CAMHS Practitioner/ Behavioural Analyst

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated, organised and creative Behaviour Specialist (Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) / CAMHS Practitioner to join our Team.

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, and motivated individual who is a highly motivated independent practitioner, underpinned by a solid foundation in evidence-based nursing practices within our Neurodevelopmental Pathway in Westminster CAMHS Teams.

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 work as part of the Neurodevelopmental Team within Westminster CAMHS alongside Multidisciplinary Team providing specialist clinical psychology and behavioural services to children with learning disabilities, including those with mental health needs, autism and challenging behavior.

The post holder will be required to provide specialist initial and behavioral assessments and PBS interventions to children and young people, and to work autonomously alongside our clients , families , support workers and professionals.

Working for our organisation

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest specialist mental health trusts in England, providing a wide range of mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services for a population of 2 million people across nine London Boroughs. We are a University Teaching Trust with a consistent record of financial stability and an annual turnover of over £210 million with a workforce of approximately 3,400 staff.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Intervention will include working across a variety of settings, including home, school, and short break services if appropriate 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.

• 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.
• 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 and core CAMHS assessment.
• To formulate and to be responsible for implementing in partnership with other agencies a positive behaviour plan/ intervention for a child/young person.
• To communicate in a sensitive manner assessment outcomes/formulations and positive behaviour support plans.
• 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 clinic settings.
• To undertake other psychological and/or diagnostic assessments (i.e. ADOS-2, 3Di, 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 behavioral support plans.
• To liaise with and where appropriate participate in joint work with other members of the Learning Disabilities Pathway in Westminster 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.
• Formulate and implement plans for the formal treatment, monitoring and/or management of the child/young person’s problems with staff and/or carers, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings
• Be responsible for implementing a range of therapeutic interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups. These will include long and short term interventions as appropriate to need
• Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group
  
  

Self Management

• To ensure that as a member of CAMHS you are fully aware of current developments, legislation and practice in the care of children and young people with mental health problems.
• To attend regular management/professional supervision. Through supervision and appraisal, acknowledge own limitations and discuss/identify/access training as appropriate. Be aware of and reflect on own practice as a manager/clinician.
• To be aware of and adhere to all Trust polices, acting as a role model to other staff. Manage time effectively. Continue to meet professional standards of practice and relevant professional legislation.
• To undertake other duties as required by the Team Manager and Sub Team Leads .
  
  

Standard

The post holder will ensure that his/her own practice and conduct and that of the members of the team adheres to the following CNWL standards

• Mandatory Training
  
  

The post holder will complete the mandatory CNWL training programme annually within directed timescales

• Multi-agency Meetings
  
  

The post holder will prioritize attendance at relevant multi-agency planning meetings such as Child In Need, Child Protection conferences, professionals meetings and CPAs

• Policy and Procedure
  
  

The post holder will work in line with CNWL policy and procedures at all times. These include;

• Confidentiality, Data Protection and Information Sharing
• Code of Conduct
• Capability
• Equality and Diversity
• Health and Safety
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Finance
• Safeguarding Children
• Sickness Absence
• Use of Information Technology
• Professional Standards and Performance Review
  
  

The post holder will fully participate in the Trust’s Appraisal / Supervision Programme and work with their manager to ensure that they have a clear job plan and objectives

• Duty Systems
  
  

The post holder will actively participate in the respective boroughs internal and hospital duty systems as required between the hours of 8am and 7pm

• Flexible Working
  
  

The post holder will undertake any other duties as appropriate to the grade/role and work flexibly across Child and Adolescent Mental Health sites to provide cover for short-term absences when required

Person specification

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATION

Essential criteria

• Current registration with relevant professional body:
• Nursing - NMC
• Occupational Therapy - HCPC
• Clinical Psychology - HCPC
• Social Worker - Social Work England Or equivalent experience in this field
• Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and Certification with Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB) or willingness to work towards this or equivalent
• Postgraduate diploma, MSc, or MA in either Applied Behaviour Analysis, Autism or PBS
• Behaviour Analyst would need to be either/both BCBA or UKSBA registered
• Training in Positive Behavior Support or Applied Behavioural Analysis
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Registration with UK-SBA
  
  

Previous Experience

Essential criteria

• Previous experience of working in CAMHS Or experience in Adult Services for Autism/ADHD/Learning Disability with clear evidence of transferrable skills
• Experience of working with individuals and/or children and young people with wide range of learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and mental health problems
• Experience in working with individuals whose behaviour challenges and experience of supporting families
• Experience of risk assessment and care planning
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary way
• Experience of a range of specialist behavioural assessment and interventions with clients with learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges, across the full range of care settings
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of working in a community team for people (Children and Young People) with learning disabilities
  
  

Skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence of well-developed clinical skills and knowledge of complex presentations within a CAMHS setting.
• Specialist clinical skills for the assessment and treatment of mental health in Learning Disabilities and ASD
• Training Skills for groups of carers and Individuals in Behavioral assessment and management
• Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centers
• Good Decision-making Skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Computer Literate, including Excel;
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
  
  

Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to work independently and within a team
• Ability to respond to demands and challenges
• Able to manage own time and caseload; has good organisational skills and able to effectively manage own workload .
• Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
• Ability to manage presentations with challenging behaviors displayed by individuals on a day to day basis, and to support carers and professionals in times of distress
• Ability to work virtually using trust approved virtual meeting platforms and systems for documentation .
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
  
  

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Comprehensive knowledge of LD, ADHD, 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; a working knowledge of Child Protection Guidelines
• Knowledge and experience in the use of Evidence based Interventions
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance and its implementations
• 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 on care delivery
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).