Social Narrative: When My Shift or Task Changes - SEND KS4 Post-16 Work (UK)

A UK edition social narrative for KS4, post-16 and young adult SEND learners. When My Shift or Job Task Changes walks a young adult through changes at work: a shift that moves, being put on a different station, a new task halfway through the day, and being asked to cover for a colleague. It is written in first person in a calm, adult voice, with UK wording throughout.

Why I made this
Most social narratives I found were written for little children. The young people I work with are 14 to 25, and they deserve something that sounds like the world they are walking into. This one is short, respectful and practical, and it ends with a plan the learner can keep on their phone.

What’s included (9 A4 pages)

• Teacher page: how to read it, when to read it, and how to fade it out
• Story pages in first person, with a simple picture box on each section
• Talk About It questions for a small group, a TA or a job coach
• Practice page: real situations with three choices, to pick the calm next step
• My Plan page to fill in for the learner’s own real situation
• Discussion key

How I use it
Read it before a work placement or supported internship starts, and again the first time a rota change actually happens. Cross out and write in real names, places and times. The closer it matches real life, the more it helps. When the learner can do it on their own, they may only need the My Plan page.

Who it is for
KS4, sixth form, FE college and post-16 SEND groups, learners on SEN Support, supported internships and Preparing for Adulthood work. It fits employment, independent living, community and health outcomes in an EHCP.

What you download: one printable PDF, A4. An editable Word version is kept by the author. Licence: single teacher or setting.

Written by Jeremy D. Gooch, a teacher with 20+ years in education. Part of the Social Narratives UK series from The Transition Cliff.

Keywords: SEND, EHCP, Preparing for Adulthood, KS4, Post-16, social narrative, EHCP outcomes, autism, learning disability, visual supports, young adults, supported internship