Assistant Practitioner

Job overview

We are a diverse multi-disciplinary team, working across the breath of both North and South Derbyshire, supporting adults with Autism who are at risk of placement breakdown or hospital admission. Our aim is to provide the right support and care to autistic people in the community to prevent hospital admission.

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You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting adults with Autism who are currently experiencing crisis or placement breakdown. You will complete assessments individually, and support assessments completed by a clinician within the Specialist Autism Team and be actively involved in the delivery of direct patient care. You care will be individual, patient centred and holistic.

You will support the patient’s physical, psychological, emotional and autistic needs. You will have knowledge of safeguarding adults and have worked delivering care that promotes independence and well-being.

The post holder will be an excellent communicator with adults with Autism who may be experiencing a crisis. You will be calm under pressure, work effectively alongside colleagues performing delegated responsibilities.

The post holder will be expected to travel to both North and South Derbyshire sometimes at short notice, so a car is essential. You will provide support to people with Autism in the community at their place of residence, which could include residential placements & temporary

accommodation. You will work alongside the Hospital InReach team, Crisis Team, CMHT, Social Care colleagues and with our short term intervention team.

The assistant practitioner role is an essential and very valued position.

Working for our organisation

Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

CQC rated us as 'GOOD’ overall, commenting on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.”

Benefits include:

• Commitment to flexible working where this is possible

• 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years’ service 

• Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training

• Generous NHS pension scheme

• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits

• Health service discounts and online benefits

• Incremental pay progression

• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7

• Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network

• Health and wellbeing opportunities

• Structured learning and development opportunities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Independently carry out assigned tasks to meet the care needs of each individual as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Contribute as part of the multi-disciplinary team towards the development and implementation of treatment plans, and multi-disciplinary team reports.
• Work in a multi-agency environment and liaise with relevant professionals .
• Support the lead practitioner and multi- disciplinary team to carry out risk assessments relating to an individual and environments and ensure that accurate and timely information is cascaded to other team members.
• To attend meetings with other agencies as a representative of the care team under direction of the lead practitioner. This includes representing the Specialist Autism Team in meetings.
• To overcome communication barriers in day to day work and also in crisis situations. Requires post holder to be skilled at adapting their communication to meet the needs of the individual this may mean utilising a range of verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
• To work with patients with extreme sensory needs in crisis situations who can often be in dysregulated states.
• To support carers and families who are experiencing distress.
• To be responsible for their designated work on a daily basis as agreed with the registered team members.
• To model support required to service users and their carers including sharing specialist knowledge and techniques. This requires the post holder adapting their ‘teaching’ and modelling approaches to meet the individual needs of the patient and/or carers.
• To explain the individual’s assessment, treatment and care to patients and carers including sensitive and upsetting information.
• Ability to support service users in a person-centred manner and adjust support as necessary. This includes making autonomous decisions to change the immediate plan of care to address immediate concerns around risk and/ or clinical needs. Requires ongoing observation and analysis throughout visits where patient presentation may be rapidly changing. This is then reviewed by the responsible clinician at the earliest opportunity.
• To contribute to maintaining the safety of service users through careful and detailed observations of the service users environment, appearance, behaviour, mood, reporting any changes to the lead practitioner.
• To seek to diffuse situations of aggressive and abusive behaviour guided by care plans, risk assessments, good practice and established guidelines, and report to the lead practitioner. Requires high level of communication skills and de-escalation techniques.
• To encourage interest and engagement in a variety of daily living activities, including self-care, domestic skills, productivity and leisure adapting communication and activities to meet the individuals needs.
• To provide advice and information to service users and their carers about potential and appropriate services available; adapting communication and information as required.
• Establish and maintain good relationships with service users, carers both paid and unpaid and staff across multi agency boundaries.
• To work directly with our In-Reach team and mental health hospitals to support Autistic people who are close to discharge from Mental Health inpatient wards back home into the community.
• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable attendance.
• The post holder may be asked to undertake duties not directly highlighted within this job description. This will only be done when the skills and experience of the post holder meets the requirements of the role.

Flexible Working

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for our service and for you.  Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.

Disability Confident Employer

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you in the recruitment process please let us know.

If you require any support in completing the application form please do not hesitate to contact the Recruitment Team,   01332 564856, option 1, option 1  or email [email protected]  and we will be happy to provide assistance.

DBS Checks

The cost of undertaking a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) disclosure will be met by the individual. The Trust will meet the initial costs of the disclosure which will be deducted from your first month’s salary.  

 This job may close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.