Lead Practitioner – Forensic Autism Service

LSCft; Preston; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) is seeking a Band 7 Lead Practitioner for the Forensic Autism Service in Preston. The post involves leading expert clinical interventions for autistic adults over 16 with forensic risk and guiding junior staff within a multi-agency context.

You will maintain evidence-based practice, support care processes and pathways, and work both independently and as part of a leadership team to deliver high-quality services across the trust footprint.

Qualifications

• Registered RMN/RNLD/Allied Health Professional or Social Worker.
• Post-graduate qualification or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead practitioner for adults over 16 with autism and forensic risk.
• Provide specialist interventions and signpost to appropriate services.
• Maintain high levels of evidence-based clinical practice and contribute to Care Pathways.
• Manage and supervise others with mentoring and preceptorship responsibilities.
• Collaborate with multiple agencies across Lancashire & South Cumrbia requiring excellent communication.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Autism

Forensic services

IT literacy

Education

RMN/RNLD/Allied Health Professional/Social Worker registration

Post-graduate qualification or equivalent experience

CPD evidence

Tools

Electronic health records

Job description

Band 7

Main area Mental Health Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 351-BAY1114-MF

Site Parlick Centre, Guild Park Town Preston Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 30/10/2026 23:59

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care.
• Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
• Extensive community physical health and well-being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term condition management.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health, general nurses, childrens nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers, as well as those specialising in learning disabilities and community physical health services.

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Forensic Autism Service for a band 7 Lead Practitioner to join our team.

The successful applicant will be the lead practitioner for cases and work as part of the leadership team providing expert advice, direct clinical interventions with service users and families and support and clinical leadership to autistic adults over 16, who are presenting with significant forensic risk.

The successful applicants will carry a caseload of service users with complex needs and will provide specialist risk management strategies and interventions for people referred to the service, and where necessary signpost and refer to appropriate services or agencies.

You will be responsible for the maintenance of high levels of evidence-based clinical practice, contributing to and facilitating Care Processes and Pathways.

The post includes managing and supervising the work of others and acting as a mentor and preceptor for junior staff.
The ability to work independently as well as within a team will also be required.

The candidates will also be required to joint work with multiple agencies and service providers across Lancashire and South Cumbria which will require excellent communication skills.

Main duties of the job

• The successful applicant will be working as part of the leadership team providing expert advice, direct clinical interventions with service user and families and support and clinical leadership to adults over 16 with autism and who have forensic risk.
• You will provide specialist interventions for people referred to the service, and where necessary signpost and refer to appropriate services or agencies.
• You will be responsible for the maintenance of high levels of evidence-based clinical practice, contributing to and facilitating Care Processes and Pathways.
• You will manage and supervise the work of others, and act as a mentor and preceptor.
• The ability to work independently as well as within a team will also be required.
• Candidates will need to be IT literate and have experience using digital clinical records, as well as the desire to explore new ways of engaging with stakeholders using technology.
• The candidate will also be required to joint work with multiple agencies and service providers across Lancashire & South Cumrbia which will require excellent communication skills.
• The service operates 5 days a week; Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and covers the whole of the trust footprint.

Working for our organisation

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)/ Registered Nurse, Learning Disability (RNLD), Allied Health Professional (OT/SaLT) or Social Worker
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Post-graduate qualification in relevant subject or demonstrable evidence or equivalent experience relevant to field of practice.

Knowledge

• Post qualifying experience, including significant experience of working within autism and/or forensic services
• Knowledge of the Trust’s information sharing protocols
• Be compliant and competent with regards to Information governance including Data Protection Act

Experience

• Evidence of extensive and significant clinical knowledge, skill and experience of working with people with autism.
• Specialist knowledge of interventions relevant to this client group and current models of service for clients with autism.
• Able to take responsibility for decision making in unpredictable work contexts, acting with autonomy

You are advised to consider applying for LSCFT vacancies as soon as possible as in some instances vacancies are closed as soon as a sufficient number of applications have been received. If you are not invited to interview within four weeks of the closing date then please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful, as it is not possible to contact all unsuccessful candidates.

Please note that further communication from LSCFT will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCFT to contact them.

Please ensure that you read the person specification as your application will be measured against this document.

If you use AI to assist with your application, you must declare this. Undeclared use may result in withdrawal. Please ensure your application reflects your own skills and experiences. While AI tools can assist, they may produce generic or inaccurate content. We encourage you to provide personal examples that demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria.

For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. You are therefore advised to consider applying for this vacancy as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.