Autism Peer Support Worker and Supervisor Training

HEE is commissioning training for Autism Peer Support Workers and their supervisors, which will commence in February/March 2023. The development work would be expected to commence as soon as a supplier(s) are awarded the contract and the contract period shall run from an expected commencement of October 2022 - March 2025 and will be subject to annual confirmation of funding and satisfactory performance of the contract.

The training will support the development of skills and capabilities of those undertaking Autism Peer Support Workers roles (either through an employed or voluntary capacity) and should equip peer support workers to deliver safe and effective care and support to autistic people and their families and carers within a multidisciplinary environment.

Whilst the training opportunities will be open to those in voluntary and paid positions, it is expected that within NHS funded autism services, Autism Peer Support Worker roles will principally be paid. The focus of the roles is for autistic people to provide support through their own lived experience of autism to other autistic people using the service.

Autism peer support may also extend to carers/parents of autistic people, providing peer support to other carers/parents of autistic people. Carers may be employed to support family, friends and carers of autistic people using services.

The training programme will be required to deliver the capabilities set out in the autism peer support capability framework and the learning outcomes set out in the autism peer support worker curriculum. To fit with the key principles of peer support workers, it is essential that the training design and delivery is co-produced and co-delivered with autistic people.

To encourage take up of these roles, HEE will be seeking effective partnerships which will offer Autism Peer Support Workers and their supervisors vocational education opportunities. This will require close partnership between employers and education providers along with the co-production of course design and delivery approach.