
Job requirements
Essential
12 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Personal
Strong communication skills, including verbal, non-verbal and written communication
- Personal
Excellent report-writing skills
- Personal
IT competent
- Knowledge
Knowledge of current autism legislation, policy and best practice
- Knowledge
Knowledge and experience of risk assessment and risk management
- Knowledge
Knowledge of safeguarding principles and procedures
- Experience
Experience of supporting autistic adults with complex needs on an individual basis
- Experience
Experience of working with individuals who may present behaviours that challenge services
- Experience
Experience of delivering evidence-based interventions
- Education/Qualifications
Relevant professional qualification in Nursing, Social Work or Occupational Therapy
- Education/Qualifications
Registered with the appropriate professional body (NMC, Social Work England or HCPC)
- Education/Qualifications
Evidence of post qualifying experience of working with autistic adults and/or post qualifying qualifications in autism
Desirable
Not listed in the available specification.
Job overview
Are you passionate about improving the lives of autistic adults and their families? Do you thrive in a role where no two days are the same?
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Autism Practitioner to join our Specialist Autism Team. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering specialist autism support across community and inpatient settings.
Working collaboratively with mental health services, local authorities, inpatient teams, and partner agencies, you will play a key role in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, supporting safe and timely discharges, and helping autistic adults achieve positive outcomes.
About the Role: As an Autism Practitioner, you will manage a varied caseload of autistic adults with complex needs across both community and inpatient settings. You will provide specialist autism-informed assessments, interventions, consultation, and support tailored to individual needs.
You will also participate in the team's duty system, responding to urgent referrals and supporting acute mental health services through timely assessments and intervention planning.
This role offers excellent opportunities to develop specialist skills in autism, risk assessment, formulation, discharge planning, and multidisciplinary working. We understand that not everyone has specialist experience however we keen to develop people who have a strong interest and motervation to work with autisic people.
Main duties of the job
What You'll Be Doing:
- Managing a caseload of autistic adults in community and inpatient settings.
- Delivering specialist evidence-based interventions.
- Undertaking assessments and developing person-centred care plans.
- Completing urgent assessments as part of the duty function.
- Supporting hospital admission avoidance and discharge planning.
- Assessing and managing risk in a range of environments.
- Contributing to multidisciplinary formulation and case discussions.
- Building effective relationships with service users, families, carers, and partner agencies.
- Producing high-quality assessments, reports, and clinical documentation.
- Supporting service development, quality improvement, and learning initiatives.
About You: We are looking for someone who:
- Holds a professional qualification in Nursing, Social Work, or Occupational Therapy.
- Is registered with the NMC, Social Work England, or HCPC.
- Has post-registration experience.
- Has experience working with autistic adults and individuals with complex needs.
- Is confident in assessing and managing risk.
- Has excellent communication, report-writing, and organisational skills.
- Enjoys working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Is committed to delivering person-centred and evidence-based care.
- Is passionate about continuous learning and professional development.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Autism Practitioner with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust in Preston, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Practitioner role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum (subject to confirmation). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Oct 2026.
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