Autism Peer Support and Community Development Worker
£41,133 0 £43,680 per annum
Hours: Full-time/Part-time (Job Share considered)
Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2027
About the Role
Newham is committed to creating a borough where autistic people are supported to fulfil their potential and live fulfilling, independent lives. This ambition is set out in the Autism Action Plan. The Plan outlines a shared, co-designed vision for empowerment, connection and inclusion, meaningful opportunities and improved health and wellbeing outcomes - placing people at the centre of decision-making and support.
This role will support autistic residents to access services, participate in delivering the Autism Action Plan and co-produce service developments.
We aim to make this role clear and accessible. If anything in this advert is unclear, you can contact us and we will explain it in a different way.
A key focus of this role is to reduce health inequalities for autistic residents.
This includes improving access to support, and health and care services. The role aims to make services easier to access and improve support in the community.
You will work with:
- Autistic residents
- Carers
- Community organisations
- Health and care services
Your role will include:
- Providing peer support and guidance
- Developing community networks
- Supporting engagement and co-production
- Helping improve local services
You will work both:
- Directly with residents
- With services and partners to improve support
What You’ll Be Doing
- Provide peer support, information, and guidance to autistic residents to support independence and wellbeing
- Develop and support peer support groups and community activities so residents can connect and support each other
- Support individuals to build confidence and take part in opportunities
- Plan and deliver events and awareness activities (e.g. World Autism Acceptance Month)
- Lead engagement and co-production activities so autistic residents shape services and priorities
- Produce accessible communications (e.g. newsletters, online content)
- Build partnerships with local services, including health and diagnostic pathways
- Support development of networks (e.g. Autism Champions) to improve autism-friendly practice
- Contribute to service improvement through feedback, data, and reporting
About You
We are looking for someone who:
- Has lived experience as an autistic person
- Is committed to co-production, inclusion, and strengths-based approaches
- Can communicate clearly and build positive relationships
- Can work independently and as part of a team
- Is motivated to improve outcomes for autistic residents
- Can support people with a range of needs
- Is flexible, creative, and person-centred
Job Share & Flexible Working
This role is open to job share arrangements, with responsibilities able to be shared and adapted across postholders to support flexible working and effective delivery.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We want the recruitment process to be clear, fair, and supportive.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace.
We strongly encourage applications from autistic people.
We will provide:
- Reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process
- interview questions or topics in advance to support preparation
- extra time for interview responses or written tasks
- clear, structured interview schedules in advance, including timings and who will be present
information about the environment (e.g. lighting, noise
Due to the high volume of application the vacancy may close early.
Please view JD here
closing date: 16th August 2026
Additional Information
We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.
The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.
We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.
The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.