Specialist Autism Practitioner

Lancashire & South Cumbria Nhs Foundation Trust; Rishton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust seeks an Autism Practitioner for the Specialist Autism Team. You will manage autistic adults with complex needs across community and inpatient settings, delivering autism-informed assessments, interventions and tailored support.

You will join a multidisciplinary team, participate in duty responses, and help prevent admissions while enabling timely discharges. A strong interest in autism and ongoing professional development are essential.

Qualifications

• Registered with the appropriate professional body (NMC, Social Work England or HCPC).
• Evidence of post qualification experience working with autistic adults and complex needs.
• Knowledge of autism legislation, risk assessment and safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of autistic adults in community and inpatient settings.
• Deliver specialist, evidence-based interventions.
• Undertake assessments and develop person-centred care plans.
• Complete urgent assessments as part of the duty function.
• Support hospital admission avoidance and discharge planning.
• Assess and manage risk across environments.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary formulation and case discussions.
• Build relationships with service users, families and partner agencies.
• Produce high-quality assessments, reports and clinical documentation.
• Support service development, quality improvement and learning initiatives.

Skills

Strong communication

Excellent report-writing

IT competent

Education

Nursing / Social Work / Occupational Therapy qualification

Job description

Job summary

Are you passionate about improving the lives of autistic adults and their families? Do you thrive in a role where no two days are the same?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Autism Practitioner to join our Specialist Autism Team. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering specialist autism support across community and inpatient settings.

Working collaboratively with mental health services, local authorities, inpatient teams, and partner agencies, you will play a key role in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, supporting safe and timely discharges, and helping autistic adults achieve positive outcomes.

About the Role

As an Autism Practitioner, you will manage a varied caseload of autistic adults with complex needs across both community and inpatient settings. You will provide specialist autism-informed assessments, interventions, consultation, and support tailored to individual needs.

You will also participate in the team's duty system, responding to urgent referrals and supporting acute mental health services through timely assessments and intervention planning.

This role offers excellent opportunities to develop specialist skills in autism, risk assessment, formulation, discharge planning, and multidisciplinary working. We understand that not everyone has specialist experience however we keen to develop people who have a strong interest and motivation to work with autistic people.

Main duties of the job

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing a caseload of autistic adults in community and inpatient settings.
• Delivering specialist evidence-based interventions.
• Undertaking assessments and developing person-centred care plans.
• Completing urgent assessments as part of the duty function.
• Supporting hospital admission avoidance and discharge planning.
• Assessing and managing risk in a range of environments.
• Contributing to multidisciplinary formulation and case discussions.
• Building effective relationships with service users, families, carers, and partner agencies.
• Producing high-quality assessments, reports, and clinical documentation.
• Supporting service development, quality improvement, and learning initiatives.

About You

• Holds a professional qualification in Nursing, Social Work, or Occupational Therapy.
• Is registered with the NMC, Social Work England, or HCPC.
• Has post-registration experience.
• Has experience working with autistic adults and individuals with complex needs.
• Is confident in assessing and managing risk.
• Has excellent communication, report-writing, and organisational skills.
• Enjoys working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Is committed to delivering person-centred and evidence-based care.
• Is passionate about continuous learning and professional development.

About us

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.

Explore our full wellbeing offer via the Keeping our workforce well page on the employer's website.

Details

Closing date: 28 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum (subject to confirmation)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 351-PEN1193-VD

Location: Specialist Autism Team, Greenbank Centre, Ripon Street, Preston, PR1 7LY

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant professional qualification in Nursing, Social Work or Occupational Therapy
• Registered with the appropriate professional body (NMC, Social Work England or HCPC)
• Evidence of post qualifying experience of working with autistic adults and/or post qualifying qualifications in autism

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of current autism legislation, policy and best practice
• Knowledge and experience of risk assessment and risk management
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and procedures

Experience

Essential

• Experience of supporting autistic adults with complex needs on an individual basis
• Experience of working with individuals who may present behaviours that challenge services
• Experience of delivering evidence-based interventions

Personal

Essential

• Strong communication skills, including verbal, non-verbal and written communication
• Excellent report-writing skills
• IT competent

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer contact details

Operational lead: Jess Frankland, [e-mail]

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice is available on the employer's website.