Job summary
The post holder will provide a specialist service within CAMHS to young people with learning disabilities and their families. This is a community-based post, located within the Learning Disabilities Pathway in Brent CAMHS offering flexible, evidence-based episodes of care, assessments and treatments within a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework, the main aim of which will be to enhance the quality of life of the children and their families, and reduce challenging behaviour. The post holder will directly contribute to the positive working environment within the multi-disciplinary team and will be required to deliver assessments and interventions in Brent. The post holder will also deliver training to other professionals and agencies as relevant.
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
To find out more about working in CAMHS please CLICK HERE for one of our CAMHS video
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide specialist assessments and interventions to children and young people. This will involve undertaking direct assessment and intervention with the client and indirect assessment, monitoring and intervention with staff and/or carers. Intervention will include working across a variety of settings, including home, school and short break services and will involve working with the multi-disciplinary team. The post holder will work autonomously alongside clients, families, support workers and professionals to enable others to better understand and respond to behaviours that are challenging.
The post holder will require a high degree of professional autonomy and self-management and will be required to account for their professional practice through supervision, appraisal and audit.
About us
The CAMHS LD team provides specialist mental health services for children with learning disabilities and their families. Hillingdon CAMHS is based at Minet Clinic, Hayes. The team is well established and is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians. We aim to provide an accessible, flexible and responsive local service for patients and professionals working with children in the area using the whole range of therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, systemic and family therapies, psychotherapy, psychoeducation and therapy groups and multi-family work. Hillingdon CAMHS consists of five main sub-teams: Emotional Disorders Team; Neurodevelopmental Team; Enhanced Treatment Team; Learning Disabilities (LD-CAMHS), and; Multi-Agency Psychology Service (MAPS; for children looked after). The post holder may be required to travel to other parts of the catchment area and / or wider service and trust as necessary, including working within the community (e.g. schools). The service operates Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17:00 with some flexibility to work extended hours to meet service need.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide comprehensive specialist assessments, including risk assessment of children, young people and their families/carers referred with moderate, complex and severe mental health problems/ behaviours that challenge others using the PBS framework.
- To use a range of assessment techniques including observations, standard measures and questionnaires, direct work and interviews with parents and professionals in order to collate information required to complete a functional analysis assessment.
- To formulate and to be responsible for implementing in partnership with other agencies working with the child/young person a positive behaviour plan/ intervention.
- To communicate in a sensitive manner assessment outcomes/ PBS formulations and positive behaviour support plans.
- To co-ordinate and run psycho-educational and therapeutic groups using the PBS framework with support from the assistant psychologist/team lead.
- To evaluate the implementation and impact of the intervention.
- To write confidential behavioural support plans, reports for case conferences, and education that may have wide ranging implications for children, young people and their families.
- To be available to carry out urgent assessments. Assessments and interventions will be conducted in school settings, clinic settings, patients home and the community.
- To undertake other psychological and/or diagnostic assessments (i.e. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2, or cognitive assessments) and interventions if required and appropriate.
- To provide consultation and appropriate training to other professionals working with the children referred to the service in order to ensure implementation of behavioural support plans and PBS skills.
- To attend PBS training and to deliver relevant training to families and other agencies in order to support and ensure the implementation of PBS.
- To liaise with and where appropriate participate in joint work with other members of the Learning Disabilities Pathway in Hillingdon CAMHS Learning Disabilities team.
- To act as care coordinator for an identified caseload and to be responsible for the coordination of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of therapeutic packages of care provided by the multidisciplinary team.
- To act as care coordinator in accordance with CPA guidelines within the CAMHS community setting.
- To ensure that the needs of the client group is paramount and be aware of and adhere to NICE Guidelines relating to Child Protection.
- To ensure acceptable levels of safety (regarding potential verbal and physical aggression from disturbed clients) for self and to advise other colleagues when necessary. To adhere to the lone worker policy and update training in breakaway techniques when necessary.
- To maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with service standards and to record and maintain patient data in local database systems (System 1) and the trust wide electronic database.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide comprehensive specialist assessments, including risk assessment of children, young people and their families/carers referred with moderate, complex and severe mental health problems/ behaviours that challenge others using the PBS framework.
- To use a range of assessment techniques including observations, standard measures and questionnaires, direct work and interviews with parents and professionals in order to collate information required to complete a functional analysis assessment.
- To formulate and to be responsible for implementing in partnership with other agencies working with the child/young person a positive behaviour plan/ intervention.
- To communicate in a sensitive manner assessment outcomes/ PBS formulations and positive behaviour support plans.
- To co-ordinate and run psycho-educational and therapeutic groups using the PBS framework with support from the assistant psychologist/team lead.
- To evaluate the implementation and impact of the intervention.
- To write confidential behavioural support plans, reports for case conferences, and education that may have wide ranging implications for children, young people and their families.
- To be available to carry out urgent assessments. Assessments and interventions will be conducted in school settings, clinic settings, patients home and the community.
- To undertake other psychological and/or diagnostic assessments (i.e. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2, or cognitive assessments) and interventions if required and appropriate.
- To provide consultation and appropriate training to other professionals working with the children referred to the service in order to ensure implementation of behavioural support plans and PBS skills.
