Become a coach

Find out more about joining our team.

Become a Coach

We are looking for experienced ADOS practitioners who are interested in becoming Coaches to the next generation of ADOS users. You will play a key role in supporting Participants outside of the training environment, to develop learning to a level where it is ready to be deployed in clinical practice or within research.

There are two ways that a Coach might get involved:

1. You might be approached by a specific ADOS candidate (or their line manager) with a request to support them during an upcoming course
2. You might volunteer to be listed on the Consortium’s “address book” of potential Coaches, offering to support someone who can’t find a suitable Coach locally

We start by asking services to identify a Coach to support the candidate who has been offered a place on an ADOS course. In this way, most Coaches have the satisfaction of seeing a colleague develop new skills, as well as experiencing the benefits of increasing capacity in their service. As there is a growing need for skilled ADOS clinicians in diagnostic services across Scotland, this is a great way to ensure your service benefits from your participation.

However, some services will not already have an experienced ADOS user locally, in which case we may seek someone to offer coaching support from another service.  In these circumstances, it may be possible to arrange for that Coach to nominate a candidate to attend a future course, so that their service can also benefit.

In a nutshell, a Coach’s job is to help facilitate the translation of learned skills into practice. Coaches may be integrating a newly qualified ADOS user into an existing diagnostic team, or helping someone remotely who is in a service which has not previously been able to offer a comprehensive autism diagnostic service.

What do I need to become a Coach?

To be a Coach you simply need to be a qualified ADOS user, who has completed an ADOS training course, and use ADOS regularly in your job role.

We understand that many practitioners tend to specialise in particular ADOS modules.  Hopefully you will be keeping up your skills by attending joint ratings too.  Being a specialist in the higher, or lower modules does not have to prevent you being an effective Coach. The skills of precise administration, sharp observation, careful note-taking and balanced judgement apply to all modules. You will still have a lot to offer an ADOS novice.

Coaches are supported by the Consortium.  We provide

• a comprehensive Coaching Framework document, in which the role responsibilities alongside other helpful and supporting guidance are presented
• a short video introduction to the Framework (see below)
• access to a library of ADOS resources via a secure Sharepoint site
• an opportunity to ask for support from members of the Consortium, who are all qualified ADOS trainers.

Key incentives for ADOS Coaching:

Becoming a Coach confers advantages to the individual in terms of enhancing skills through Continued Professional Development (CPD). Coaches can be certified as part of the role and can use the position as evidence of skills development when progressing through NES training levels. Please contact us if you would like to receive a formal acknowledgement of your coaching role.

Coaches have access to our private SharePoint hosting a confidential ADOS video library with related notes and supporting documents. This is an excellent resource not only for Participants to learn from, but for experienced professionals looking to sharpen their competencies.

Coaches can become part of a peer network that spans Scotland. You will work with someone from your own NHS board, but know that the difference you make is being mirrored across the country. Coaching is a great way to expand professional connections and stay up to date with the latest ADOS developments. Coaches will also have the option to become ADOS trainers through the consortium if they wish.

Sue Fletcher-Watson outlines in this video what is involved in the role of a Scottish ADOS Consortium Coach . 

Contact information

If you are interested in becoming a Coach, please contact us via email at ados.training@ed.ac.uk.