Senior Clinical Assessor/Practitioner in Fareham

We are seeking an experienced and motivated professional to join our Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) Programme Team, which covers Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of autistic people and those with learning disabilities who are admitted to mental health hospitals. You will play a key role in ensuring safe, effective care and supporting discharge planning from day one of admission. Be part of a small, passionate, and dedicated team working in a niche area of healthcare. A rewarding role with opportunities for professional development and shaping future services. Flexible working arrangements (mix of virtual and face-to-face).

Main duties of the job

• Championing quality care: Work with individuals, families, and services to remove barriers to discharge and improve treatment outcomes.
• Chairing Care and Treatment Reviews (CTR): Lead six-monthly reviews for each inpatient, ensuring care plans meet national standards and promote quality of life.
• Visiting inpatients: Carry out face-to-face visits at least every eight weeks for each inpatient to review safety, assess care quality, and monitor progress toward discharge.
• Collaborating across systems: Work closely with hospitals, community teams, and care providers to facilitate smooth transitions and discharge pathways.
• Commissioning care packages: Collaborate with local authorities and set up Personal Health Budgets where appropriate.

The team are responsible for the admission avoidance and inpatient aspects of the Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) Programme - this role is specifically for the inpatient aspect of the programme.

About us

We offer excellent employment opportunities to new and existing staff. We aim to be a model employer by embedding best HR practice and to support new ways of working. We pride ourselves on offering good working conditions, job security, lifelong learning, fair pay and benefits, staff involvement and a balance between work and personal life. We enjoy a forward thinking and innovative culture and our vision is to have healthy people, living healthy lives in healthy communities. We understand the only way to deliver this is to have the right people with the right skills.

Here is a summary of some of the benefits and services which are on offer to staff:

• 27 days paid minimum holiday and bank holiday entitlement
• Sick pay policy
• Occupational health services including staff counselling services
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Flexible retirement and retirement vouchers

Successful candidates will be subject to a six-month probationary period.

About You:

We are looking for someone with:

• Experience working with autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and mental health needs (community and/or inpatient).
• Ability to work with children, young people, and adults (primarily over 18s).
• Strong communication skills - confident, assertive, and able to hold services to account.
• A full driving licence and willingness to travel frequently.
• Knowledge of national policy and best practice in learning disability and autism care.
• Experience chairing multi-agency meetings.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Registered Health or Social Care Professional with current registration with professional body i.e. NMC, HCPC or SWE, including AMHP's and mental health social workers or significant relevant experience (LD/MH/LDAP teams only).
• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in health or social care.
• Experience of assessment of health and social care needs - care planning and coordination.
• Knowledge and relevant experience working with individuals who are autistic and/or have learning disabilities and/or mental health issues (LD/MH/LDAP team roles).
• Knowledge of complex neurological conditions and experience of working with clients with complex brain injuries.
• Specific knowledge of the National Service Frameworks and appropriate national policy related to rehabilitation of people with acquired brain injury/neurological dysfunction (Specialist Rehabilitation / ABI team).
• Ability to work effectively under stressful conditions in a rapidly changing environment.
• Good knowledge of Mental Capacity Act and relevant legislation.
• Experience in communications and stakeholder management.
• Effective working knowledge of Microsoft software.
• A good understanding of the health and social care environment and roles and responsibilities within it.
• Demonstrable experience of care/case management.
• Knowledge of and experience of NHS Funded Continuing Health Care criteria - guidance and policies and other legal frameworks as required (Children and Complex Care, s117 Aftercare, Mental Health Act).
• Experience of developing care packages.
• Experience of implementing and managing Personal Health Budgets.

Communication and Relationship Skills

• Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
• Skills for communication on complex matters and difficult situations, requiring persuasion and influence.
• Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.

Other

• Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues.
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
• Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving, analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to make recommendations on difficult and contentious issues and escalate them.
• Ability to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.
• Professional calm and efficient manner and effective organiser.
• Demonstrate a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.
• Ability to travel between locations not accessible via public transport.
• Able to work weekends when required.

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.