Learning Disability and Autism Keyworker

Are you an experienced practitioner looking for a dynamic role that makes a positive impact on the lives of children and young people with learning disabilities, autism or both?

Do you believe in transforming health, social care and educational systems for children and young people with learning disabilities, autism or both?

West Yorkshire Keyworker Service is recruiting and this could be the next role for you. The role is full time, working Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Keyworker support is provided to children and young people with high needs as well as those who are inpatients or at risk of being admitted to hospital. Keyworker support is also extended to the most vulnerable children with a learning disability and/or who are autistic, including those who face multiple vulnerabilities such as looked after and adopted children and children and young people in transition between services as they turn 18.

As Keyworker you will:

• Have knowledge and experience of learning disabilities and autism.
• Have responsibility for a caseload of 12children, young people, their parents/carers and families to navigate what can be a complex health and social care system so that their needs are met before reaching crisis point.
• Build a trusting relationship with families so they get the support that they need at the right time, and where possible local to them, in their community.
• Secure wraparound support and care for children and young people with complex learning disabilities, autism or both.
• Work alongside cross-sector multiagency professionals including health, education, youth justice, voluntary sector and social care.
• Work with our co-production lead to ensure the Service is developed and co-produced with parents, carers, young people and those with lived experience.
• Receive quality and reflective supervision and learning opportunities to develop you in the role.

This is an exciting and innovative role which will give you the opportunity to work in partnership with the four West Yorkshire Health Trusts, the five local authorities, local advocacy organisations and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector.

Working within the parameters of legislation, you will champion the perspective of the child, young person and family, being an advocate and challenging systems to support them within a positive risk-taking approach.

As Keyworker you will share your knowledge and expertise in this area of work with the wider team as well as provide guidance and advice to colleagues and work with the Programme Manager, Statutory Health Lead, Children's Services Manager, 4 Team Managers and working with 10 Learning Disability and Autism Senior Keyworkers and 9 Keyworkers to provide a Service that will make a difference to the lives of children and young people and their families. You will be joining a team that is passionate about the work they do and support one another through peer supervision and reflective learning sessions.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document - these provide you with details of the role and responsbilities you will hold. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

To understand the work of Keyworker Services, the remit and the Keyworker role please ensure you visit the websites below and read the relevant information before applying for the role:

NHS England » Children and young people keyworkers

These Are Our Children (ncb.org.uk)

cdc.keyworking.guidance.v4.pdf (councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk)

NHS Long Term Plan

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently to 31st March 2027 and therefore should this funding not be extended further, you may be subject to a redundancy consultation or a TUPE arrangement.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

• T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

• Reference number: 23180
• Job Title: West Yorkshire Learning Disability and Autism Keyworker
• Location: Leeds
• Locality: Three Yorks
• Contract type: Permanent (Fixed term funded post)
• End date: 31st March 2027
• Hours: 37
• Salary: £28,124
• Closing Date: 5 July 2026
• Interview Date: Friday 10th July 2026

Benefits

Discounts at 100's of retailers

Employee suggestion scheme

Company pension

Employee Assistance Programme