Specialist Practitioner

Job overview

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.

Detailed job description and main 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.