Children & Young Person Specialist Practitioner CFS/ME

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of C&YP in your care. To ensure high standards of clinical care for the C&YP under your management and support others to do likewise.

2. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form an accurate clinical opinion (including prognosis) in ME/CFS, some highly complex/severely affected, to recommend the best course of intervention and to develop comprehensive management strategies for the C&YP's presenting condition.

3. To undertake comprehensive assessment of C&YP, including those with complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care.

4. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of C&YP and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

5. Ensure the implementation of ME/CFS service policies and any service development changes.

6. To be involved in the development of the C&YP ME/CFS pathway and service specification.

7. To provide spontaneous and planned specialist C&YP advice, teaching, and instruction to relatives, carers and other professions to promote understanding of the aims of treatment in ME/CFS and to ensure a consistent approach to care.

8. To communicate effectively with C&YP and carers to maximise the potential for improvement of symptoms and to ensure understanding of the condition.

9. To be able to work with children of all ages and abilities (including those with learning difficulties, neurodiverse, challenging behaviour, sensory loss etc) so that they can be involved in assessment and treatment decisions as appropriate.

10. Communicate effectively with all members of the MDT, GPs, consultants, health and social care professionals, schools and education establishments and other related statutory, private and voluntary organisations professions to ensure a collaborative approach to the management of the C&YP's condition.

11. To respect the views and wishes of C&YP and their carers within organisation constraints.

12. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within the legal framework with C&YP who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

Professional

1. To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work and to be an active member of the in-service training programme by the attendance, facilitation and presentation at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, external courses and reflective practice.

2. To keep up to date with developments within your field, disseminate information, and ensure that practice is based on best available evidence.

3. Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.

4. To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with MDT colleagues across health and social care economy to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated service.

5. Identify objectives for personal development together with ME/CFS Team Lead.

6. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Programme (PDP).

7. Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and the services current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice projects, audit and outcome measures, and lead others in doing so. Make recommendations for and lead change.

8. Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation, and ensure others do likewise.

Organisational

1. Responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed with ME/CFS Team Lead.

2. Plan and organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and use of time.

3. Decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands, and ensure that these remain in accordance with those of the section as a whole.

4. Be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.

5. Be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including the prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment used is safe.

6. To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

7. Any other duties which might be considered appropriate by the ME/CFS Team Lead.

All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these as an essential part of their job role.

Our Values outline the core behaviours that we can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word CARE. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.

Underpinning our Values are our Signature Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a strong culture. Our four Signature Behaviours are: Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Nursing, or Social Work
• To have current professional registration (e.g. HCPC)

Desirable

• Membership of professional body
• Relevant validated clinical courses
• Practice Placement Supervisor

Experience

Essential

• Significant post graduate experience of working with C&YP and families
• Working with people with long term health conditions
• Leading groups or teaching sessions
• Working in a broad multidisciplinary team/cross organisational working
• Service development

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with ME/CFS or people experiencing fatigue
• Experience of working with people with neurodiverse needs
• Experience of working with schools and local authorities
• Understanding of special education provision documentation
• Leading on service development projects

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of ME/CFS
• Ability to work independently without supervision and to take responsibility for caseload
• Ability to manage complex problems using wide knowledge and experience
• Ability to use communication skills effectively both verbally and in writing formal reports for outside agencies and legal reports
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Evidence of insight into developing self and service
• Ability to pass on skills / knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments.
• Ability to manage conflict or challenging situations
• Ability to manage own stress and work in a stressful and unpredictable environment
• Good IT skills

Desirable

• Research and audit skills
• Demonstrate leadership ability

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• High levels of personal credibility, presentation and self-awareness
• Ability to work effectively in an environment with competing demands
• Excellent standard of attention to detail
• High standards of personal integrity and ability to assess and provide impartial advice and decisions
• Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:
• (Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together).
• Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required.

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.

UK Registration

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