Senior Specialist Practitioner
| Posting date: | 29 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £49,387.00 to £56,515.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £49387.00 - £56515.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 June 2026 |
| Location: | Wakefield, WF15PN |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9378-W1473B |
Summary
JOB SUMMARY This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments. To provide highly specialist skills and expertise, facilitating diagnostic assessments and interventions of the highest quality in the field of adult AUTISM. To deputise as agreed for the Team manager. To work autonomously and collaboratively within the MDT, providing consultation and teaching for other agencies/professionals. To provide clinical supervision for professionals in the AUTISM pathway. To promote safeguarding and the welfare of adults with neurodevelopmental conditions and their families. Work the Service Manager and Clinical Lead with the continuous improvement of the Adult AUTISM pathway. KEY RESULT AREAS: CLINICAL 1 To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility in accordance with the Trust Policies and procedures 2 The post-holder will have highly developed skills in assessing the needs of adults with AUTISM and their carers based on the analysis of highly complex facts and situations. Interventions will be planned based on the assessment information and interpretation of this. The clinical assessment will include gathering appropriate historical information and obtaining relevant information from other agencies. Offering highly specialist expertise in neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health, ensuring clear documentation in all appropriate case notes and sharing assessments and information with the individual, family and all relevant professionals. 3 To undertake highly specialist diagnostic assessments using and interpreting standardised assessment tools and clinical judgment in line with evidence based practice. 4 To undertake specialised risk assessments following referral for presentations requiring urgent mental health or psychiatric assessment and plan relevant interventions. 5 To implement interventions for adults diagnosed with AUTISM as relevant to the post-holders main clinical role, i.e. group and individual work, systemic family interventions. This will include analysis, interpretation and evaluation to reformulate plans of care. 6 The post-holder will provide therapeutic care to emotionally demanding clients in highly emotive situations. 7 The post-holder will develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with service users and carers. This will include cases of high complexity which require more specialised levels of assessment and therapeutic skills. 8 As part of multi-disciplinary team, the Senior Practitioner will deliver and devise complex packages of care and provide individual and family review/follow-up. 9 To take a lead role in setting guidelines and standards that will ensure adults with neurodevelopmental conditions are discharged from Specialist Services with an appropriate package of care from universal services. 10 The post-holder will have skills to communicate highly complex information regarding personal psycho-social problems in an empathic and supportive way using the highest level of interpersonal skills in situations which can be highly emotional and sometimes antagonistic. Service users and families may have difficulty or be reluctant to understand what is communicated to them. 11 Communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information utilising highly developed interpersonal skills. Take into account issues of confidentiality and the consent of Adults and Young People. 12 To work with adults and their families, liaising with external agencies, e.g. Education, Employment, Social Services and Paediatric Services. To actively promote user/carer involvement in all aspects of care planning/delivery whilst respecting the rights, capabilities and wishes of the individuals concerned. 13 To apply a sound knowledge of safeguarding guidelines in clinical work. 14 To deputise for the Team manager in his/her absence. 15 Apply Trust policies and procedures in instances of aggression, acute distress and disturbed mental health presentations. For full job description, please see attached supporting documents. We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.