Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic and creative Behaviour Support Practitioner to come and work in the socially and ethnically diverse borough of Newham. The successful applicant will have expertise in working with children and young people with learning disability, autism or both, and in behavioural approaches, including Positive Behaviour Support.
This post is part of a comprehensive Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, within the East London NHS Foundation Trust. This is a community based post in Newham CAMHS. The post holder will be part of a Monday - Friday, 0900-1700 intensive support service within the Neurodevelopmental Team (NDT). The post holder will be expected to conduct specialist behavioural assessments and offer evidenced based clinical interventions to children and young people with autism, learning disability or both, who are at risk of admission to hospital or home placement breakdown.
The post holder would directly contribute to and support a positive working environment with the Multidisciplinary team. This is a community-based post, which also requires a high degree of professional autonomy and self-management. The post holder will be supervised by a senior colleague within the team. There is a strong commitment to clinical supervision and professional development within CAMHS and the wider NHS Foundation Trust including many learning and teaching opportunities.
Main duties of the job
Newham CAMHS is a large and vibrant specialist child and adolescent mental health service with a reputation for innovation and flexibility in meeting the complex mental health support needs of Newham's children, young people and families. It is centrally located on one site in Plaistow, Newham, and provides an extensive and growing range of services including multi-disciplinary specialist teams such as the Emotional & Behavioural Teams, Adolescent Mental Health Team, Paediatric Liaison Team, Neurodevelopmental Team, and Mental Health in Schools Team. There is a broad spectrum of disciplines (approximately 150 whole time equivalent clinical staff) and a long tradition of effective multidisciplinary and interagency working. The service undertakes considerable outreach and consultation work and training.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide applied behavioural assessments, formulations and interventions for children and young people presenting with learning disability and/or autism and significant behavior that challenges or mental health problems in the CAMHS NDT Intensive Support Pathway.
To identify and provide the necessary support to children and young people to promote their quality of life, independent living skills, and to help them participate in positive daily routines.
To carry out effective risk assessments with children and young people, and their families and networks of support, as part of the wholistic behavioural assessment and intervention.
To ensure that children and young people, and their families, receive a culturally competent service.
To work with family carers or with staff who provide direct support to children and young people to enable them to develop their skills to work effectively with individuals whose behaviour challenges.
To ensure that interventions and work with care staff or families of children and young people adheres to the principles of evidence-based behavioural interventions, and is culturally appropriate.
To be able to utilize skills flexibly so that interventions can be creatively thought about and provided at children and young peoples homes, schools, clinics or other appropriate settings.
To be able to recognize safeguarding concerns, be aware of and adhere to Safeguarding Guidelines and know when to inform and share these concerns with other colleagues.
To work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing care to children and young people based in the community.
To participate in the regular reviews and discussions of the teams caseload.
To assist in the implementation of programmes of care as agreed with the Clinical Lead or Care Coordinator
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide applied behavioural assessments, formulations and interventions for children and young people presenting with learning disability and/or autism and significant behavior that challenges or mental health problems in the CAMHS NDT Intensive Support Pathway.
To identify and provide the necessary support to children and young people to promote their quality of life, independent living skills, and to help them participate in positive daily routines.
To carry out effective risk assessments with children and young people, and their families and networks of support, as part of the wholistic behavioural assessment and intervention.
To ensure that children and young people, and their families, receive a culturally competent service.
To work with family carers or with staff who provide direct support to children and young people to enable them to develop their skills to work effectively with individuals whose behaviour challenges.
To ensure that interventions and work with care staff or families of children and young people adheres to the principles of evidence-based behavioural interventions, and is culturally appropriate.
To be able to utilize skills flexibly so that interventions can be creatively thought about and provided at children and young peoples homes, schools, clinics or other appropriate settings.
To be able to recognize safeguarding concerns, be aware of and adhere to Safeguarding Guidelines and know when to inform and share these concerns with other colleagues.
To work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing care to children and young people based in the community.
To participate in the regular reviews and discussions of the teams caseload.
To assist in the implementation of programmes of care as agreed with the Clinical Lead or Care Coordinator
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Bachelor's Degree followed by PG Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis, or Analysis and Intervention in Intellectual Disabilities, or equivalent PG Diploma.
- Evidence of continuous and relevant professional training and development (CPD) in keeping with qualification period.
- Training in behavioural approaches, including Positive Behaviour Support, from a recognised provider.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of applied behavioural assessment and intervention with clients with a range of needs of a complex nature.
- Experience of working with families, school and other partner organisation to support young people who may be displaying behaviours that challenge.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families in emotional crisis.
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse inner city area.
- Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
Desirable
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of relevant client needs.
- Experience of working with Child Protection issues, serious mental health problems and challenging behaviour.
- Experience, skills and flexibility to participate in effective working within a multi-disciplinary team setting.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of behavioural assessment and interventions and the evidence base for these.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to CYP and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
- Knowledge, understanding and experience with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and families with a high level of deprivation.
- Knowledge of the principles and practice of Positive Behaviour Support.
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
Desirable
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.
- Ability to manage physical aggression directed at self, including use of breakaway techniques and personal safety procedures as prescribed by Trust policies.
Other
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others.
- Ability to recognise own limits and seek support re supervision as appropriate.
- An interest in developing further expertise in this area of practice.
- Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Bachelor's Degree followed by PG Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis, or Analysis and Intervention in Intellectual Disabilities, or equivalent PG Diploma.
- Evidence of continuous and relevant professional training and development (CPD) in keeping with qualification period.
- Training in behavioural approaches, including Positive Behaviour Support, from a recognised provider.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of applied behavioural assessment and intervention with clients with a range of needs of a complex nature.
- Experience of working with families, school and other partner organisation to support young people who may be displaying behaviours that challenge.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families in emotional crisis.
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse inner city area.
- Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
Desirable
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of relevant client needs.
- Experience of working with Child Protection issues, serious mental health problems and challenging behaviour.
- Experience, skills and flexibility to participate in effective working within a multi-disciplinary team setting.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of behavioural assessment and interventions and the evidence base for these.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to CYP and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
- Knowledge, understanding and experience with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and families with a high level of deprivation.
- Knowledge of the principles and practice of Positive Behaviour Support.
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
Desirable
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.
- Ability to manage physical aggression directed at self, including use of breakaway techniques and personal safety procedures as prescribed by Trust policies.
Other
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others.
- Ability to recognise own limits and seek support re supervision as appropriate.
- An interest in developing further expertise in this area of practice.
- Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals
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).
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).
