This is a very rare opportunity to work within this specialist service. Although small, the Community Adult Asperger's Service (CAAS) is comprised of a supportive and eclectic team of professionals who really do care about the client group as well as each other. Retention of team members has been consistently high since the inception of the service back in 2010. The post would suit a newly qualified or recently qualified clinical psychologist, or a more experienced psychologist wishing to gain specialist assessment skills with adults referred to CAAS. Given that it is a part-time post, it would also sit well alongside a role within another service within DHFT.

This post is ideal for a motivated and passionate clinician who either has, or is, developing a specialist interest in neurodevelopmental difference, and a respect for how important Autism assessments can be to underpin wider clinical formulations of need as well as gaining access to the right specialist support e.g. in an educational or work setting.

The post will involve completing high quality, NICE compliant assessments for Autism. The service also runs post-diagnostic groups for newly diagnosed people who are on the spectrum, so that they can learn about their diagnosis and how it affects them uniquely as individuals. Clinicians within the team include other Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists (who provide very specialist sensory assessment and treatment as well as functional assessment, vocational support and dyspraxia assessment), a Nurse Specialist, Assistant Psychologists, and a highly skilled Team Assistant and Administrative Assistants.

The post is part time,15 hours per week.

CAAS is a Primary Care Service but works closely with other secondary, tertiary and specialist care providers throughout Dorset, offering weekly specialist consultation to a range of professionals who are also working with adults who are on the Autism Spectrum.

This would be an excellent opportunity to gain specialist Autism assessment skills as well as developing a knowledge base of how Autism can affect other areas of mental health need and how therapy can be adapted to suit each person's unique profile.

Dorset HealthCare is the first mental health trust providing community services in the South to be given an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – and one of only a small handful nationally.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.

Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

A car is essential for working in this service, which covers the whole of Dorset, although currently, due to covid, a significant amount of our work is completed remotely.

For further details / informal visits contact:

Name: Adrian Edwards

Job title: Deputy Clinical Lead

Email address: adrian.edwards2@nhs.net

Telephone number: 01202 605875

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

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