Specialist Practitioner in Autism Spectrum Disorder

There are exciting times ahead for Neurodevelopmental Services in West Wales and we would like to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated Specialist Practitioner in Autism Spectrum Disorder in to the West Wales Integrated Autism Service (IAS Plus).

The service is an amalgamation of the pre-existing Hywel Dda Adult ASD diagnostic service and the Integrated Autism Service, which launched in 2019 in line with the ASD Refreshed Strategic Action Plan (WG 2016). The service caters for the Hywel Dda University Health Board region, offering diagnostic assessment of autism in adults who do not meet eligibility criteria for statutory services such as mental health and learning disabilities. The service also offers professional consultation and engagement with every sector, in addition to delivering training around autism.

The role will involve working as an autonomous specialist practitioner within professional guidelines; responsible for undertaking skilled diagnostic assessments of autism and offering time-limited post diagnostic interventions, either in a group or one to one setting. Your case load may include clients who have co-existing mental health and or neurodevelopmental conditions and may exhibit complex behavioural and communication differences.

Using your advanced knowledge and experience in autism, you will be required to contribute to the development and implementation of highly specialist interventions for autistic adults and their families, to help them achieve their potential in life. A key role will include working with professionals across all sectors through professional consultation and training, helping to demystify autism, so that they may support the autistic people they work with, in more effective ways.

We would love to hear from you if you are dynamic, innovative and able to forge excellent working relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:
**Four main hospitals**: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;
**Seven community hospitals**: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;
48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;
Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;
Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these mínimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 22.08.2023