Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and ambitious Specialist Practitioner within the Mental Health Autism Team. The service has recently expanded from inpatient and crisis services only, to cover a defined cohort of autistic service users within community mental health services, who are at increased risk of readmissions to inpatient mental health services or frequently utilise unplanned care.
The post spans acute and community mental health services across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The post will be based across both Hammersmith and Fulham and Lakeside Mental Health Units, but will involve outreach provision and therefore travel across all three boroughs.
This role is intended to provide specialist assessments and interventions to autistic service users inpatient mental health services or at increased risk of readmission, with the overall aim of improving the care and experience of admissions and supporting earlier, sustainable and safe discharges, and reducing the risk of readmissions. You will be an integral part of the Mental Health Autism Team in promoting safe, effective and therapeutic care for autistic adults in acute and community mental health services.
The post is across H&F, Ealing and Hounslow, but paid as inner London weighting.
Main duties of the job
This new post offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and experienced Specialist Practitioner (OT/Social Work/Nursing/Arts Therapist), looking to specialise in mental health and Autism. The successful candidate will offer a thorough, compassionate and evidence-based service to adults with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Autism within inpatient and crisis mental health services. The post will also involve an outreach component, offering community-based input to autistic adults at risk of readmission or who frequently utilise unplanned care.
As an integral member of the Mental Health Autism Team, the post holder will have knowledge and understanding of taking a strengths-based approach to working with autistic people, supporting the individual and teams to identify and meet unmet needs. The role offers opportunities for service development and clinical audits. Multidisciplinary joint working will be central to the development of integrated care, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders will be key.
The post spans acute and community mental health services across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The post will be primarily based at either Hammersmith and Fulham or Lakeside Mental Health Unit, but will involve outreach provision and therefore travel across all three boroughs.
About us
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' overallby 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Professional qualification in mental health e.g. Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse (RMN), Arts Therapist.
- Current registration with the relevant professional body (HCPC or NMC).
Desirable
- Training in positive approaches to behaviours of concern.
- Training relevant to working with autistic people (such as sensory integration, Social Stories)
- Additional training in an area relevant to the professional discipline, e.g. Approved Mental Health Professional, OT standardised assessments (e.g. AMPS), physical health or learning disability nursing.
Experience
Essential
- Where relevant, achieved Band 5 KSF sub-set (e.g. preceptorship programme for OT). Relevant post-qualification experience in Mental Health and/or Autism and/or Learning Disabilities.
- Application of core profession-specific skills in assessments and interventions.
- Multidisciplinary team working.
- Experience of working with autistic people. Experience of working with people who have severe and enduring mental health conditions.
Desirable
- Involvement in research and clinical audit
- Experience of supervision of students and staff.
- Two years of post-qualification experience in a health, social care or voluntary sector setting. Lived experience of mental health difficulties.
- Lived experience of autism, as an autistic person or carer/ supporter. Experience of delivering training/teaching.
- Experience of undertaking sensory assessments and sensory-based interventions.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of mental health difficulties and of a holistic approach to understanding an individual's presentation in the context of wider biopsychosocial aspects.
- Knowledge and understanding of how mental health difficulties can impact on a person's ability to complete day-to-day activities.
- An understanding of how a person's social circumstances or current crisis may impact on their activity participation, social interaction and communication.
- Up-to-date knowledge of autism, including applied understanding of how different aspects of autism might impact on a person's communication, social interaction and behaviours.
- Ability to articulate and apply relevant experience to mental health setting Clinical and environmental risk assessment and safety planning
- Equality and diversity.
- Understanding of team dynamics.
- Awareness of need to work within appropriate boundaries.
- Principles of clinical governance. Computer literate.
- Relevant current legislation, NICE guidelines, CPA, risk assessment and risk management.
Desirable
- An understanding of trauma-informed care.
- Knowledge of sensory differences/sensory integration and how this might impact on a person's experience of care.
- Clinical/case supervision training.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence.
- Ability to meet deadlines. Commitment to equal opportunities. Ability to accept constructive feedback.
- Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required. Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and selfawareness.
- Willing to use peer and group supervision. Be able to work flexibly if required.
- Awareness of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership.
Desirable
- Ability to prepare and present papers at study days and conferences.
- Ability to apply (research) evidencebased practice.
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise others performance
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to reflect, identify and take responsibility for continuing professional development needs.
- Commitment to client-centred, nondiscriminatory practic
Desirable
- Membership of Professional Body Special Interest Group relevant to the appropriate profession
- Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Professional qualification in mental health e.g. Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse (RMN), Arts Therapist.
- Current registration with the relevant professional body (HCPC or NMC).
Desirable
- Training in positive approaches to behaviours of concern.
- Training relevant to working with autistic people (such as sensory integration, Social Stories)
- Additional training in an area relevant to the professional discipline, e.g. Approved Mental Health Professional, OT standardised assessments (e.g. AMPS), physical health or learning disability nursing.
Experience
Essential
- Where relevant, achieved Band 5 KSF sub-set (e.g. preceptorship programme for OT). Relevant post-qualification experience in Mental Health and/or Autism and/or Learning Disabilities.
- Application of core profession-specific skills in assessments and interventions.
- Multidisciplinary team working.
- Experience of working with autistic people. Experience of working with people who have severe and enduring mental health conditions.
Desirable
- Involvement in research and clinical audit
- Experience of supervision of students and staff.
- Two years of post-qualification experience in a health, social care or voluntary sector setting. Lived experience of mental health difficulties.
- Lived experience of autism, as an autistic person or carer/ supporter. Experience of delivering training/teaching.
- Experience of undertaking sensory assessments and sensory-based interventions.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of mental health difficulties and of a holistic approach to understanding an individual's presentation in the context of wider biopsychosocial aspects.
- Knowledge and understanding of how mental health difficulties can impact on a person's ability to complete day-to-day activities.
- An understanding of how a person's social circumstances or current crisis may impact on their activity participation, social interaction and communication.
- Up-to-date knowledge of autism, including applied understanding of how different aspects of autism might impact on a person's communication, social interaction and behaviours.
- Ability to articulate and apply relevant experience to mental health setting Clinical and environmental risk assessment and safety planning
- Equality and diversity.
- Understanding of team dynamics.
- Awareness of need to work within appropriate boundaries.
- Principles of clinical governance. Computer literate.
- Relevant current legislation, NICE guidelines, CPA, risk assessment and risk management.
Desirable
- An understanding of trauma-informed care.
- Knowledge of sensory differences/sensory integration and how this might impact on a person's experience of care.
- Clinical/case supervision training.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence.
- Ability to meet deadlines. Commitment to equal opportunities. Ability to accept constructive feedback.
- Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required. Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and selfawareness.
- Willing to use peer and group supervision. Be able to work flexibly if required.
- Awareness of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership.
Desirable
- Ability to prepare and present papers at study days and conferences.
- Ability to apply (research) evidencebased practice.
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise others performance
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to reflect, identify and take responsibility for continuing professional development needs.
- Commitment to client-centred, nondiscriminatory practic
Desirable
- Membership of Professional Body Special Interest Group relevant to the appropriate profession
- Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity
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.
