Job Description

The post offers the opportunity to provide a wide range of Speech and Language Therapy assessments and interventions, both directly and indirectly, within a multi-disciplinary framework in a National specialist assessment and treatment unit for autistic men.



To provide specialist interventions including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.

To promote service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor

To offer training as required.

To be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate.



The National Autism Unit is a 15 bedded specialist inpatient unit, for men with autism and additional mental health and/or behaviours that challenge, who cannot be safely supported in the community.



Speech and Language Therapy is valued within this setting, and this post is an expansion of previous Speech and Language Therapy resource on the unit.



The National Autism Unit is accredited with the National Autistic Society and aims to not only offer best practice, but also to innovate to ensure the needs of autistic individuals with additional difficulties can be met.



The team consists of a range of professionals including Nursing, Psychological Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers. The team is friendly and supportive and works closely together to ensure the best outcomes of the individuals we work with.



The National Autism Unit is part of the wider neurodevelopmental pathway, which hosts other Speech and Language Therapists, with opportunities to engage in learning and development, including through our weekly Education and Research meeting.

Key Responsibilities:

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care



To provide specialist assessments, formulations and interventions for individuals and their support network where the identified client has specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To provide culturally appropriate interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required. To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans. To provide reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users and their families. To select and deliver evidence-based specialist interventions, drawing from a spectrum of ideas and models, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions as necessary, based on the highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, couple, family or group. To promote support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning



To contribute to the effective working of the National Autism Unit. To contribute to the team or service's delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities. To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services. To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans. To liaise with the service/s MDT and other professionals.

KR 3 Policy and service development



To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes. To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities. To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

KR 4 Care or management of resources



To take care of, and use carefully, the Trust's equipment and physical resources. To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed. To ensure the cleanliness and safe functioning and use of equipment that will be used by clients or other persons. To monitor and advise clients on the safe use of materials and processes. To ensure adequate confidential and safe storage for artefacts produced during the therapy process in line with professional guidelines. To be responsible for obtaining, storing and maintaining all materials and equipment for the provision of therapy in work setting within budgetary constraints.

KR 5 Management and supervision



To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of a paid assistant if required, under supervision from a more senior therapist. To supervise trainees within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Supervision Training.

KR 6 Teaching and Training



To provide specialist training to other professions as appropriate. To disseminate research/service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.

KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance



To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

KR 8 Research and development



To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.

KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development



To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior professional according to discipline, professional body and Trust guidelines. To maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with professional body and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and professional Standards for Continuing Professional Development. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies. * To comply with professional body Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/Standards of Proficiency.