Job summary
The Islington and Camden Keyworker Service is a member of the Transforming Care LD and ASD Support Service across North Central London (NCL). The Keyworker Service provides coordination and direct support to children with learning disabilities and/or autism, who also have mental health needs and/or behaviours that challenge. This project uses intensive, direct interventions with the aim of supporting children and young people with neurodiversity to remain living at home, in the community; preventing avoidable admissions to inpatient mental health services and/or 52-week residential placements; and to reduce the length of inpatient admissions, supporting early discharges.
Main duties of the job
This role will provide high quality support to the children and young people and their families/carers (predominantly in their homes), working as part of a team to help unblock the system, provide a bridge across different parts of the system including health, education and social care, and be a key point of contact for families/carers. You will hold a small caseload of children, young people and their families; you will work both independently and in partnership with professionals across the network; providing direct, intensive, clinical support for families/carers. The role will work across various settings, including in homes, schools and in the local community.
You will be part of a large and diverse multi-disciplinary team, with colleagues from both health and social care. You will benefit from high level, expert support and supervision, including line-management, individual clinical supervision and weekly reflective groups. You will receive multiple, specialist training opportunities including PBS - positive behaviour support, MI - motivational interviewing and NVR - non-violent resistant NVR.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trustbelieves that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical:
- To be a key point of contact for families/carers allocated to you, identifying gaps in their support and enabling the system to work together to bridge those gaps
- Where required and with support, provide high quality, direct support to the children and young people with complex needs and their families/carers when they need it most
- To work closely with inpatient settings, local CAMHS providers (including crisis teams), social care and education to ensure that the system is working in a coordinated and joined up way for the young person and their family/carer, helping to reduce any blockages to accessing that support
- With support and training, to facilitate the provision and implementation of tailored behavioural and emotional support to help a child or young person and their families/carers develop skills for progress and self-management to meet their agreed goals and outcomes
- Communicate clearly with the child, young person and their family/carer to help them understand and navigate the system
- To work within and contribute to risk assessments for the young people you work with
- To ensure children and young people you support are enabled to make choices, develop their independence skills and access a range of positive activities both in the centre and in the community
- To safeguard the well-being of the children and young people in your care through effective support, proactive behavioural strategies and individualised risk assessments; to respond to and report any concerns about the welfare of a child promptly in line with local guidance on safeguarding children
- To improve outcomes for children and young people with complex needs and their families/carers, including those with mental health needs, through effective family/carer interventions, which will improve communication, reduce behaviours that challenge and support them to maximise their potential
- To develop and sustain effective, positive working relationships with children, young people, parents/carers, the management team and the professional network as part of a wraparound approach to supporting families/carers
- To increase the resilience of the network through psychoeducation, putting the child at the centre, supporting the network to increase confidence and reduce reliance on services
- With support, to represent the service at meetings, including Care Education and Treatment Reviews (CETRs) Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings, as well as Child in Need (CIN) meetings, Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups, Looked-After Child (LAC) Reviews, and Education, Health and Care (EHC) Annual Reviews, as appropriate
- To use a holistic approach based on health and social work assessments and the outcomes identified through the team around the child or in the education, health and social care plans
- General
- To prioritise and utilise regular one-to-one and group supervision to develop and reflect on own practice, share knowledge and expertise to enhance service delivery, and improve outcomes for families/carers.
- To communicate professionally with team members, providers of health and social care, education and other support services for the child or young person and their family/carer.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with Service and Trust policies and procedures, GDPR and other legislation.
- To adhere to the Code of Conduct of the relevant professional body, such as Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) or Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as appropriate/relevant.
- To ensure the development and maintenance of the highest personal standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders line-manger and supervision, and in-line with appraisal targets.
- To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues of relevance to the service and client group.
- To work flexibly to suit the needs of children and young people with complex needs and their families/carers; this may include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends as required.
- To consistently manage your own time, planning your work in advance and using appropriate systems to maximise your effectiveness.
- To undertake such other duties and responsibilities, appropriate to the grade of the post, as may be agreed with the service managers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical:
- To be a key point of contact for families/carers allocated to you, identifying gaps in their support and enabling the system to work together to bridge those gaps
- Where required and with support, provide high quality, direct support to the children and young people with complex needs and their families/carers when they need it most
- To work closely with inpatient settings, local CAMHS providers (including crisis teams), social care and education to ensure that the system is working in a coordinated and joined up way for the young person and their family/carer, helping to reduce any blockages to accessing that support
- With support and training, to facilitate the provision and implementation of tailored behavioural and emotional support to help a child or young person and their families/carers develop skills for progress and self-management to meet their agreed goals and outcomes
- Communicate clearly with the child, young person and their family/carer to help them understand and navigate the system
- To work within and contribute to risk assessments for the young people you work with
- To ensure children and young people you support are enabled to make choices, develop their independence skills and access a range of positive activities both in the centre and in the community
- To safeguard the well-being of the children and young people in your care through effective support, proactive behavioural strategies and individualised risk assessments; to respond to and report any concerns about the welfare of a child promptly in line with local guidance on safeguarding children
- To improve outcomes for children and young people with complex needs and their families/carers, including those with mental health needs, through effective family/carer interventions, which will improve communication, reduce behaviours that challenge and support them to maximise their potential
- To develop and sustain effective, positive working relationships with children, young people, parents/carers, the management team and the professional network as part of a wraparound approach to supporting families/carers
- To increase the resilience of the network through psychoeducation, putting the child at the centre, supporting the network to increase confidence and reduce reliance on services
- With support, to represent the service at meetings, including Care Education and Treatment Reviews (CETRs) Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings, as well as Child in Need (CIN) meetings, Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups, Looked-After Child (LAC) Reviews, and Education, Health and Care (EHC) Annual Reviews, as appropriate
- To use a holistic approach based on health and social work assessments and the outcomes identified through the team around the child or in the education, health and social care plans
- General
- To prioritise and utilise regular one-to-one and group supervision to develop and reflect on own practice, share knowledge and expertise to enhance service delivery, and improve outcomes for families/carers.
