Sunderland to share in charity's jobs boom with dozens of new city vacancies available
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The North East Autism Society (NEAS), which was founded on Wearside 40 years ago, has announced plans to create around 250 positions over the next 18 months as demand for its services grows.
The roles, which include carers and teaching assistants, will take the number of people employed by the charity beyond the 1,000 mark.
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Hide AdThornhill Park School, which moved to a new home in Portland Road, Plains Farm, Sunderland, in March, is among its services expanding following an increase in the number of its pupils from 45 to 80.
Newton Aycliffe, South Bank and the Blyth Valley are among the other locations where vacancies exist.
NEAS chief executive John Phillipson said: “This all adds up to a major expansion of the society’s services across the region and we will need to recruit a significant number of quality staff to deliver the high standards of care we are known for.”
The focus on induction and staff training has intensified ahead of the recruitment drive, with Mr Phillipson adding that no-one should be put off by a lack of previous experience in dealing with autistic and neurodiverse children.
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Hide AdA five-day induction programme introduces new recruits to the society and covers areas such as health and safety plus an initial explanation of autism and neurodiversity.
This is followed by three months of intensive on-the-job training.
Mr Phillipson said: “We invest a great deal of time and money in training and mentoring, so that our staff have the confidence to deliver these vital services.
“These are challenging times economically, with lots of people finding themselves unemployed, but there will be a significant number of opportunities for those considering a change of career. It doesn’t matter if they haven’t previously worked in the care sector, and these roles will come with lots of potential for progression.
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Hide Ad“Our existing staff have done an outstanding job in maintaining vital services, and keeping our schools open, throughout the pandemic, and we look forward to expanding our team so we can build on the support we are able to provide for autistic people and their families.”
Further information about the roles is available from www.ne-as.org.uk.