Neurodevelopmental Wellbeing & Emotional Support Practitioner

Salary: £26,500–£29,000 FTE per annum (pro rata)

Hours: Part-time — 25 hours per week

Location: Worcester, Worcestershire (allocated localities across South Worcestershire, including Malvern, Worcester and Wychavon)

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: Wednesday 28th October 2026

Interview date: To be confirmed

Please note that, due to the anticipated high volume of applications, we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible.

About the role

ONSIDE is launching an innovative new Neurodevelopmental (Melo aND More) Service across South Worcestershire, providing early intervention, practical support and emotional wellbeing services for children and young people aged 0–25 and their families.

The service aims to create a neuro-affirming, person-centred approach that empowers children, young people and families to understand and embrace neurodivergence, build on their strengths and access the right support at the right time.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide a flexible combination of community-based support, specialist one-to-one interventions, family support, workshops, group programmes and practical help in homes, schools and community settings.

Using strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches, you will help children, young people and families improve emotional wellbeing, develop practical strategies, build resilience and increase participation in education, family life and their local communities. You will also help families navigate services and support seamless transitions along the neurodevelopmental pathway.

Key responsibilities

Direct Specialist Support

• Deliver specialist one-to-one emotional wellbeing support in family homes, schools and community settings.

• Develop holistic, co-produced support plans that identify strengths, goals and practical interventions.

• Support emotional regulation, executive functioning, anxiety, sensory differences, social communication and self-advocacy.

• Provide practical coaching that promotes independence, participation and confidence.

• Support children and young people who are awaiting assessment, undergoing assessment or have received a diagnosis.

• Undertake risk assessments and escalate potential concerns in line with relevant procedures.

Community Delivery

• Plan and facilitate sessions across Worcestershire.

• Deliver drop-in sessions for children, young people and families and facilitate peer-support opportunities.

• Deliver practical workshops and develop local community support networks.

• Promote co-production by encouraging children, young people and families to contribute to service delivery and ongoing development.

Family Support

• Provide coaching and practical advice to parents and carers.

• Help families develop their understanding of neurodivergence and support positive family relationships.

• Help families navigate education, health and community services.

• Support access to local SEND pathways and wider community resources.

Group Programmes

• Deliver group interventions for children and young people, parent workshops and peer-support groups.

• Develop practical resources and self-management tools.

• Deliver themed wellbeing programmes.

Multi-agency Working

• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings where appropriate.

• Work collaboratively with education, health and social care professionals.

• Support the implementation of neuro-affirming approaches and share information appropriately.

• Coordinate support around the child or young person and their family.

Service Development

• Maintain accurate records and proactively seek feedback about service quality and outcomes.

• Prepare written and verbal feedback and reports to support service evaluation.

• Develop resources that provide a range of support for children, young people and families.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the neurodevelopmental service.

Other responsibilities

• Work across different locations in Worcestershire; the ability to travel is essential.

• Work one or two evenings per week and occasional weekends.

• Provide support after school and during school holidays; the role is not restricted to school hours or term time.

• Work flexibly and cooperatively with colleagues and volunteers to meet organisational needs.

• Take responsibility for safeguarding appropriate to the role and raise concerns with the ONSIDE Safeguarding and Professional Guidance Lead.

In addition, all ONSIDE employees are expected to:

• Work within ONSIDE’s principles, values, policies, procedures and guidelines.

• Contribute to the growth and ongoing sustainability of the organisation.

• Demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities, social inclusion and individual empowerment.

• Commit to personal, professional and organisational development.

• Take responsibility for personal wellbeing and access available support and resources.

• Contribute to organisational promotional and networking activities.

• Work flexibly and cooperatively with colleagues to support the needs of the organisation.

ONSIDE People

• Are passionate about what they do.

• Value difference and diversity.

• Are creative and innovative in their approach.

• Are committed to fairness and justice.

• Have integrity and take personal responsibility.

