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NAS- Zero Hour Contracts, 'encouraged' for those on the spectrum... did anyone think this through?

KaloJaro

Sorry guys, but I'd love to have someone from the NAS respond to this one for the sheer contradiction of this job post I found.

I'm a graduate with Aspergers looking for work to fund a trip abroad while I still feel confident enough to try new things, and stumbled across this on a job forum:

Support Worker The National Autistic Society (NAS) - South West

We are the charity for the 700,000 people in the UK with autism and their families. We provide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a better and fairer world for people with autism.

We are looking for flexible, enthusiastic, caring people who can join and support the amazing work done by the support workers at the National Autistic Society in the South West of England.

The successful applicants must be able to work on their own, as part of a small team and with other professional agencies. There may also be occasions when it will be necessary to represent individuals and the NAS.

Experience is not essential as we will provide you with full training and support to ensure you reach your full potential. The most important skills you can bring to us are initiative, patience, understanding, compassion and a genuine enthusiasm for wanting to help and support others.

Being a zero hours worker means that you have an agreement with The National Autistic Society to work on a casual basis to cover as and when the service requires it. There are no normal or guaranteed hours. Work is offered on an "ad hoc" basis and you are free to accept or decline any such offer. Work offered will be offered and paid on an hourly basis. Whilst there is no obligation for bank workers to accept any offer of work with us, if you do then you are expected to attend for duty as agreed between you and the relevant manager.

  • Applications for this job are sought from all suitably qualified sections of the community but particularly welcome from those with a diagnosis of autism or Asperger syndrome.

  • The NAS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

  • Charity number 269425 (England and Wales); SC039427 (Scotland)


For a charity that's supposed to have a good understanding of those on the spectrum, surely they should realise how hypocritical it is to ask someone on the spectrum to work a zero hours contract?

I'm very confused about this, anyone got any idea how this could make sense?

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I just did a search on the job pages of this site and found that there are indeed support roles with a choice of working patterns. Has the OP seen these?

    https://nas.recruitment.northgatearinso.com/n2rl/pages/vacancy.jsf?search=0

    e.g. 

    "Support Worker - North Somerset ... 

    Hours of work

    Full-time (40 hours/week), Part time and Bank work (zero hours) available. The role includes shift work and some sleep-ins"

    Is there a danger of tarring all HR people with the same brush? They are just as human and variable as anyone else. The point for me is that the NAS offers all roles to people on the spectrum and guarantees disabled people an interview if they are qualified. Some roles will not suit some people with ASD but that doesn't mean that the job can't be offered at all. Some work will arise from sufferers having crises or from other staff being unable to cover so it makes sense to use zero hours in the mix of working patterns. If they only offered zero hours contracts, and didn't offer the flexibility to decline work when it doesn't suit, then there would be a problem.

    I don't think that this role has been designed to suit autistic people, it is probably designed to provide support for people with autism and if an autistic person can be found to do the job then that is what they would prefer. The NAS exists to provide services for autistic people and their needs will not be well met by people who can't respond flexibly in a crisis. Some autistic people will be able to do this role and that should be welcomed.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I just did a search on the job pages of this site and found that there are indeed support roles with a choice of working patterns. Has the OP seen these?

    https://nas.recruitment.northgatearinso.com/n2rl/pages/vacancy.jsf?search=0

    e.g. 

    "Support Worker - North Somerset ... 

    Hours of work

    Full-time (40 hours/week), Part time and Bank work (zero hours) available. The role includes shift work and some sleep-ins"

    Is there a danger of tarring all HR people with the same brush? They are just as human and variable as anyone else. The point for me is that the NAS offers all roles to people on the spectrum and guarantees disabled people an interview if they are qualified. Some roles will not suit some people with ASD but that doesn't mean that the job can't be offered at all. Some work will arise from sufferers having crises or from other staff being unable to cover so it makes sense to use zero hours in the mix of working patterns. If they only offered zero hours contracts, and didn't offer the flexibility to decline work when it doesn't suit, then there would be a problem.

    I don't think that this role has been designed to suit autistic people, it is probably designed to provide support for people with autism and if an autistic person can be found to do the job then that is what they would prefer. The NAS exists to provide services for autistic people and their needs will not be well met by people who can't respond flexibly in a crisis. Some autistic people will be able to do this role and that should be welcomed.

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