Jack Whitfield

Experience

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  Apples & Snakes

  Feb 2012 - Jul 2012

  Assistant Poet Shadow for Shake the Dust

  Shadowing renowned south-west performance poet Sara-Jane Arbury in developing students' slam poetry on the Cultural Olympiad theme of Truce. Stoke Damerel won their regional heat and went on to perform, with our support, at The Southbank Centre in the National Championships.

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  University of St Mark & St John

  Jun 2014 - Jun 2015

  Student IT Support

  Supporting students and the staff at the University with anti-virus, software and hardware needs to continue the ongoing success of studies and delivery of lectures and events on-campus.

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  JakSpeedy Illustrator

  Aug 2014 - Dec 2017

  Local Graphic Novelist

  jakspeedyillustrator.wordpress.com ~ See collections of my work online!Due to the nature of how I draw creatively, I'll often undergo periods of hiatus followed by periods of high activity - so please bear with my creative process!

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  Autism Assemble

  Sept 2014 - Jan 2019

  Director of Vocational Development

  Autism Assemble is an award-winning grassroots social enterprise for the empowerment, sustainable skill development and advocacy of individuals with Autism in the Devon & Cornwall area. We have a permanent base at our charity shop and resource centre, the Portal, in Torpoint, but also complete voluntary support across the region. Our collaborators include Working Well with Autism, Dame Hannah Rogers, Support'Ed, and the local branches of the National Autistic Society.

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  Modus Care Ltd.

  Nov 2015 - Dec 2016

  Support Therapist

  Supporting vulnerable adults with Autism in residential care with essential and skill development needs.

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  Support'Ed

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2019

  Support & Education Mentor

  Providing enriching support to individuals with Autism in supported living settings.

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  Autism Education Trust (UK)

  Apr 2017 - Jan 2019

  Co-chair of Young Persons' Advisory Panel

  Representing and facilitating the autistic voice, among other 16-25 years old, to help direct education frameworks, practises and training delivered by the Autism Education Trust. Also involved being part of Channel 4's 'Are You Autistic?' documentary.

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  Routeways (Plymouth)

  Feb 2019 - Dec 2022

  Session Lead and Respite Support Worker

  Supporting young children with Autism and related learning and intellectual needs in activities based in nature, adventure and creative expression.

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  University of Plymouth

  Mar 2021 - Oct 2022

  Engaging in Doctoral Research into young Autism, Music and Communication. Also training as a lecturer in Childhood, Early Years and SEN subject areas. Leading a project on behalf of SAFE (Systemic Autism-related Family Enabling) with Plymouth University’s Institute of Education, conducting scoping reviews and consultation of the Autistic adult community regarding the development of enabling and accessibility software (e.g. community access apps and digital resource banks). Assisting research, including report writing, survey and resource creation and literature reviews for a project developing SEND (Special Education Needs & Disabilities) resource packs for families with Autistic children in Malaysia.

  • Doctoral Teaching Assistant

    Oct 2019 - Oct 2022

  • Research Development Project Lead

    Mar 2021 - Jul 2021

  • Research Assistant

    Mar 2021 - Jul 2021
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  Servisource Healthcare UK

  Feb 2022 - May 2022

  Academic Assistant
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  Sanas

  Aug 2022 - now

  • Support Specialist

    Apr 2022 - now

  • Team Lead

    Aug 2022 - Jan 2023
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  Blackrock Further Education Institute

  Sept 2022 - Jul 2024

  Academic Tutor
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  CRC Central Remedial Clinic

  Jun 2023 - Nov 2023

  Skills Trainer
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  Living Options Devon

  Mar 2024 - now

  The Oliver McGowan Trust: Expert with Lived Experience Co-Trainer

  Delivering the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training programme for NHS Staff and Healthcare Students, specifically focusing on Autism awareness in healthcare settings, to develop understanding of how someone’s Autism Spectrum Condition may affect them in a healthcare setting, identify myths and misconceptions, and help prevent unnecessary deaths of Autistic people in various care settings.

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  Creative Curiosities SW

  Apr 2024 - now

  Advocate and Activity Lead

  Facilitating creative arts, music and drama sessions for neurodivergent communities in Devon and Cornwall, as well as advocating on behalf of Autistic people within the CIC.