- To attend PBS training and to deliver relevant training to families and other agencies in order to support and ensure the implementation of PBS.
- To liaise with and where appropriate participate in joint work with other members of the Learning Disabilities Pathway in Hillingdon CAMHS Learning Disabilities team.
- To act as care coordinator for an identified caseload and to be responsible for the coordination of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of therapeutic packages of care provided by the multidisciplinary team.
- To act as care coordinator in accordance with CPA guidelines within the CAMHS community setting.
- To ensure that the needs of the client group is paramount and be aware of and adhere to NICE Guidelines relating to Child Protection.
- To ensure acceptable levels of safety (regarding potential verbal and physical aggression from disturbed clients) for self and to advise other colleagues when necessary. To adhere to the lone worker policy and update training in breakaway techniques when necessary.
- To maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with service standards and to record and maintain patient data in local database systems (System 1) and the trust wide electronic database.
Person Specification
Education, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse in Learning Disabilities
- Post graduate training in autism and Challenging behaviour (e.g. ABA diploma, IABA extended course, post grad certificate in autism, MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)
- Registration with HCPC
- Bachelor/Post-graduate Diploma/ MSc in Speech & Language Therapy with registration with HCPC and membership of RCSLT
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in CAMHS Or experience in Adult Services for Autism/ Learning Disability with clear evidence of transferrable skills
- Experience of group-work
- Experience of working with a wide range of learning disabilities and mental health problems
- Experience of care planning
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse Inner-city area
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary way
- Experience in crisis work
Desirable
- Specific experience in LD and ASD assessment and treatment protocols
- Experience in assessment and interventions using the PBS framework/ Applied Behavioural Analysis
- Training in diagnostic assessments (i.e. ADOS2 and/or 3DI)
- Experience of specialist assessments and treatments for LD/ ASD and behaviours that challenge
- Experience in delivering interventions in patients' homes
- Experience of supervising others.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of well developed clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS
- Specialist clinical skills for the assessment and treatment of Mental health in Learning Disabilities and ASD
- Skilled in emergency and crisis assessments
- Able to manage own time and caseload
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
- Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres
- Ability to work virtually using trust approved virtual meeting platforms.
- Computer skills, including Excel
Desirable
- Specific trainings in LD and ASD assessment and treatment protocols
Knowledge
Essential
- A developed knowledge of LD and ASD as well as issues related to assessment and interventions for this population
- Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of CAMHS
- Knowledge of legislation and its implication for clinical practice in relation to children, young people and their families
- Knowledge of specific inner-city issues which impact of care delivery
- An awareness of different research methods
- A working knowledge of Child Protection Guidelines
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals, in accordance with professional ethics guidelines and Trust policies
- Understanding of equality of opportunity and related policies and procedures
- Proven qualities in sustaining the mental, emotional and physical demands of specialized therapeutic work with disturbed and distressed children, adolescents and their families/carer networks.
- Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial period of working time and to travel within community (Brent)
- Respectful approach to children/ adolescents and their families, colleagues and other agencies.
Person Specification
Education, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse in Learning Disabilities
- Post graduate training in autism and Challenging behaviour (e.g. ABA diploma, IABA extended course, post grad certificate in autism, MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)
- Registration with HCPC
- Bachelor/Post-graduate Diploma/ MSc in Speech & Language Therapy with registration with HCPC and membership of RCSLT
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in CAMHS Or experience in Adult Services for Autism/ Learning Disability with clear evidence of transferrable skills
- Experience of group-work
- Experience of working with a wide range of learning disabilities and mental health problems
- Experience of care planning
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse Inner-city area
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary way
- Experience in crisis work
Desirable
- Specific experience in LD and ASD assessment and treatment protocols
- Experience in assessment and interventions using the PBS framework/ Applied Behavioural Analysis
- Training in diagnostic assessments (i.e. ADOS2 and/or 3DI)
- Experience of specialist assessments and treatments for LD/ ASD and behaviours that challenge
- Experience in delivering interventions in patients' homes
- Experience of supervising others.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of well developed clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS
- Specialist clinical skills for the assessment and treatment of Mental health in Learning Disabilities and ASD
- Skilled in emergency and crisis assessments
- Able to manage own time and caseload
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
- Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres
- Ability to work virtually using trust approved virtual meeting platforms.
- Computer skills, including Excel
Desirable
- Specific trainings in LD and ASD assessment and treatment protocols
Knowledge
Essential
- A developed knowledge of LD and ASD as well as issues related to assessment and interventions for this population
- Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of CAMHS
- Knowledge of legislation and its implication for clinical practice in relation to children, young people and their families
- Knowledge of specific inner-city issues which impact of care delivery
- An awareness of different research methods
- A working knowledge of Child Protection Guidelines
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals, in accordance with professional ethics guidelines and Trust policies
- Understanding of equality of opportunity and related policies and procedures
- Proven qualities in sustaining the mental, emotional and physical demands of specialized therapeutic work with disturbed and distressed children, adolescents and their families/carer networks.
- Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial period of working time and to travel within community (Brent)
- Respectful approach to children/ adolescents and their families, colleagues and other agencies.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
