Job responsibilities
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Clinical
Provide a screening assessment / triage service for clients referred to ASN for a diagnostic assessment to identify those with unmet mental health needs.
Advocate for improvement to inter-service pathways with professionals in own and other organisations.
To review the current ASN mental health assessment processes and referral pathway.
To liaise and network with other autism diagnostic services in the Eastern region and nationally to identify best practice in accessible mental health pathways for autistic people.
To liaise with mental health services to explore barriers to supporting autistic people with mental health needs and recommend actions to resolve pathway problems and blocks.
To be a point of contact and liaison between ASN and statutory, private and 3rd sector mental health services as necessary to facilitate equitable and timely access in meeting the unmet mental health needs of people referred to ASN.
To apply knowledge and experience of mental health and autism services to work up and provide autism awareness sessions to stakeholders, that includes
The links between Autism and mental health diagnosis and needs;
Evidence based reasonable adjustments required within mental health care plans and interventions;
The local mental health care pathway for autistic people;
The local commissioned responsibilities of both mental health services and autism services.
To hold a caseload of clients from the ASN service pathway with unmet mental health needs. To refer these clients to appropriate mental health services and to advocate for their mental health needs to be met by the appropriate service.
To utilise mental health knowledge and experience to contribute to the development of a process for identifying clients with unmet mental health needs within the ASN service and work alongside ASN colleagues to implement this process into practice.
To use a wide range of communication skills to respond to clients who have impaired social communication skills and mental health difficulties, and who may be distressed, hostile or resistant to engage in the assessment process.
To liaise with other services, agencies and organisations and advocate for people on the ASN service pathway to access appropriate mental health support.
To be a lone practitioner, working without direct supervision, when engaging with other professionals and autistic people and their families.
Work in collaboration with mental health care co-ordinators when complex needs relating to Autism are presented.
To research, collect and promote a reasonable adjustments toolkit that can be accessed by autistic people and their social and professional networks enabling individuals, families, and organisations to put in place reasonable adjustments and interventions to enable individuals to effectively engage with and access mental health services.
To address the stigma currently experienced by many people with Autism within Mental Health needs. To play an active role within multi-disciplinary assessment and discussion to support case formulation and care plans.
To practise in line with guidelines and standards set by NMC and NICE.
To provide practice placements and an appropriate learning environment for or Nursing students, as required.
To provide clinical supervision and leadership to other Nursing staff as required.
To communicate verbally and in writing highly complex and sensitive information in a manner which is clear, understandable and appropriate to a range of settings and audiences.
To participate in multi-agency/statutory meetings, as client need dictates.
To identify need for clinical support and advice and seek this from senior colleagues.
To complete and return clinical outcome measures as agreed with the head of service and professional lead.
Management
To support the development of effective mental health care pathways within the service.
To develop and implement service evaluation and audit systems around the mental health pathway for autistic adult referred to ASN.
To develop service wide policies and protocols around the mental health pathway for autistic adult referred to ASN.
Support the establishment of partnerships and networks with key stakeholders involved within the mental health pathway for autistic adult referred to ASN.
Deputise for Line Manager as required.
Professional
The Post holder will maintain Registered Membership of the NMC.
To participate in supervision on a regular basis.
To maintain and develop competence through attendance of relevant courses and engagement with opportunities such as Special Interest Groups.
To keep up-to date with current clinical and technological advances in liaison with senior colleagues. To be active in supporting other colleagues with clinical advice and to help identify current and future Team training needs.
To maintain a record of own professional development (e.g. Portfolio of own CPD, evidence of attendance at recent, relevant postgraduate training courses, etc.).
To participate in innovative practice, service developments and activities, underpinned by theory, designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service provision under the guidance of senior clinicians. This will include contributing to developing local clinical guidelines.
To provide observation opportunities for prospective Nursing career candidates and non-health related individuals as requested by Pathway Lead.
To support the work of support workers and assistant psychologists in their roles with clients who have co-morbid mental health difficulties/conditions.
To keep the line manager informed of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and likely specific impact on this service of any change.
Research and Development Activity
To participate in Clinical Governance and Audit projects, occasionally supporting others research by providing data, and also by involvement in projects.
All research will be conducted with reference to local and national ethical guidelines.
Continuing Professional Development, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards
To keep registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council (NMC) up to date.
To keep professional knowledge up to date by keeping abreast of changes in legislation, research, policy and practice through attendance at courses and regular continued professional development.
To incorporate Equal Opportunities policy and anti-discriminatory practice in all areas
To follow all duties with regard to the Professional standards for Nursing practice, conduct and ethicsas outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Organisational
The post holder will advise the processional lead and the operational management team on team issues relating to workload service priorities, acting and informing others as appropriate.
Planning of own workload, monitoring own caseload data and reporting to line manager as required.
To monitor and maintain stocks of assessment and treatment equipment within clinical area, including items loaned to patients.
Collaboration and liaison with other regional specialist services for people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions with an aim to establishing and maintaining optimum service provision across the county and across the life span.
