CAMHS Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist (N&S SCAAND)

Job summary
National and Specialist CAMHS present a new opportunity to recruit a highly motivated and experienced specialist clinician to a full-time band 7 Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist post within the multi-disciplinary SCAAND team based at the new Pears Maudsley. SCAAND provides a number of streams of mental health care for autistic young people and young people with other neurodevelopmental conditions including intellectual disability and we offer a specific occupational therapy pathway which offers comprehensive occupational therapy assessments and interventions. We have a new sensory integration intervention room which will provide new, exciting opportunities for delivery of occupational therapy.Clinical work in the team is diverse, collaborative, evidence-based and truly multi-disciplinary, and includes an interesting mix of direct and indirect intervention and consultation to clinicians in local teams. The role offers a range of service development, supervision, teaching, clinical leadership and research opportunities, and SCAAND clinicians have access to a range of CPD and training both within and outside of SLAM NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job
The postholder will work as a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in SCAAND contributing to comprehensive MDT assessments, providing specialist occupational therapy assessment, formulation and interventions for children, young people, parents/carers, and providing consultation, training and support to local CAMHs clinicians and multi-agency networks. Key components of this post will involve both assessment skills (sensory/motor assessments to understand participation, behaviour and emotional regulation) as well as adapted intervention skills; and good knowledge of development and neurodevelopment is important. The role also includes providing supervision to students, band 6 occupational therapist and team support. Supporting the occupational therapy aspects of case formulation and planning within the MDT is also a key component of the role, and highly valued within the team in both regular meetings and joint working. There are also opportunities for developing and delivering teaching and training internally, to local training programmes, and to external services and other agencies. We have been delivering 1/2 day workshops to various services around England. The post holder will work closely with occupational therapists in SCAAND, AID-IIT and Orchid and other N&S CAMHS teams.

About us
SCAAND provides support for children and young people with a range of neurodevelopmental needs, including autism and intellectual disability, who present with additional mental health, emotional and/or behavioural needs. Children and young people referred to the service may also have associated genetic conditions, sensory impairments, physical impairments or other additional needs. The service aims to work alongside local services to support the care for children and young people, and provides comprehensive assessment, specialist intervention, and consultation.SCAAND is comprised of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, a Behaviour Therapist, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Specialist Autism Education lead and Senior Team Administrators. SCAAND sits within the National Specialist CAMHS department within the CAMHS Directorate of a Mental Health Foundation Trust and SLAM is part of the Kings Maudsley Partnership , facilitating close working, academic/learning opportunities and good support for the postholder. Opportunities for continuing professional development are encouraged and supported. The service includes leading experts in research in the field and supports development of knowledge and skills relevant for specialist practice.

Job responsibilities

• To offer specialist occupational therapy within the multi-disciplinary team, including offering assessment and intervention to children and young people with highly complex presentations, their families and wider networks, using evidence based / client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and liaising with professional networks to offer specialist occupational therapy consultation.
• To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of clinical services using advanced clinical skills and knowledge.
• To regularly supervise band 6 occupational therapist and occupational therapy students on practice placement.
• To provide specialist advice on the assessment and intervention of occupational needs for children/young people with a neurodevelopmental profile
• To develop occupational therapy interventions in this specialty undertaking regular audit and R&D activities.
• To provide training and consultancy for occupational therapy within the specialty.
• To work flexibly as needed across settings offering outreach assessment and intervention when needed.

Qualifications
Essential

• Qualified and registered Occupational Therapist with HCPC (A)

Desirable

• Postgraduate in sensory integration, other postgraduate training relevant to CAMHS
• Membership of OT professional body and / or special interest group (A)
• Specialist training and/or experience in autism assessment measures, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) (A/I/)
• Management qualification, management training course completion or line management experience (A/I)

Experience
Essential

• Substantial post registration experience as an occupational therapist (A/I)
• Leadership experience and line management experience
• Significant post registration experience working with Mental Health service users (A/I)
• Experience assessment and treatment of clients with a range of occupational needs of a complex nature in children with autism spectrum disorders and associated neurodevelopmental conditions, intellectual disabilities and comorbid mental health difficulties (A/I)
• Extensive clinical experience including individual and group work (A/I)

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with challenging behaviours (A/I)
• Experience of specialist Mental Health settings (A/I)
• Specialised training and/or experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder. (A/I)

Knowledge/Skills
Essential

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders and associated neurodevelopmental conditions intellectual disabilities and comorbid mental health difficulties (A/I)
• Specialist knowledge and application of occupational therapy assessments, interventions, and outcome measures for children and young people with autism and other neurodevelopmental difficulties (A/I)
• To communicate skilfully, accessibly and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including, sensory and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.(A/I)
• Ability to work autonomously and determine priorities for the occupational therapy/team service (A/I)
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles (A/I)

Analytical and Judgemnetal skills
Essential

• Strategic comprehension: ability to recognise key and underlying issues in complex situations, the immediate long-term implications of decisions to make the interconnections.
• Analytical ability: capacity to process detailed information rapidly
• Ability to translate complex issues into meaningful actions and to develop others to do so.
• Cultural flexibility: ability to develop an in-depth understanding of a wide range of organisational and community cultures, developing plans and strategies with all stakeholders.

Result orientated and motivation
Essential

• Focused on improvement: acts to improve performance and establish high standards of quality.
• Experience of setting objective measurements and developing and monitoring systems for performance management and improvement
• Has high capacity for concentration and activity and is outcome-orientated.
• Develops others to grow their capacity and potential.
• Inclusivity and cultural sensitivity

Other
Essential

• Ability to work creatively as a leader or a member of a team with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ability to relate to other people and bring the best out of them.
• Willingness to work flexibly (I)

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).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).