LDA Outreach Assistant Practitioner

NHS; Dawlish; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking compassionate support workers and occupational therapy instructors for the new Devon-wide Learning Disability and Autism Outreach Team. Candidates should have clinical experience and strong interpersonal skills to provide high-quality care. This role involves collaboration with various teams and supporting vulnerable service users across Devon.

Qualifications

• Clinical experience working with individuals with learning disabilities or autism.
• Must hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months.
• Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with LDA Outreach colleagues and community teams.
• Support triaging, assessing, and delivering complex care packages.
• Liaise with families and partner agencies throughout the care process.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Problem-solving

Time management

Risk assessment

Education

Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care

GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above)

Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care

Job description

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 will involve collaborating with other LDA Outreach colleagues, community learning disability and autism teams, and the team from 'The Brook', our 10-bedded inpatient unit for learning disabilities and autism.

Applicants should have clinical experience working with people with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health difficulties. We seek colleagues who are capable of working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with skills in workload prioritization and management. Knowledge of safeguarding, the Mental Health Act, and the Mental Capacity Act, along with strong interpersonal, communication, formulation, and risk assessment skills, is essential.

Interviews are scheduled for mid to late June 2025; exact 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 effective, high-quality care aligned with evidence-based standards.

A key aspect 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 will also support individuals discharged from The Brook, ensuring proactive liaison with partner agencies, families, and care providers throughout the care process.

Devon Partnership NHS Trust aims to become a recognized centre of excellence. The successful candidate should embody the Trust’s values and possess the competencies and confidence to inspire and involve staff to achieve 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, along with specialist and secure services for the wider South West region and nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health and wellbeing. Our goal is to utilize our expertise and resources, both within our organization and through partnerships, to deliver high-quality, safe, and recovery-focused services.

We are committed to a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families, and carers in all aspects of our work.

Our values

We recruit based not only on qualifications and experience but also on behaviors that reflect our core values, such as commitment to quality care, improving lives, respect, dignity, and compassion. We aim to demonstrate these values daily through kindness, time, challenge, and openness to new ideas.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer. Applications from all community sections, regardless of protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, are encouraged and welcomed. We support part-time and flexible working arrangements where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity, or learning disabilities. We are proud to be 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

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

Experience

• Experience working in various behavior settings for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Experience working with individuals presenting distressed behaviors that challenge services.

Qualifications

• Must hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment.
• Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care or an equivalent qualification.
• GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) or Level 2 Key Skills/Functional Skills in Maths and English.
• Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or equivalent, or be willing to complete within 2 years if not already obtained (Band 4); or complete within 2 years of starting employment if applying for Band 3.

Communication and working relationship skills

• Excellent verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to convey sensitive information to individuals with learning disabilities or autism, their carers, and colleagues.
• Capacity to establish and maintain professional therapeutic relationships.
• Ability to work effectively in groups and individually.
• Proficiency with various communication systems.
• Skill in presenting information in an accessible format.

Physical and other skills

• Compliance with Trust policies on manual handling and restraint training, if relevant.
• Effective use of supervision.
• Flexibility to work changing shift patterns.
• Empathy, compassion, and patience towards individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Professionalism, including in challenging situations.
• Willingness and ability to travel across the Trust’s area.

Knowledge

• Understanding of learning disabilities, neurodiversity, and best practices in supporting these individuals and their carers.
• Knowledge of mental health presentations and medications relevant to this population.
• Awareness of physical health issues affecting mental health and monitoring techniques.
• Familiarity with policies such as Valuing People and related documents.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and procedures.
• Understanding of legal aspects concerning consent and capacity.
• Basic IT skills.
• Ability to relate and communicate effectively with individuals with learning disabilities or autism.
• Understanding of Recovery principles and Positive Behaviour Support Planning.
• Knowledge of Care Coordination/Management processes.
• Awareness of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England.

Analytical and judgement skills

• Ability to evaluate complex information for decision-making.
• Awareness of scope of practice and when to refer issues to registered practitioners.
• Risk assessment skills and appropriate action-taking.
• Problem-solving abilities.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A Disclosure check will be required to ensure suitability for the role.