LDA Outreach Assistant Practitioner

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Dawlish; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking compassionate support workers for their Learning Disability and Autism Outreach Team. The roles involve collaborative work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality care and support to vulnerable service users across Devon.

Qualifications

• Must hold or obtain the Care Certificate within 3 months of employment.
• Experience working in various behaviour settings for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Responsibilities

• Support triaging, assessing, planning, and delivering complex care packages.
• Work alongside Band 7 Outreach Practitioners.
• Ensure proactive liaison with partner agencies and families.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Time Management

Problem Solving

Education

Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care

GCSEs in Maths and English

Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care

Job description

Location: Dawlish, EX7 0NR
Salary: £24,625.00 to £29,114.00
Date posted: 15th May 2025
Closing date: 3rd June 2025

We are seeking highly motivated, innovative, compassionate, and clinically experienced support workers, occupational therapy technical instructors, and assistant psychologists to join the newly established, Devon-wide, Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) Outreach Team at Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

These exciting new Band 4 roles involve working collaboratively with other LDA Outreach colleagues, community learning disability and autism teams, and 'The Brook', our 10-bedded inpatient unit for learning disabilities and autism.

The ideal candidates will have clinical experience working with people with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health difficulties. We seek colleagues who can work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team, prioritise and manage workload effectively, and possess knowledge of safeguarding, the Mental Health Act, and the Mental Capacity Act. Strong interpersonal, communication, formulation, and risk assessment skills are essential.

• Interviews are scheduled for mid to late June 2025; dates to be confirmed.

We also offer Band 3 trainee opportunities for candidates without a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care but with relevant experience.

Main duties of the job

We welcome applications from experienced and compassionate staff who can demonstrate and promote high-quality, evidence-based care.

A central part of the role involves working alongside Band 7 Outreach Practitioners to support triaging, assessing, planning, formulation, and delivering complex care packages to vulnerable service users across Devon. We also support those discharged from The Brook and ensure proactive liaison with partner agencies, families, and care providers at every stage.

Devon Partnership NHS Trust aims to become a recognised centre of excellence. The successful applicant should embody the Trust's values and have the competencies and confidence to inspire and involve staff to reach this goal over the next five years.

For inquiries about the post, please contact us by phone.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability, and neurodiversity services, including specialist and secure services for the wider southwest region and nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health and wellbeing and committed to delivering high-quality, safe, and recovery-focused services through our expertise and partnerships.

We are dedicated to a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families, and carers in all we do.

Our values

We recruit based on qualifications, experience, and behaviours that reflect our core values, such as commitment to quality care, respect, dignity, and compassion. We foster these values daily by engaging with people, challenging ourselves, and embracing new ideas.

We are an inclusive employer; applications from all community sections are encouraged and welcomed, regardless of protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. We support part-time and flexible working where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity, or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.

Person Specification

Planning and organisational skills

• Organisation and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently within defined procedures and care pathways.

Experience

• Experience working in various behaviour settings for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Experience working with individuals presenting distressed behaviours challenging for other services.

Qualifications

• Must hold or obtain the Care Certificate within 3 months of employment.
• Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
• GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) or Level 2 Key Skills/Functional Skills.
• Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or equivalent diploma (Band 4).
  If not obtained, to complete within 2 years of starting employment (Band 3).

Communication and relationship skills

• Excellent verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information effectively to people with learning disabilities, autism, carers, and colleagues.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional therapeutic relationships.
• Ability to work with individuals and groups.
• Proficiency with various communication systems.
• Ability to present information clearly and accessibly.

Physical and other skills

• Compliance with manual handling and restraint policies, if relevant.
• Effective supervision and support-seeking skills.
• Flexibility to work changing shift patterns.
• Empathy, compassion, and patience towards individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Maintain professionalism in challenging situations.
• Willingness to travel across the trust's area.

Knowledge

• Understanding of learning disabilities, neurodiversity, and best practices.
• Knowledge of mental health presentations and medications relevant to this population.
• Awareness of physical health issues impacting mental health.
• Familiarity with Valuing People and related policies.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and procedures.
• Understanding of legal aspects related to consent and capacity.
• Basic IT proficiency.
• Ability to relate and communicate effectively with individuals with learning disabilities and autism.
• Understanding of Recovery principles and positive behaviour support planning.
• Knowledge of care coordination and management processes.
• Awareness of the Code of Conduct for healthcare and social care workers in England.

Analytical and judgement skills

• Ability to evaluate complex information for decision-making.
• Understanding of scope of practice and when to refer to registered practitioners.
• Risk assessment skills for self, service users, and families.
• Problem-solving abilities.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A DBS check will be required to assess any criminal convictions.