Band 7 Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner in LD/Autism - Bristol

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust seeks a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Learning Disabilities & Autism) to join the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS) at a pivotal transformation stage. The post focuses on complex autism assessment, workforce development, and training clinicians in autism assessment, with progression toward specialist interventions and service development.

The role requires substantial experience with autistic adults, strong autism assessment

Qualifications

• Substantial experience of working with autistic adults.
• Extensive experience in autism assessment.
• Experience teaching and training.
• Professional qualification in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy or another relevant registered profession.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and evaluate new models of care for autistic adults and neurodevelopmental differences.
• Develop expertise in complex neurodevelopmental assessment within a multidisciplinary team.
• Progressively assume leadership, education, and research responsibilities within ACP pathway.
• Contribute to workforce development and training for autism assessment.

Skills

Autism assessment

Teaching & training

Clinical leadership

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

Registered Nursing / OT / SLT or other registered profession

Job description

Job overview

Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Learning Disabilities & Autism)

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic clinician to join the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS) as a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

BASS is currently undertaking an exciting transformation programme, moving from a predominantly diagnostic-led service towards a needs-led model of care for autistic adults. This is a unique opportunity to join the service at a pivotal stage in its development and help shape future autism services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Initially, the post-holder will focus on complex autism assessment, workforce development, and training newly appointed clinicians in autism assessment. Over time, the role will develop to include increasing responsibility for specialist intervention, service development, leadership, education, and research as part of the Advanced Clinical Practice pathway.

Applicants must have substantial experience of working with autistic adults, extensive experience of autism assessment, experience of teaching and training, and a professional qualification in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, or another relevant registered profession.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will play an important role in both service delivery and transformation, contributing to the design, implementation and evaluation of new models of care for autistic adults and people with neurodevelopmental differences.

Initially, the post-holder will develop and further refine expertise in complex neurodevelopmental assessment and formulation within a highly skilled multidisciplinary team. The role will evolve to encompass increasing responsibility for advanced clinical decision-making, leadership, service development, education, research, and the delivery of specialist interventions for autistic adults and people with neurodevelopmental differences.

We are seeking an experienced clinician who is passionate about improving outcomes for autistic people and who has substantial experience of working with autistic adults and/or people with neurodevelopmental differences.

During the early stages of the transformation programme, the post-holder will play a key role in supporting the development of the autism workforce, including contributing to the delivery of training and supervision in autism assessment for newly appointed clinicians. This offers a unique opportunity to influence both the future shape of the service and the development of the workforce required to deliver it.