Camhs Practitioner, Aapnhs Afc: Band 7

East London Nhs Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

East London NHS Foundation Trust in Bedfordshire offers a role within the Autism Assessment Pathway (AAP) to deliver specialist autism assessments for young people 13+. You will work autonomously within a supportive multidisciplinary CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Team, contributing to diagnostic processes and service improvements.

The post involves using standardised tools (ADOS, 3Di, ADI-R), writing diagnostic reports, and engaging in CPD and leadership development within Bedfordshire CAMHS.

Qualifications

• Experience in specialist autism assessments using standardised tools.
• Ability to work autonomously within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience with clinical governance, audit and service development.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive autism assessments using standardised tools (ADOS, 3Di, ADI-R).
• Write confidential diagnostic reports for families and professionals.
• Convey sensitive information constructively to clients and professionals.
• Offer specialist autism advice and provide consultation to others.
• Attend training, undertake audits and participate in service development.

Skills

Autism expertise

Autism assessments

Report writing

Audit & research

Education

HCPC registration

CAMHS qualification (desirable)

Job description

Job overview

Do you have expertise in autism and a passion for improving the diagnostic journey for young people and their families? Join our Autism Assessment Pathway (AAP) and help shape an innovative, high-quality service for young people aged 13+ across Bedfordshire and Luton.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated clinician with strong autism knowledge, the ability to work autonomously, and an interest in service development. You will be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team within the CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Team, contributing to assessments, service improvement and positive outcomes for young people.

As part of Bedfordshire CAMHS, you’ll join a large, dynamic service with strong links across specialist teams and partner agencies. We are committed to staff development, offering tailored CPD opportunities, quality improvement projects, service-user involvement initiatives, and opportunities to develop leadership skills.

Our Bedford clinics are easily accessible from North London, Milton Keynes and Northampton. ELFT offers attractive recruitment packages and a strong commitment to career development.

Main duties of the job

This post is based within our specialist Autism Assessment Pathway (AAP). We are seeking experienced clinicians skilled in delivering standardised autism assessments using tools such as ADOS, 3Di and ADI-R.

The AAP sits within the CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Team (NDT), which provides assessment and intervention for children and young people with autism and/or intellectual disabilities. The NDT is part of Bedfordshire CAMHS, a large and dynamic service that includes emotional and behavioural teams, CAMHS Schools, LAC, parent-infant psychotherapy, paediatric, GP, adolescent mental health, crisis and eating disorder services, as well as embedded staff in Early Help, CDC and social care.

The successful post holder will work autonomously within a supportive multidisciplinary team, delivering high-quality assessments and contributing to service development. We offer tailored CPD, quality improvement projects, service-user participation opportunities and chances to develop leadership skills through acting-up roles.

Our Bedford clinics are easily accessible from North London, Milton Keynes and Northampton. ELFT offers attractive recruitment packages and is committed to supporting staff development, innovation and career progression.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

1.1. To provide comprehensive specialist autism assessments using the standardised tools such as ADOS, 3Di or ADI‑R or other tools to suit the needs of the young person.

1.2. To write confidential reports for families and other professionals containing the diagnostic details.

1.3. Based on these assessments and reports to convey sensitive, complex and sometimes unwelcome information to clients and other professionals and manage this as constructively as possible.

1.4. To be a resource of specialist advice related to Autism which will be delivered in both an individual and group format to young people and their families.

1.5. To provide consultation and training on Autism to other professionals.

1.6. To undertake additional training as required by the role.

1.7. To undertake clinical audit and research activities.

1.8. To liaise with and, where appropriate, participate in joint work with other members of the NDT team and other clinicians in CAMHS.

1.9. To offer and provide a liaison and consultation service to primary care clinicians and other key agencies working with children, young people and their families/carers referred with NDT and ID issues, and their co‑morbid mental health problems.

1.10To ensure that the needs of the client group is paramount, and be aware of and adhere to local, trust-wide and HCPC guidelines relating to Child Protection and safeguarding.

1.11. 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.

1.12. To maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with service standards and to record and maintain patient data in local database systems (RiO) and the trust wide electronic CPA database. To aid line‑managed staff to achieve this commitment.

2. Policy and Service Development

2.1.To help to develop standards underpinned by theory and research.

3. Training and Development

3.1. To keep up to date with appropriate legislation in line with CAMHS. 3.2. To be responsible for personal development and education in line with statutory, mandatory and professional requirements.

4. Human Resources

4.1. To establish effective interpersonal channels of communication.

5. Clinical Governance

5.1.To be involved in audit and research projects undertaken by the service.

5.2. To work within professional and ethical frameworks established by national bodies

6. Performance Management

6.1 To ensure documentation and care plans are comprehensive and of the highest standard in line with Trust policy.

6.2 To record relevant information as consistent with Trust record keeping policy.

6.3 To collate and report on clinical information across a specific area(s). 6.4 To provide clinical information as required for input into local and Trust electronic information.

6.5. Be responsible for monitoring and recording and reporting on clinical work and communicating complex clinical information to a variety of recipients e.g. service users, families and carers, other professionals orally and in writing

6.6 To provide service related information to senior managers and staff to aid day-to-day service management and future planning.

Person specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential criteria

• A qualification and professional registration in Child Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy, Nursing, Social Worker, Speech and language Therapy, Occupational Therapy
• Clinical Psychology: Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) Registration with HPC
• Family Therapy: Masters or Doctoral level qualification in Systemic Psychotherapy or AFT agreed equivalent UKCP Registered
• Child Psychotherapy: Honours degree. Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Psychoanalytical Observational Studies or recognised equivalent. Masters in Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy: Child and Adolescent.
• Registered member of ACP
• Nursing: Mental Health Nurse Level 1 (RN3, RNMH, Relevant specialist CAMHS trainings or qualifications Application form RNLD, RSCN in sub part 1 of the NMC Register)
• ENB 998 or equivalent
• Social Worker: Recognised Social worker degree qualification or equivalent Registered with Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
• Speech and language Therapy: Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent Registered Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational Therapy Degree or equivalent Registration with Health Professions Council
• Evidence of successful completion of post graduate courses relevant to Autism
• Evidence of successful completion of post graduate diagnostic training such as ADOS, 3DI

Desirable criteria

• Relevant specialist CAMHS trainings or qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of providing specialist assessment, psychological formulation of problems and interventions using evidence based models of care
• Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes and/ or supervision of other staff groups
• Experience of participating in audit, evaluation and research activities.
• Experience of contributing to policy and service development.
• Additional relevant clinical and / or managerial experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with a range of CYP in a CAMHS setting (please indicate in your application if you have gained your core child experience outside of CAMHS ie paediatrics or child health settings)

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of current national guidelines and policies relating to CAMHS
• Knowledge of workforce development initiatives within CAMHS (e.g. CYP IAPT)
• Knowledge of current national priorities/ transformation plan for CAMHS service delivery (eg Future In Mind)
• Knowledge and experience of Child Protection policy and practice
• Self-motivated, assertive and flexible
• Proven qualities in sustaining the mental, emotional and physical demands of specialised therapeutic work with disturbed and distressed children, adolescents and their families/carer networks.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of development in inter agency partnership
• In depth knowledge of CAMHS issues including assessment and interventions
• Knowledge of The Mental Health Act 1983(amended 2007) and associated legislation
• Knowledge of the Children’s Act and other appropriate legislation