Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to become a team leader within the social communication pathway in Manchester. You will be be part of a multi-agency team, working alongside occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, paediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists and CAMHS colleagues in an innovative service to improve the diagnostic and assessment experience for autistic children and their families. The post holder will lead the Social Communication Pathway in Central Manchester.
You will lead a team of experienced and passionate diagnostic clinicians. You will support colleagues with autism assessment by carrying out observations and assessments in your specialist area of mental health. The post-holder duties will also include contributing to multi-agency liaison. The pathway was originally co-produced with Manchester families and the post-holder will be expected to be part of the ongoing co-production of autism services in Manchester.
MFT CAMHS has been graded 'Outstanding' by CQC. This citywide autism assessment team operates across Manchester, this post being based with the team covering the central Manchester area. Each team is committed to providing innovative, quality care to children and young people and their families and the new team will join part of a lively, engaging 'Autism Hub' within the city.
Main duties of the job
You will join a multi-disciplinary senior leadership team to lead a team of dedicated diagnostic clinicians, and contribute to service development and innovation. You will manage day to day running of the central social communication pathway team, screen referrals, providing supervision and allocate work.
You will lead on supporting colleagues to provide specialist autism assessments for children and adolescents referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources including developmental history, school observations, specialist assessments, self report measures, direct and indirect observation and interviews with young people, family members and/or carers.
You will link with local CAMHS teams and other agencies and contribute to the ongoing CPD of colleagues.
About us
MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of £2.6bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.
Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.
We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.
We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.
At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you will need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
So that you are even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you are invited to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you will need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you will need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
So that you are even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you are invited to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you will need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- You must have a recognised qualification. Recognised qualifications are: Doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the BPS. Registered Nursing: RMN/RSCN/RNMH. Social Work (CQSW/DipSW)
Desirable
- Post-doctoral/qualification training course in an area of specialist practice
- Certificate in supervision skills.
- ADOS-2 trained.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working as a specialist clinician in CAMHS.
- Experience in assessment of social communication/ neurodevelopmental difficulties
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment independently and within a multidisciplinary and multiagency context.
- Experience of consulting with health care and other professionals and working within multidisciplinary teams
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
- Significant experience of working with children and young people with autism and social communication difficulties.
- Proven experience of working effectively with people with mental health difficulties, including autonomous management of a complex caseload which frequently deals with distressing and emotional circumstances.
- Experience of liaison and working with a range of other relevant agencies and professionals, including managing difficult conversations and differences of opinion.
- Experience in designing, planning and undertaking clinical research and service evaluation.
Desirable
- Experience in working in developing services.
- Experience of the application of psychological approaches in different cultural contexts.
- Experience in working in developing services.
- Experience of mentoring and supervision of others, including supporting the mental health and wellbeing of junior staff and trainees.
Knowledge, Skills, and Ability
Essential
- Knowledge of legislation and national guidance in relation to the needs of children and young people.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention, and management in work with children and families.
- Ability to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice and service provision.
- Ability to represent psychological perspectives within the context of multidisciplinary care.
- Ability to work with people from different backgrounds, cultures and of different ages.
- Demonstrate sensitivity in all contact with disadvantaged groups.
- Excellent skills in communicating with children, parents and colleagues.
- Ability to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
- To be able to provide feedback and constructive guidance to junior members of the team and trainees to facilitate their personal and professional development.
- The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance.
- To have the ability to manage own caseload and act as lead practitioner.
- Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures
- Ability to manage and organise own time and diary, and work flexibly and creatively in a clinical context and pressurised situations.
- The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of professional systems involved in work with children.
- Experience of delivering training.
- Experience of audit and research.
- Delivery of group work and workshops.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- A commitment to undertake further relevant training and self-directed study
- Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
- A commitment to the inclusion of young people's, parent/carer views in service delivery, development, and design.
- Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance, and the ongoing development of the service.
Registration/ Accreditation
Essential
- You must be registered/accredited with a professional body, e.g. NMC, SW England, UKCP, HCPC, BACP
Work related circumstances
Essential
- Ability to travel across the MFT footprint.
- Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- You must have a recognised qualification. Recognised qualifications are: Doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the BPS. Registered Nursing: RMN/RSCN/RNMH. Social Work (CQSW/DipSW)
Desirable
- Post-doctoral/qualification training course in an area of specialist practice
- Certificate in supervision skills.
- ADOS-2 trained.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working as a specialist clinician in CAMHS.
- Experience in assessment of social communication/ neurodevelopmental difficulties
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment independently and within a multidisciplinary and multiagency context.
- Experience of consulting with health care and other professionals and working within multidisciplinary teams
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
- Significant experience of working with children and young people with autism and social communication difficulties.
- Proven experience of working effectively with people with mental health difficulties, including autonomous management of a complex caseload which frequently deals with distressing and emotional circumstances.
- Experience of liaison and working with a range of other relevant agencies and professionals, including managing difficult conversations and differences of opinion.
- Experience in designing, planning and undertaking clinical research and service evaluation.
Desirable
- Experience in working in developing services.
- Experience of the application of psychological approaches in different cultural contexts.
- Experience in working in developing services.
- Experience of mentoring and supervision of others, including supporting the mental health and wellbeing of junior staff and trainees.
Knowledge, Skills, and Ability
Essential
- Knowledge of legislation and national guidance in relation to the needs of children and young people.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention, and management in work with children and families.
- Ability to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice and service provision.
- Ability to represent psychological perspectives within the context of multidisciplinary care.
- Ability to work with people from different backgrounds, cultures and of different ages.
- Demonstrate sensitivity in all contact with disadvantaged groups.
- Excellent skills in communicating with children, parents and colleagues.
- Ability to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
- To be able to provide feedback and constructive guidance to junior members of the team and trainees to facilitate their personal and professional development.
- The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance.
- To have the ability to manage own caseload and act as lead practitioner.
- Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures
- Ability to manage and organise own time and diary, and work flexibly and creatively in a clinical context and pressurised situations.
- The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of professional systems involved in work with children.
- Experience of delivering training.
- Experience of audit and research.
- Delivery of group work and workshops.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- A commitment to undertake further relevant training and self-directed study
- Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
- A commitment to the inclusion of young people's, parent/carer views in service delivery, development, and design.
- Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance, and the ongoing development of the service.
Registration/ Accreditation
Essential
- You must be registered/accredited with a professional body, e.g. NMC, SW England, UKCP, HCPC, BACP
Work related circumstances
Essential
- Ability to travel across the MFT footprint.
- Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.
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
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).