- To communicate professionally with team members, providers of health and social care, education and other support services for the child or young person and their family/carer.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with Service and Trust policies and procedures, GDPR and other legislation.
- To adhere to the Code of Conduct of the relevant professional body, such as Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) or Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as appropriate/relevant.
- To ensure the development and maintenance of the highest personal standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders line-manger and supervision, and in-line with appraisal targets.
- To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues of relevance to the service and client group.
- To work flexibly to suit the needs of children and young people with complex needs and their families/carers; this may include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends as required.
- To consistently manage your own time, planning your work in advance and using appropriate systems to maximise your effectiveness.
- To undertake such other duties and responsibilities, appropriate to the grade of the post, as may be agreed with the service managers.
Person Specification
Training + Qualifications
Essential
- Experience of working as an assistant psychologist, therapeutic/community worker, or SEN staff, with professional qualification at NVQ/HNC level 3 or equivalent
Desirable
- Clinical Trainings relevant to the post ie: PBS, NVR, Motivational Interviewing
Experience + Skills
Essential
- Experience of working direct care NHS, Education or Social Care setting
- Experience of direct work with children, young people or adults with neurodiversity and/or learning difficulties.
- Skills in engaging, communicating and consulting with children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism and their families/carers
- Understanding of the elements of effective engagement and ability to apply these to working practice.
- Experience of providing structured support, delivering positive activities and ensuring the achievement of agreed individual outcomes.
- Ability to deliver good outcomes for children and young people and their families/carers, working within planned interventions agreed by the professional network.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a mental health setting and/or working with mental health difficulties and presentations.
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse area.
- Experience of working in non-clinic settings
- Experience of working with children, young people or adults who are in crisis, with associated health, education and care needs.
- Experience of supporting positive, planned risk-taking that promotes developmental growth, cyp's rights to community access.
Knowledge
Essential
- An awareness of the risks associated with neurodevelopmental differences and social, emotional and mental health needs, with the ability to use this knowledge to safeguard the children and young people in your care; to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons in your care, respond to and report any concerns about the welfare of a child promptly in line with local guidance on safeguarding children.
- Some knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, government policy and research in relation to children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
Desirable
- Knowledge of child development, autism, learning disabilities, attachment and trauma, and of personalised and coproduced care planning
Other
Essential
- The ability to work flexibly and responsively to provide support when children, young people, families/carers need it most.
- Ability to manage your time effectively.
- Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively to young people, their families, carers and other professional colleagues
- Ability to form good working relationships and work flexibly with colleagues in team settings.
- Ability to form good working relationships with families from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Excellent skills in verbal and written communication
- Ability and willingness to use reflective practice in supervision and actively engage in developmental opportunities to maximise your own professional competence.
- Good IT skills and ability to use electronic patient notes systems (Rio), email etc
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to multidisciplinary team meetings
- Experience of User Involvement and utilising this for the benefit of the service
Person Specification
Training + Qualifications
Essential
- Experience of working as an assistant psychologist, therapeutic/community worker, or SEN staff, with professional qualification at NVQ/HNC level 3 or equivalent
Desirable
- Clinical Trainings relevant to the post ie: PBS, NVR, Motivational Interviewing
Experience + Skills
Essential
- Experience of working direct care NHS, Education or Social Care setting
- Experience of direct work with children, young people or adults with neurodiversity and/or learning difficulties.
- Skills in engaging, communicating and consulting with children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism and their families/carers
- Understanding of the elements of effective engagement and ability to apply these to working practice.
- Experience of providing structured support, delivering positive activities and ensuring the achievement of agreed individual outcomes.
- Ability to deliver good outcomes for children and young people and their families/carers, working within planned interventions agreed by the professional network.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a mental health setting and/or working with mental health difficulties and presentations.
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse area.
- Experience of working in non-clinic settings
- Experience of working with children, young people or adults who are in crisis, with associated health, education and care needs.
- Experience of supporting positive, planned risk-taking that promotes developmental growth, cyp's rights to community access.
Knowledge
Essential
- An awareness of the risks associated with neurodevelopmental differences and social, emotional and mental health needs, with the ability to use this knowledge to safeguard the children and young people in your care; to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons in your care, respond to and report any concerns about the welfare of a child promptly in line with local guidance on safeguarding children.
- Some knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, government policy and research in relation to children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
Desirable
- Knowledge of child development, autism, learning disabilities, attachment and trauma, and of personalised and coproduced care planning
Other
Essential
- The ability to work flexibly and responsively to provide support when children, young people, families/carers need it most.
- Ability to manage your time effectively.
- Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively to young people, their families, carers and other professional colleagues
- Ability to form good working relationships and work flexibly with colleagues in team settings.
- Ability to form good working relationships with families from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Excellent skills in verbal and written communication
- Ability and willingness to use reflective practice in supervision and actively engage in developmental opportunities to maximise your own professional competence.
- Good IT skills and ability to use electronic patient notes systems (Rio), email etc
Desirable
- Experience of contributing to multidisciplinary team meetings
- Experience of User Involvement and utilising this for the benefit of the service
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.
