Assistant Practitioner

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Devon is seeking a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner to join the Neurodiversity Pathway. This role involves collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to deliver neurodiversity assessments for young people. Ideal candidates will have a Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care, with opportunities for training available. The position offers a chance to make a meaningful impact on children’s lives while developing clinical skills.

Benefits

Regular training and supervision

Opportunity for further clinical development

Qualifications

• Must complete Care Certificate within first 3 months.
• Evidence of health training is needed.
• Experience with young people and complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct evidence-based neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Gather information and perform standardised assessments.
• Maintain accurate clinical records.

Skills

Experience working with young people

Autonomy and initiative

Knowledge of mental health presentations

Communication skills

Education

Level 5 Health and Social Care qualification

GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above)

Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care

Job description

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is recruiting a Band 4 AssistantPractitioner to join our Neurodiversity Pathway. This is an excitingopportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team offering holistic andpersonalised neurodiversity assessments for neurodivergent young people.

This is an opportunity for an Assistant Practitioner to work closelywith other professional groups such as Speech and Language Therapists, Nurses,Occupational Therapists, Clinical Psychologists and Social Workers to developknowledge and skills in a range of specialisms and we are committed tocontinued professional development.

Additionally, there will be opportunities to provide advice,consultation and needs led support to children, young people and theirfamilies.

This role is suitable for applicants who already hold a Level 5 Healthand Social Care qualification, or those looking to train into the role. Atrainee post (Band 3) will be offered to suitable candidates without thequalification, with support to complete the required foundation degree withintwo years.

Main duties of the job

• To work within the Multi-disciplinary Team to carry out high-quality, evidence based neurodevelopmental assessments with children and young people open to the neurodiversity pathway
• Under the supervision of registered clinicians, Assistant Practitioners will be involved in information gathering, observing young people within settings such as school, home or clinic and carrying out standardised assessments such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
• Liaise with schools, families, and multi-agency colleagues to inform brief holistic needs led support for neurodivergent young people.
• Maintain accurate IT based clinical records
• Uphold safeguarding responsibilities with supervision.
• Work flexibly and independently as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team across North Devon and as part of a Devon wide pathway.

We Offer:

• A trainee route into the Assistant Practitioner role (if required)
• Regular line management, clinical and peer supervision, training and support from experienced clinicians.
• Opportunity to develop your clinical skills and contribute to meaningful change in childrens lives.

If you are caring, motivated and passionate about supporting neurodivergent children and young people, we would love to hear from you.

About us

Children and Family Health Devon(CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improvehealth outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care andtreatment for children and young people across physical and mental health. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure wedeliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of ourservices, based on the i-Thrive Framework, in response to consultation with ourservice users and communities.

CFHD works closely with our localuniversities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where wesupport students in clinical training placements and in addition support our ownstaff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatmenthas been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people andtheir families/carers.

Wewould like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to beunderstanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make usfeel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills andexperience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way.When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment thatis informal and without pressure.

Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant,partnership that benefits the communities we serve.

Job responsibilities

For full details of the role and a detailed person specification, please see attached Job Description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment
• GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above) OR Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Maths and English
• Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or qualification to diploma level or equivalent
• Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders /Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder/Social Care.

Experience

• Previous experience working in a range of different mental health care settings
• Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative
• Working with young people with challenging behaviour and complex health needs

Knowledge

• Knowledge of a range of Mental Health presentations and medications
• An understanding of physical health problems which can impact on a persons mental health and monitoring of the same.

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.