Neurodiversity Lead Clinician

Job summary
Promote the health and well-being of patients and maintain a safe, caring, and therapeutic environment based on an individualised approach. Working with the Service Manager to provide an environment that promotes training and development among the workforce.

Main duties of the job
The Post Holder will lead in the identification, assessment, and support of people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders, including Autism, Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities within your designated prison establishment.

To directly provide, and support others to offer adapted psychosocial interventions for people whose communication, thinking style and coping strategies are impacted upon by the presence of a Neurodevelopmental Disorder.

To hold a complex caseload of people who are identified to have needs associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and require reasonable adjustments to be made to their healthcare.

To advocate for people with neurodevelopmental disorders within the prison system and promote best practice and the safety and wellbeing of patients with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

To keep up to date with research, policy, and legislation relevant to Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

To work alongside other neurodevelopmental disorder practitioners, in similar roles, working in other prisons.

To offer expert consultancy to the Mental Health Team and contribute to person centred pathways and interventions within the MDT.

About us
We're passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in Prison. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We're always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we're hoping to find our future leaders and we'll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more - whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Job responsibilities

• To deliver a range of adapted psychosocial, and psychoeducation sessions for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and helps other adapt similar programmes.
• To develop networks and contacts to provide additional advice and research as resources for colleagues to support professional and service development.
• To demonstrate a working knowledge of the key elements of relevant Mental Health legislation.
• To take responsibility for a caseload of clients, maintaining clinical skills.
• To demonstrate a positive attitude to mental health and neurodiversity, attending to patients with respect and dignity and have the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations.
• To ensure that professional boundaries are always adhered to.
• To keep up to date with issues and developments in nursing, the prison service and the wider NHS.
• To keep abreast of new Policies, Guidance and Best Practice guidelines.
• To provide advice and guidance to junior staff and those with no ND experience. Ensuring on going assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care, is in line with current best practice
• To actively participate in the Healthcare Care Quality Meetings and other appropriate meetings as agreed.
• To maintain up to date accurate clinical records both written and electronic.
• Maintain accurate, timely paper and electronic records. Ensure they are kept safely in accordance with CNWL policies, including the Data Protection Act (1998) and the CNWL Confidentiality Policy.
• To ensure that key local and national policies are implemented at a local level giving support to team members where necessary.
• To lead on specific care quality initiatives, within the team and service wide.
• To become involved in forums other than health to promote closer working practices in order to meet patient and carer needs.
• To participate in the planning and implementation of clinical audits in the area and ensure that standards of good practice are met by all staff.

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse (Mental Health / Learning Disability) or Registered Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Therapist or Registered Social Worker
• Further specialist knowledge, post registration qualification/significant post registration experience or other formal training
• Evidence of professional development since registration

Desirable

• Post registration qualification that enhances clinical work: Diagnostic assessments such as ADOS, DIVA, WAIS
• Post registration qualification that enhances clinical work: CBT / DBT
• Experience of running intervention groups

Previous Experience
Essential

• Clinical experience of the assessment, treatment or support of people who have Autism, ADHD and or Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities in health or social care settings
• Experience of working with, and supporting, acutely mentally unwell people
• Excellent organisational skills and an ability to work with deadlines and to manage time effectively
• Experience of working and contributing to organisations as part of a wider Multiagency Team (e.g.CPA)
• Risk assessment and management skills

Desirable

• Experience of working in a Prison or secure/forensic environment
• Experience of using sensory approaches to address distress or to modulate arousal
• Experience in the delivery of CBT/DBT informed interventions and how to adapt or adjust to suit the needs of people with neurodevelopmental disorder
• Experience of Trauma Informed Care

Skills and knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of current challenges / developments in Prison health
• Awareness of current and wider NHS issues, in particular NICE guidelines and current practice around the support of people with personality disorders
• Awareness of screening tools and assessments for Autism, ADHD and IDD

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

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