School & Parent Therapist - Leeds Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre

Job responsibilities

Client group

The focus will be on referrals from identified priority groups (including; Looked After Children, poor attendees, vulnerable boys, those experiencing bullying, young carers, those affected by loss / bereavement / parental separation, children who are anxious/depressed, those displaying behaviour management problems/conduct disorder, those experiencing deprivation, asylum seekers, refugees, etc.)

Referral criteria will be agreed with the SILC to ensure interventions are prioritised to meet the needs of the service. It is envisaged that the referrals will be for pupils as well as for parents/carers. The therapist will be able to refer/signpost to other local and citywide services.

Caseload:

The caseload will be dependent on a number of factors. It is envisaged that a therapist working 5 days (35 hours) would normally hold a caseload of 17/18 clients who are seen weekly. The exact size of the caseload may vary and will be dependent on the nature of the work, client needs and other factors including the number of venues, travel time and room availability.

The duties and responsibilities of the post will include:

• Delivery of the therapeutic service in the SILC, working with colleagues to promote the service, liaising with school staff and other stakeholders.

• Building and maintaining good, effective working relationships with management teams and pastoral staff in the schools and venues.

• Liaising with SILC Cluster and school staff on referrals, assessing and determining the need for intervention with children and families referred.

• Holding a caseload of children and young people (aged 5 to 19) and parents/carers at any one time.

• Holding a caseload of referrals and gathering information to allow accurate assessment and formulation of emotional and mental health needs for children and young people.

• Delivery of short-term (normally 6 to 12 sessions) evidence-based individual interventions in various school settings to pupils and families who are referred through the Cluster, and where consent and motivation criteria are met.

• Delivery of group interventions where appropriate.

• With a developed understanding of local services, assisting the cluster team to establish the most appropriate cluster practitioner to work with specific referrals or provide supporting information for onward referrals into specific CAMHS pathways.

• Offering consultation and advice to school staff, cluster and other professionals as and when appropriate.

• Working peripatetically across schools in the SILC cluster.

• Providing clinical support, guidance and input to school and cluster-based staff.

• Attending/contributing to referral and planning meetings with school and other staff.

• Taking a proactive approach to ensuring safeguarding concerns are raised appropriately, and contributing to EHCP/safeguarding processes.

• Ensuring that all records are kept confidentially in line with Northpoint’s procedures.

• Working with other professionals to ensure therapeutic input is appropriate to the needs of the client group, and that all therapeutic services follow the evidence base.

• Communicating with parents/families in line with Northpoint guidance.

• Any other duties as required by the evolving nature of the project (primarily keeping integrated case management information in line with other project members, undertaking relevant assessments, completing monitoring and evaluation reports, attending team meetings and other forums).

Qualifications

Essential

• A relevant professional* qualification OR a relevant therapeutic** qualification.
• * A relevant professional qualification would include nursing, occupational therapy, social work or a similar allied health profession.
• ** A relevant therapeutic qualification would include a diploma from a BACP-accredited training (or equivalent***) OR a relevant HCPC-registered title (i.e. art therapist, arts psychotherapist, drama therapist, counselling psychologist, clinical psychologist).
• *** NB Equivalent therapy qualifications from non-accredited courses should be of a level that would be recognised for professional accreditation purposes and sufficient to practise as a counsellor/therapist (i.e. minimum of 450 taught hours over at least 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, supervised practice within a therapeutic organisation, with teaching which covered elements of theory, skills practice, professional issues and personal development).

Desirable

• Post-registration training in relevant evidence-based/NICE guideline-indicated mental health interventions (e.g. CBT, brief family work, group work)

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of one years post-qualification experience of working with children and young people with emotional/behavioural issues
• Experience of working collaboratively with children and young people across different age groups with a range of presenting mental health difficulties
• Experience in the delivery of short-term supportive approaches (e.g. CBT, brief solution-focused therapy, family work, creative/play interventions etc)
• Experience of demonstrating outcomes in client work, and in using monitoring, evaluation, and wellbeing measurement systems (e.g. Goodmans SDQ)
• Experience in carrying out comprehensive mental health assessments including assessment of risk, analysis of strengths and protective factors
• Experience in assessing child protection concerns and the ability to act on these in accordance with relevant safeguarding procedures

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of specialist schools/SILCs
• Experience of working with children with learning disabilities, complex needs and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and ADHD
• Experience of delivering training
• Experience of organising and delivering groups

Other

Desirable

• Car driver with clean driving license and access to own vehicle

Professional Registration / Membership

Essential

• Registration/membership with a relevant professional body (e.g. NMC/GSCC/HCPC/UKCP-registered, BACP membership)
• OR
• the relevant qualifications, experience and willingness to achieve registration/membership with a relevant professional body within 12 months

Desirable

• Accreditation with a professional body (e.g. BACP-accredited)

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to provide advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals on matters of childrens mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Ability to work positively and inclusively with families while retaining the confidentiality and privacy of young people
• Ability to participate in a multi-agency approach around matters of importance to childrens wellbeing (e.g. NHS, social services and other universal services)
• Ability to write positive and professional reports and letters (e.g. referral letters, discharge summaries)
• Knowledge of initiatives, priorities and agendas facing staff working in schools and childrens services, such as CAF/Early Help Initiative, Children & Young Peoples Plan, Child Protection Plan etc

Desirable

• Fluent in languages other than English
• Knowledge of the Leeds area and local services including CAMHS, children and family services, and other relevant agencies

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).