Job summary
There are exciting times ahead for Neurodevelopmental Services in West Wales and we would like to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated Specialist Practitioner in Autism Spectrum Disorder in to the West Wales Integrated Autism Service (IAS Plus).
The service is an amalgamation of the pre-existing Hywel Dda Adult ASD diagnostic service and the Integrated Autism Service, which launched in 2019 in line with the ASD Refreshed Strategic Action Plan (WG 2016). The service caters for the Hywel Dda University Health Board region, offering diagnostic assessment of autism in adults who do not meet eligibility criteria for statutory services such as mental health and learning disabilities. The service also offers professional consultation and engagement with every sector, in addition to delivering training around autism.
Main duties of the job
The role will involve working as an autonomous specialist practitioner within professional guidelines; responsible for undertaking skilled diagnostic assessments of autism and offering time-limited post diagnostic interventions, either in a group or one to one setting. Your case load may include clients who have co-existing mental health and or neurodevelopmental conditions and may exhibit complex behavioural and communication differences.
Using your advanced knowledge and experience in autism, you will be required to contribute to the development and implementation of highly specialist interventions for autistic adults and their families, to help them achieve their potential in life. A key role will include working with professionals across all sectors through professional consultation and training, helping to demystify autism, so that they may support the autistic people they work with, in more effective ways.
We would love to hear from you if you are dynamic, innovative and able to forge excellent working relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;
Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;
48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;
Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;
Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 22.08.2023
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 22.08.2023
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Has specialist knowledge and post graduate experience working with autistic people in adult or children's services
- Willingness to develop knowledge and experience in working with Autism across the life span
- Experience of working with people with complex communication and behaviours that challenge
- Significant experience in supporting, supervising and developing skills of less experienced staff
- Significant experience of advising others (including other professionals)
- Has an established ability to promote multidisciplinary/multi-agency and collaborative practice with a wide range of stakeholders and partners
- Has significant experience in managing complex, specialised caseloads and in signposting to other services
- Experience in using information gathering/reporting systems and is IT literate in the use of appropriate software
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with learning disability and/or mental health services
- Knowledge and experience of the application of a positive behavioural support model
- Knowledge and experience in the application of total communication support systems
- Ability and experience in designing planning implementing and delivering training to others
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Relevant degree in professional specialism - Nursing, Allied Health Professional, Social Worker
- Registered member of Professional body
- Masters Degree or equivalent level of specialist experience in area of particular clinical expertise
- Evidence of attendance on advanced and specialist post graduate short courses appropriate to ASD at Masters or Diploma level equivalent
- Has sound knowledge of Welsh Government policy and legislation relating to autism
- Willingness to train in the use of specific diagnostic assessment instruments
- Has excellent understanding of the needs of autistic people and their families/carers/partners
- Has understanding and experience of using basic counselling/psychosocial skills
- Has in depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
- Has excellent understanding of the roles of other professionals in provision of multidisciplinary care for autistic people
- Has an excellent knowledge of standards of record keeping
Desirable
- Trained in the use of Assessment instruments such as ADOS, ADI-R, DISCO
- Has excellent insight into the changing needs of autism across life-span development
- Advanced knowledge of the issues for autistic people across the life span
- Has advanced knowledge of trends and best practice within the clinical specialism
- Has knowledge of a range of specialist assessment and intervention tools relevant to the client group
- Understands the impact of local, cultural, linguistic and demographic factors which influence service delivery in own clinical specialism
Other
Essential
- Has the ability to travel across the organisation including able to access isolated and remote locations in a timely manner
- Recognises and is sensitive to cultural diversity
Language Skills
Desirable
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Has specialist knowledge and post graduate experience working with autistic people in adult or children's services
- Willingness to develop knowledge and experience in working with Autism across the life span
- Experience of working with people with complex communication and behaviours that challenge
- Significant experience in supporting, supervising and developing skills of less experienced staff
- Significant experience of advising others (including other professionals)
- Has an established ability to promote multidisciplinary/multi-agency and collaborative practice with a wide range of stakeholders and partners
- Has significant experience in managing complex, specialised caseloads and in signposting to other services
- Experience in using information gathering/reporting systems and is IT literate in the use of appropriate software
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with learning disability and/or mental health services
- Knowledge and experience of the application of a positive behavioural support model
- Knowledge and experience in the application of total communication support systems
- Ability and experience in designing planning implementing and delivering training to others
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Relevant degree in professional specialism - Nursing, Allied Health Professional, Social Worker
- Registered member of Professional body
- Masters Degree or equivalent level of specialist experience in area of particular clinical expertise
- Evidence of attendance on advanced and specialist post graduate short courses appropriate to ASD at Masters or Diploma level equivalent
- Has sound knowledge of Welsh Government policy and legislation relating to autism
- Willingness to train in the use of specific diagnostic assessment instruments
- Has excellent understanding of the needs of autistic people and their families/carers/partners
- Has understanding and experience of using basic counselling/psychosocial skills
- Has in depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
- Has excellent understanding of the roles of other professionals in provision of multidisciplinary care for autistic people
- Has an excellent knowledge of standards of record keeping
Desirable
- Trained in the use of Assessment instruments such as ADOS, ADI-R, DISCO
- Has excellent insight into the changing needs of autism across life-span development
- Advanced knowledge of the issues for autistic people across the life span
- Has advanced knowledge of trends and best practice within the clinical specialism
- Has knowledge of a range of specialist assessment and intervention tools relevant to the client group
- Understands the impact of local, cultural, linguistic and demographic factors which influence service delivery in own clinical specialism
Other
Essential
- Has the ability to travel across the organisation including able to access isolated and remote locations in a timely manner
- Recognises and is sensitive to cultural diversity
Language Skills
Desirable
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
