Play Assistant for children with autism

Volunteer opportunity at our Saturday club working with children with autism

Play assistant positions available in Morden, Surrey from September 2024

Calling all people with an interest in working with children with autism, including those in the teaching and care professions, plus students in psychology and therapy fields, this is a career-enhancing opportunity for you.

We are looking for volunteers to help support children with autism in a fun, friendly and child-centred environment. You need to be energetic, reliable and committed, as you will be active and on your feet regularly with your allocated child. Ideally you will have some experience of working with children and be interested in developing your understanding of children with disabilities.

You will receive two full days of training to help children practise social and early years’ skills, in line with the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based approach. The club is led by a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). The initial training comprises one full day, then a further day of training on one of the Saturdays the children do not attend, in order for you to develop your understanding of autism, ABA and the skills required for the position.

As a play assistant you will work 1:1 or 2:1 with two children (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) on specific targets and create learning opportunities through play and fun in a natural environment setting. Play assistants will be paired with a specific child based on experience and qualifications. The age range is 3 to 16 years.

All volunteers go through a reference check and an Enhanced DBS check, and receive a certificate of participation and attendance.

Focus Surrey will run Term 15 of its popular Saturday club for autistic children aged 3 to 16 for 12 Saturdays between September to December 2024, from 9am to 4pm each day.

The confirmed club dates are: September 21st (training day 1), September 28th, October 5th, October 12th (training day 2), October 19th, October 26th, November 9th, November 16th, November 23rd, November 30th, December 7th and December 14th.

Please note the two training days on 21st September and 12th October are mandatory for all volunteers to attend.

The venue is in Morden, accessible by bus routes 80, 93 and 154. It is a 15-minute walk from Morden Station.

Children aged 3 to 10 will attend the club from 10am to 12pm, and children aged 11 to 16 will attend from 1pm to 3pm.

From 9am-10am, and 3pm-4pm, volunteers will receive additional training and advice and help to prepare and tidy away materials.

We will be following government guidelines to maintain all Covid-19 recommended measures in place to keep the volunteers and children safe.

We can provide volunteer placements for those requiring experience for your studies - please ask for details.

This is the ideal opportunity to help start your chosen career or give your career a boost by learning new practical skills and behaviour-based strategies which you can use with any child.

So far we have trained more than 420 volunteers over 14 terms. Feedback taken each term indicated that 100% of volunteers surveyed would recommend the volunteering experience. The feedback each term from volunteers, parents and children has been overwhelmingly positive.

One volunteer said: "My experience here has been incredible – I could not have imagined it to go any better! It was a perfect balance between challenging and fun. Staff were amazing and always there when needed and volunteers were all lovely. Very well-run centre. Everyone should volunteer.