Lived Experience Project Assistant

The project seeks to understand the experience of patients (and their families/carers) who have been patients in out of area placements in the independent sector and also also seeks to gather the views and experiences of care from those within seldom asked groups to understand the inequalities experienced. This will be facilitated through either in-person or online interviews conducted by individuals with lived experience from Neurodiverse Connection.

The learning from the project will be combined with existing learning from Trust and presented to the Trust as a written report, alongside an in-person workshop to explore and reflect on the learning.

Role Description

• To support the recruitment of participants, through liaising with NHS and private organisations, and utilising own networks.
• To support the development of interview schedules and interactive feedback workshops.
• Support the delivery of workshops with seldom heard groups and those with lived experience of inpatient admission.
• Ensure work adheres to high levels of data governance by following processes set by the project team.
• Conduct interviews with those in those participating in the lived experience review, both face to face and online.
• Facilitate group workshops with seldom heard groups with the support of the project team.
• Input into the qualitative analysis of the data to identify themes, and incorporate these into feedback and recommendations to the commissioning NHS organisation.
• Input into written and verbal progress reports.
• To ensure that all of the work is rooted in the lived experience of patients and carers.
• To represent Neurodiverse Connection nationally, regionally and locally as appropriate and promote the work that we do.
• To work alongside the Neurodiverse Connection staff and associate team to ensure delivery of high-quality work.
• Travel nationally, with some within the areas of Bristol, North Somerset, North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire, will be required to deliver work to teams and organisations.

Personal Specification can be found in the application pack 

Recruitment Details

Recruitment Timeline

• Deadline for applications: Monday 3rd February 10am  
• Applicants notified if shortlisted: Tuesday 4th February 2025 by 5pm
• Dates of online interview: 11th, 14th or 18th February
• Interviewees notified if they have been successful: no later than Friday 28th February

How to Apply

The application process is two stages. 

Stage 1

Download and complete the application form.  

• You will be asked to enter some of your contact details and details of previous work.  
• You will then be asked to answer 3 questions.  
• You will also be asked to complete an optional equality and diversity form. 
• Email the completed application form to our recruitment email address.

Stage 2

If you are shortlisted you will be invited to attend an online interview.

You will be sent the interview questions 5 days ahead of the interview date.

As part of the interview, you will be asked to present on a question for 10 minutes. We will share the presentation topic when we invite you to attend the interview.

Please note we do not accept CVs.

About Neurodiverse Connection

Neurodiverse Connection is a Neurodivergent led Community Interest Company.

Our mission is to:

• Listen to and amplify neurodivergent views and voices.
• Give additional consideration to intersectionality and how we can support the amplification of views and voices that are often unseen and unheard.
• Support people from different neurologies to understand each other, facilitating solutions to the double empathy problem.
• Lead on changing understanding of sensory and social processing differences, particularly in relation to the built environment.
• Challenge the common misunderstandings and misconceptions of autism and support an improved understanding of neurodiversity within health and social care.
• Promote an improved understanding of neurodivergent culture and communication.
• Support neurodivergent people to have equal opportunities in life.
• Support neurodivergent people to have equal opportunities and outcomes in health.
• Support neurodivergent employment, including in leadership positions and facilitating change for the neurodivergent community.

Our commitment to you

It’s part of our mission to be a great place to work and to demonstrate how to work in neurodivergent affirming ways. We believe this is beneficial to everyone, regardless of neurology.

We aim to:

• Offer flexibility in delivery hours, within agreed parameters.
• Work to make Neurodiverse Connection an organisation that you enjoy being part of, that supports you in your role, that recognises your contribution and that delivers great outcomes for the neurodivergent people we work to support.
• Involve you in shaping and directing the organisation.
• Listen when we don’t get it right, and welcome constructive feedback.
• Involve team members in development opportunities and spending the social value we’ve accumulated together.
• 35 hour full time working week.
• 4% work place pension contribution.
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays pro rata.
•  Access to a wellbeing fund.

Further details can be found on our website.