SEN Communication Practitioner – Adult Autism and Intensive Interaction
Location: Hayes, West London, UB4
Pay: £30–£35 per hour, depending on experience
Job type: Self-employed, permanent part-time
Schedule: One consistent two-hour session every week
About SENXpress
At SENXpress, we’re building something different.
We are a community of practitioners, tutors and educators who believe that every individual, regardless of their needs, deserves support designed around them.
We work with children, young people and adults with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, speech and language difficulties and social and emotional needs.
We focus on the individual, not simply the system.
The role
We are looking for a calm, confident and experienced male SEN practitioner to provide one consistent two-hour session each week for an autistic adult with learning disabilities in Hayes.
The individual is friendly, energetic and has a larger physical build. Sessions will focus on communication, engagement, independence and participation in structured and community-based activities.
The practitioner will be joined and supported by the individual’s carers throughout the sessions. You will not be expected to provide personal care, physical support or manage challenging situations alone.
Your role will be to independently plan and lead purposeful sessions while working collaboratively with the carers, family and SENXpress.
Due to the individual’s support needs, physical presentation and the close one-to-one nature of the work, a male practitioner is required.
This is not a passive companionship role. We are looking for someone who can take ownership of the sessions, bring their own ideas and adapt their approach according to the individual’s communication, regulation and engagement.
Session focus
Sessions will focus on:
- Intensive Interaction
- Speech, language and functional communication
- Shared attention and engagement
- Choice-making and requesting
- Following simple instructions and routines
- Turn-taking and reciprocal interaction
- Emotional and sensory regulation
- Independence and daily living skills
- Supporting transitions between activities
- Safe participation in community activities
- Building confidence and motivation
Existing reports, routines and agreed targets will provide the overall direction of the programme.
The practitioner will also be expected to create suitable activities, introduce new ideas and explain how each activity supports the individual’s communication, engagement or independence targets.
Key responsibilities
- Plan and lead one consistent two-hour session every week
- Build a safe, trusting and professional relationship
- Work alongside the individual’s carers throughout sessions
- Use Intensive Interaction and communication-based approaches
- Turn agreed targets into meaningful practical activities
- Support communication using visuals, modelling and simplified language
- Encourage independence without placing unnecessary pressure on the individual
- Support transitions between activities and environments
- Respond calmly to refusal, dysregulation or changes in engagement
- Adapt activities when an approach is not working
- Maintain clear and respectful professional boundaries
- Track progress towards agreed targets
- Write clear, detailed and reflective session reports
- Identify next steps and contribute ideas during reviews
- Communicate professionally with carers, the family and SENXpress
- Raise any concerns or changes in presentation promptly
Independent practice with ongoing support
The practitioner will be expected to take ownership of the weekly session, use professional judgement and confidently lead the programme.
However, you will not be left to manage the role without support.
SENXpress will provide:
- Existing reports and background information
- Clear communication, engagement and independence targets
- An established weekly routine
- Resources, visuals and suggested activities
- Ongoing contact and professional supervision
- Fortnightly progress meetings
- Feedback on session planning and delivery
- Updated recommendations and strategies
- Support with any concerns or difficulties
- Access to the SENXpress reporting system
- Opportunities for additional SENXpress work
Detailed session reports will form the basis of the fortnightly progress meetings.
These meetings will be used to review development, discuss what is or is not working, agree next steps and ensure the practitioner feels supported in delivering the programme.
Who we’re looking for
This role may suit someone with experience or an academic background in:
- Adult autism and learning disability support
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Intensive Interaction
- Psychology
- Occupational Therapy
- SEN education
- Social care
- Positive Behaviour Support
- Community-based disability support
Applicants should ideally have direct experience supporting autistic adults or individuals with significant learning disabilities.
Experience working with children may also be considered where the applicant can demonstrate confidence supporting a physically larger adult and working alongside carers.
You should be able to:
- Remain calm, consistent and emotionally regulated
- Maintain firm but respectful boundaries
- Work independently and use professional judgement
- Generate your own session ideas
- Explain how activities support agreed targets
- Adapt communication to the individual’s needs
- Work collaboratively with carers
- Produce detailed and professional written reports
- Commit to the same two-hour session every week
Strong written communication and detailed report-writing skills are essential, as reports will be reviewed during fortnightly meetings to guide the individual’s programme and next steps.
What you will gain
This role offers valuable experience in:
- Designing individualised adult SEN sessions
- Delivering Intensive Interaction
- Supporting functional communication
- Working towards communication and independence targets
- Leading one-to-one intervention
- Supporting community access and participation
- Managing transitions and engagement
- Observing and measuring progress
- Writing professional session reports
- Reflective practice
- Working closely with carers, families and other professionals
This role may be particularly valuable for practitioners developing careers in Speech and Language Therapy, psychology, Occupational Therapy, specialist teaching, adult social care or autism support.
Requirements
- Male practitioner
- Experience supporting autistic adults or individuals with learning disabilities
- Confidence working alongside carers to support a physically larger adult
- Strong communication and de-escalation skills
- Ability to plan and lead sessions independently
- Strong written communication and report-writing skills
- Enhanced DBS, or willingness to obtain one
- Safeguarding training, or willingness to complete it
- Right to work in the UK
- Suitable professional references
- Ability to travel consistently to Hayes, UB4
- Commitment to one consistent two-hour session every week
- Reliability and strong professional boundaries
How to apply
Please submit your CV alongside a short explanation of your experience supporting autistic adults, individuals with learning disabilities, communication needs or Intensive Interaction.
Please also briefly explain how you would approach building engagement, supporting functional communication and managing transitions with an adult who may sometimes refuse an activity.
We aim to respond within one week where we believe an applicant may be suitable.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.senxpress.co.uk
Benefits
- £30–£35 per hour
- Consistent weekly work
- Flexible working
- Casual dress
- Ongoing mentoring and supervision
- Fortnightly progress meetings
- Support from carers during sessions
- Access to resources and programme guidance
- Opportunities for additional SENXpress work
Work location: In person, within the home and local community
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £30.00-£35.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Employee mentoring programme
- Flexitime
Work Location: On the road