Essential

Qualifications & Training

• Relevant qualification in health, education, youth work, social care, psychology, counselling, SEND or a related discipline.

• Good standard of general education.

• Safeguarding Children training, or willingness to undertake it.

• Commitment to continuing professional development.

Experience (Role Specific)

• Experience supporting children, young people and/or families.

• Experience working with children and young people with SEND, including neurodivergent children and young people.

• Experience delivering emotional wellbeing or early intervention support.

• Experience supporting autistic children and young people and those with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental differences.

• Experience delivering person-centred, strengths-based interventions.

• Experience facilitating groups, workshops or peer-support activities.

Experience (General)

• Experience managing a caseload and prioritising competing demands.

• Experience of multi-agency working.

• Experience maintaining accurate case records and outcome measures.

• Experience working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Skills (Role Specific)

• Ability to engage and build positive relationships with children, young people and families.

• Ability to deliver neuro-affirming, strengths-based and person-centred support.

• Ability to support emotional regulation, executive functioning, sensory needs and anxiety management.

• Ability to develop collaborative support plans with children, young people and families.

• Ability to facilitate groups, workshops and peer-support sessions.

• Ability to assess needs and identify appropriate support pathways.

Skills (General)

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

• Ability to work flexibly across community settings.

• IT literacy, including Microsoft Office and electronic case-management systems.

• Ability to build effective relationships with partner organisations.

Knowledge (Role Specific)

• Good understanding of Autism, ADHD and wider neurodevelopmental differences.

• Knowledge of neuro-affirming practice and strengths-based approaches.

• Understanding of emotional wellbeing needs of children and young people.

• Knowledge of child development and family-centred practice.

• Understanding of SEND systems and the SEND Code of Practice.

• Awareness of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and local neurodevelopmental pathways.

Knowledge (General)

• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, confidentiality and GDPR.

• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.

• Understanding of trauma-informed practice.

• Commitment to co-production and participation.

Other

• Ability to travel across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

• Willingness to work one to two evenings per week and occasional weekends.

• Commitment to ONSIDE’s values and person-centred, neuro-affirming practice.

• Commitment to continuous learning and reflective practice.

Desirable

Qualifications & Training

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification.

• Level 3 or above SEND qualification.

• Autism and/or ADHD-specific training.

• Training in neuro-affirming practice or trauma-informed practice.

• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), sensory processing or executive functioning training.

• Mental Health First Aid or equivalent.

• Group facilitation or coaching qualification.

Experience

• Experience working within SEND services or delivering community-based support.

• Experience supporting children and families awaiting assessment or diagnosis.

• Experience delivering specialist one-to-one interventions in homes, schools or community settings.

• Experience delivering parent workshops and psychoeducation.

• Experience supporting transitions between services.

• Experience contributing to service development, quality improvement or co-production activities.

• Experience delivering training or presentations to professionals.

Skills

• Experience developing practical resources and toolkits.

• Coaching or mentoring skills.

• Ability to support schools and professionals in implementing neuroinclusive approaches.

• Community engagement, networking, presentation and training-delivery skills.

• Project or service-development experience.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of sensory processing differences, executive functioning and demand-avoidant profiles.

• Understanding of transition planning into adulthood.

• Knowledge of local education, health, social care and voluntary-sector pathways across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

• Understanding of NHS, Local Authority and voluntary-sector partnership working.

• Knowledge of local emotional wellbeing and mental health pathways, including WEST, Melo and CAMHS.

Other

• Lived experience of neurodivergence or experience supporting a neurodivergent family member.

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

ONSIDE’s benefits

• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.

• Pension scheme.

• Company sick pay scheme, after qualifying service.

• Additional maternity and paternity pay, after qualifying service.

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.

• Access to the premium Calm app.

• Employee Engagement Forum, ensuring colleagues’ voices are heard.

• Your birthday off.

• A supportive working environment and a positive work–life balance culture.

• Support for continuous professional development.