurodivergent conditions.

We are excited to expand our team and currently have three job opportunities:

Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant Fulltime

Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant Part-time (20-30 hours, flexible) Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant, Part-time – Specialisterne NI

Corporate Account Executive (Diversity and Inclusion) Fulltime Corporate Account Executive, Diversity and Inclusion – Specialisterne NI

Job Title: Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant  

Established in 2014, Specialisterne NI took a co-design route to address unemployment and under-employment of autistic people. We have learned that being in an autistic community builds confidence and helps people succeed in interview, stay and progress in careers. This led to the creation of a community model of employability for and by autistic people. We are now expanding the community model of employability to include people who have dyslexia, ADHD, OCD, or Tourette’s Syndrome as well as autistic people who seek work together and learn about and from each other. Ongoing listening to neurodivergent people means that programmes continue to adapt to provide the additional supports that help neurodivergent people secure rewarding careers.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a unique not-for-private-profit organisation in Northern Ireland where you support neurodivergent people as they connect and learn from each other, and start out on and progress in careers. Working as part of a small team of autism and neurodiversity specialists, together we seek to develop new tools and techniques which support the career development and well-being of neurodivergent people.

 

Objective
Working as part of a team, the Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant’s aim is to support participants, who are neurodivergent young people or adults, to experience reduced attitudinal and communication barriers, and to progress in relation to having a career. The Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant will help participants feel more ready to meet employers, education, and training providers, and to make a positive start to a new career.

The Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant will also connect with an exciting employer mentor network, many of whom are neurodivergent, who will inform the programme curriculum, ensuring participant’s learning pathways are relevant to their chosen career at this time, and who will provide learning opportunities for participants.

The successful applicant will also support our neurodivergent community to connect with and learn from each other through shared interests, so that participants feel more connected and confident, and improve wellbeing.

This role will have ongoing learning about autism, dyslexia, ADHD, OCD, or Tourette’s Syndrome and how to best support neurodivergent people.

Job Description

• Individual meetings with participants, to support participants to develop strategies to achieve goals
• Support of group sessions where participants develop employability skills to secure, sustain and progress in careers and learn strategies for working as a neurodivergent person.
• Facilitating interest groups and workshops, for example, taking part in board games and other social activities.
• Undertaking weekly activities, along with the project teams, to support participants to achieve project aims, such as securing employment and further training or education.
• Facilitating mentor sessions, and employer briefings.
• Support of group workshops, and sessions where participants learn about and explore areas which are important to them e.g., disclosure in work
• Maintaining records in relation to all project activity, in line with Specialisterne NI quality standards and GDPR regulations.
• Ongoing learning related to autism and autistic people and of tools and techniques which may support participants to achieve project objectives. There is a 6-month induction plan, followed by ongoing learning and professional development.
• Any other activity which fits the remit of the projects.

Person Specification

Essential

• Study in a relevant subject area at undergraduate or post graduate level (this includes currently studying or completed). Examples of relevant study include Atypical Development, Psychology, Education, Sensory Integration, subject areas related to Autism, ADHD/ADD, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, Dyslexia. Other subject areas will also be considered in terms of relevance.
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge one or more of the following: Autism, ADHD/ADD, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, Dyslexia.

Desirable

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of one or more of the following: Autism ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, Dyslexia.
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of Autism
• Experience in supporting children, young people, or adults on the Autistic Spectrum or who have ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, or Dyslexia, to achieve the changes they want
• Experience in supporting people in small groups
• Experience in documentation of work according to quality standards.
• Demonstrated willingness to learn and a commitment to developing new solutions for neurodivergent people.
• A driving licence or ability to travel to various locations across Belfast when required.

Terms and Conditions

• 37.5 hours weekly. Hours typically between 9am-5pm, Monday -Friday.
• Location: Currently working from home, moving to office based once the current restrictions are lifted. The Specialisterne NI offices are located at Skainos, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast.
• The position is fixed term until 31 March 2023. Salary range: £20-25k, commensurate with experience.
• Specialisterne NI is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Employment to this post is therefore subject to an Access NI Enhanced Check.
• Specialisterne NI is an equal opportunities employer.

Application Process

• Interested applicants should send a Curriculum Vitae and covering letter to Sharon Didrichsen, Managing Director, Specialisterne NI by email: sharond@specialisterne.com
• Closing date for applications: 8 December 2021 at 11:59pm.
• For additional information regarding Specialisterne NI, visit specialisterneni.com or contact Sharon Didrichsen at sharond@specialisterne.com, Mobile 07565 936191.

Bank of Autism and Neurodiversity Consultants

With applicant permission, applicants from the shortlist for this post may also be considered for the Specialisterne NI Bank of Autism and Neurodiversity Consultants for part-time or full-time roles.

Selection & Short listing

Applicants for the post of Autism and Neurodiversity Consultant will be assessed in accordance with the above criteria. The CV and covering letter, outlining how they meet the set criteria, submitted will form part of the assessment process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide evidence in this form and at assessment of how well they meet the criteria.

