Job summary
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Main duties of the job
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
About us
The Hounslow Adult Autism Assessment and Diagnostic Service (HAAADS) has a key mission to:
'Provide compassionate, person centred assessment and diagnosis for adults with autism, providing clarity and support throughout the assessment process.'
We are therefore really excited to offer this opportunity to a forward thinking and proactive Specialist Autism Practitioner to join our expanding service here in Hounslow.We are looking for an individual from an array of different clinical backgrounds that can fulfil the role as a specialist autism practitioner. We will consider applications from OT/SaLT/Registered Nurses (and PBS Practitioners) with the right clinical skills, experience and knowledge to fulfil the role.Our central focus is to have the Service User at the core of what we do. We are deeply committed to delivering on an equality agenda that delivers robust clinical assessments in reducing the health inequalities experienced by this population group and improve health and social outcomes.
If you want to make a practical difference to people's lives and join an expanding service, then make that application, we want to hear from you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will work as an integral member of the Team and contribute to specialist autism assessments and post-diagnostic support of service-users referred to the service, using appropriate data from a variety of sources.
This will include the use of specialist assessment tools (e.g., ADOS-2, ADI-R etc.), clinical observations and interviews where appropriate. You will hold responsibility for a designated caseload (with support/steer from the Lead Clinical Psychologist).
The post holder will be expected to work with individuals in a way that maximises their participation (and ease) in the assessment process. In addition, you will actively liaise with partners, families, friends, including health and care professionals in order to provide a person centred assessment process.
You will help to plan, support and facilitate time limited post diagnostic work with service users who have undergone an autism diagnostic assessment with the service and received a confirmed ASD diagnosis. This would include groups and workshops, individual or family/support network support where appropriate.
Your work will lead to practical formulations and recommendations to the service user and other professionals, such as GPs/health and care professionals about intervention options for service users on discharge from the service.
As an expanding service, we are looking for a driven, creative and empathetic person to join the team which makes a difference to peoples live.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will work as an integral member of the Team and contribute to specialist autism assessments and post-diagnostic support of service-users referred to the service, using appropriate data from a variety of sources.
This will include the use of specialist assessment tools (e.g., ADOS-2, ADI-R etc.), clinical observations and interviews where appropriate. You will hold responsibility for a designated caseload (with support/steer from the Lead Clinical Psychologist).
The post holder will be expected to work with individuals in a way that maximises their participation (and ease) in the assessment process. In addition, you will actively liaise with partners, families, friends, including health and care professionals in order to provide a person centred assessment process.
You will help to plan, support and facilitate time limited post diagnostic work with service users who have undergone an autism diagnostic assessment with the service and received a confirmed ASD diagnosis. This would include groups and workshops, individual or family/support network support where appropriate.
Your work will lead to practical formulations and recommendations to the service user and other professionals, such as GPs/health and care professionals about intervention options for service users on discharge from the service.
As an expanding service, we are looking for a driven, creative and empathetic person to join the team which makes a difference to peoples live.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with HCPC or NMC (relevant to professional body and professional discipline)
- Competencies in core autism assessment tools (e.g. ADOS-2, ADI-R)
- Nurse/OT/SALT: Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Desirable
- PGDip/Masters in nursing/OT/SaLT/ healthcare/Autism (and/or relevant equivalent experience
- Qualification in teaching or mentoring
- Further training and qualification in autistic spectrum conditions (e.g. DISCO)
- CPD related to Autism
Experience
Essential
- Ability to support autistic people on an individual and group basis
- Knowledge of evidence-based practice
- Exercising full clinical responsibility for service users on caseload and caseload management
- Experience of risk assessment and risk management planning
- Experience of working as part of an MDT and having a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities
- Working with people who have autism across settings and contexts (including community)
Desirable
- Experience of liaising and joint working with statutory, voluntary and 3rd sector organisations (care without boundaries)
- Experience of conducting research and audit
- Experience of quality improvement (QI) initiatives and other service development work
- Experience of teaching training and clinical supervision
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge (and skills) in the use of specialist assessment and interventions with individuals with autism, learning disabilities or both
