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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
351-BAY1114-MF
Employer
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Parlick Centre, Guild Park
Town
Preston
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
30/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Lead Practitioner – Forensic Autism Service

Band 7

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, children’s 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.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job overview

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.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • 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

Essential criteria
  • 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

Essential criteria
  • 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

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rachel Chadwick
Job title
Clinical Lead
Email address
[email protected]
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