Applicants will be shortlisted for interview only on the basis of information provided. Specialisterne NI will shortlist only those candidates who, from the information supplied, best demonstrate that the candidate meets the essential and, if required, the desirable criteria.

Specialisterne NI reserves the right if required to apply the above desirable criteria for shortlisting purposes, in the order in which they appear.

Specialisterne NI may operate a reserve list for future vacancies (either at this level or lower levels) which may arise within Specialisterne NI. The reserve list is maintained for 6 months.

 

Specialisterne Northern Ireland is an Autism at Work consultancy. As part of the Specialisterne International Network, which spans 32 cities in 15 countries for 17 years, and which pioneered the Autism at Work movement, we aim to support autistic people to get ready for, secure, and sustain, rewarding careers. Established in 2014, Specialisterne NI took a co-design route to address unemployment and under-employment  of autistic people. This led to the creation of a new, evolving, autistic community model of employability for and by autistic people.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a unique not-for-private-profit organisation in Northern Ireland where you will have the opportunity to work with a small team of autism specialists seeking to develop new tools and techniques which support the career development and well-being of autistic adults.

Job Title: Autism Consultant (25 hours). Project:  Recruit⁺⁺ (15 hours) and Autistic community programme (10 hours)

Specialisterne NI programmes have been designed following consultation with autistic people. Our employment programmes were designed in 2016 through surveys and focus groups with 100 autistic people and consultation with employers, recruitment consultancies, university and college staff and employment training providers. Ongoing listening to autistic people mean that programmes continue to adapt to provide the additional supports that help autistic people secure rewarding careers.

Objective
Initially working as part of the Recruit Project team, the Autism Consultant’s aim is to support participants, who are young people or adults on the autistic spectrum, to experience reduced attitudinal and communication barriers, and to progress in relation to having a career.

By providing autism specialist support, the Autism Consultant will help participants feel more ready to meet employers, education and training providers, and to make a positive start to a new career.

The Autism Consultant will also connect with an exciting employer mentor network who will inform the Recruit⁺⁺ curriculum, ensuring participant’s learning pathways are relevant to their chosen career at this time, and who will provide learning opportunities for participants. Specialisterne NI has an exciting autistic mentor network who support autistic people as they choose a career.

The successful applicant will also work on an autistic community programme, connecting autistic people to each other through shared interests, and supporting participants to feel more connected and confident, and to improve wellbeing.

Job Description
• One to one meetings with  participants, to support participants to develop strategies to achieve goals.
• Support of Career Clubs. For example, helping participants develop employability skills and resilience strategies for working life.

• Recruitment consultancy, mentor sessions, and employer briefings.
• Support of group workshops, and sessions where participants explore areas which are important to them.

• Facilitating interest groups, taking part in board games and other social activities.
• Undertaking weekly activities, along with the project teams, to support participants to achieve project aims, such as securing employment and further training or education.
• Maintaining records in relation to all project activity, in line with Specialisterne NI quality standards and GDPR regulations.
• Ongoing learning related to autism and autistic people and of tools and techniques which may support participants to achieve project objectives.  There is a 6 month induction plan with Autism Specialists, followed by ongoing learning and professional development.
• Any other activity which fits the remit of the  projects.

Person Specification

Essential
• Study in a relevant subject area at undergraduate or post graduate level (this includes currently studying or completed). Examples of relevant study include Atypical Development, Psychology, Human Resources, Education, Autism Spectrum related, Sensory Integration. Other subject areas will also be considered in terms of relevance.
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of Autism.

Desirable
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of Autism

•Demonstrated knowledge of other neurodivergent conditions which include ADHD/ADD, OCD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Tourette’s Syndrome

• Experience in supporting children, young people, or adults on the Autistic Spectrum to achieve the changes they want
• Experience in supporting people in small groups
• Experience in documentation of work according to quality standards.
• Demonstrated willingness to learn and a commitment to developing new solutions for autistic people.
• A driving licence or ability to travel to various locations across Belfast when required.

Terms and Conditions
• 25 hours weekly, times to be agreed with the successful candidate. Hours typically between 9am-5pm, Monday -Friday. Location: Currently working from home, moving to office based once the current restrictions are lifted.  The Specialisterne NI offices are located at Skainos, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast.
•The position is fixed term and is expected to run to March 2023. Salary range: £20-25k pro rata, commensurate with experience.

• Specialisterne NI is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Employment to this post is therefore subject to an Access NI Enhanced Check.
• Specialisterne NI is an equal opportunities employer.

Application Process
• Interested applicants should send a Curriculum Vitae to Sharon Didrichsen, Managing Director, Specialisterne NI by email: sharond@specialisterne.com

• Closing date for applications: 15 October 2021
• For additional information regarding Specialisterne NI, visit https://www.specialisterneni.com or contact Sharon Didrichsen at sharond@specialisterne.com Mobile 07565 936191
Bank of Autism Support Workers

With applicant permission, applicants from the shortlist for this post may also be considered for the Specialisterne NI Bank of Autism Support Workers for part-time or full-time roles.

The Recruit+ + programme is  part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 -2022, the Department for the Economy, and the Department for Communities.