- Awareness (and application) of legislation that impacts on people with Autism, such as: o Autism Act 2009 o Autism Strategy 2010 & subsequent updates o Valuing People (2001) o Valuing People Now (2009) o Equality Act (2010) o Mental Capacity Act (2005) o Mental Health Act (2007)
- Commitment to continuing professional development (as required by HCPC, NMC, Trust)
Desirable
- Knowledge and ability to deliver on conducting audit, QI or research methodologies
Skills
Essential
- Skilled in methods of assessment and intervention
- Well-developed communication skills (oral and written)
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to the Trusts values
- Communicate complex and sensitive (and contentious) information effectively to a wide range of people
- Ability to apply evidence based for interventions for service users with autism/communication difficulties/ learning disabilities
- Multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems effectively
- Excellent time keeping, time management and priority skills
- Fully conversant (and competent), with a full range of Microsoft software, Excel, and other software mediums (e.g. Attend Anywhere)
- Well-developed skills in providing and receiving clinical supervision (and in dealing with practice standards/challenges)
- Experience of ADOS-2 and ADI-R assessments
Desirable
- Awareness of research methods
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work through distressing circumstances and taking appropriate actions in a timely manner
- Recognition of own limitations and strengths and ability to seek advice when needed
- Willingness to work flexible hours on occasions in response to service user/service needs
- General willingness to learn new IT and broader skills
- Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in highly distressing and challenging circumstances
- Able to work flexibly, cooperatively as an equal member of the clinical team and respecting difference
- Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently
- Ability to work flexibly and creatively and be a positive catalyst for change in driving service quality forwards
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
Desirable
- Car driver and access to a car
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with HCPC or NMC (relevant to professional body and professional discipline)
- Competencies in core autism assessment tools (e.g. ADOS-2, ADI-R)
- Nurse/OT/SALT: Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Desirable
- PGDip/Masters in nursing/OT/SaLT/ healthcare/Autism (and/or relevant equivalent experience
- Qualification in teaching or mentoring
- Further training and qualification in autistic spectrum conditions (e.g. DISCO)
- CPD related to Autism
Experience
Essential
- Ability to support autistic people on an individual and group basis
- Knowledge of evidence-based practice
- Exercising full clinical responsibility for service users on caseload and caseload management
- Experience of risk assessment and risk management planning
- Experience of working as part of an MDT and having a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities
- Working with people who have autism across settings and contexts (including community)
Desirable
- Experience of liaising and joint working with statutory, voluntary and 3rd sector organisations (care without boundaries)
- Experience of conducting research and audit
- Experience of quality improvement (QI) initiatives and other service development work
- Experience of teaching training and clinical supervision
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge (and skills) in the use of specialist assessment and interventions with individuals with autism, learning disabilities or both
- Awareness (and application) of legislation that impacts on people with Autism, such as: o Autism Act 2009 o Autism Strategy 2010 & subsequent updates o Valuing People (2001) o Valuing People Now (2009) o Equality Act (2010) o Mental Capacity Act (2005) o Mental Health Act (2007)
- Commitment to continuing professional development (as required by HCPC, NMC, Trust)
Desirable
- Knowledge and ability to deliver on conducting audit, QI or research methodologies
Skills
Essential
- Skilled in methods of assessment and intervention
- Well-developed communication skills (oral and written)
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to the Trusts values
- Communicate complex and sensitive (and contentious) information effectively to a wide range of people
- Ability to apply evidence based for interventions for service users with autism/communication difficulties/ learning disabilities
- Multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems effectively
- Excellent time keeping, time management and priority skills
- Fully conversant (and competent), with a full range of Microsoft software, Excel, and other software mediums (e.g. Attend Anywhere)
- Well-developed skills in providing and receiving clinical supervision (and in dealing with practice standards/challenges)
- Experience of ADOS-2 and ADI-R assessments
Desirable
- Awareness of research methods
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work through distressing circumstances and taking appropriate actions in a timely manner
- Recognition of own limitations and strengths and ability to seek advice when needed
- Willingness to work flexible hours on occasions in response to service user/service needs
- General willingness to learn new IT and broader skills
- Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in highly distressing and challenging circumstances
- Able to work flexibly, cooperatively as an equal member of the clinical team and respecting difference
- Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently
- Ability to work flexibly and creatively and be a positive catalyst for change in driving service quality forwards
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
Desirable
- Car driver and access to a car
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
