Trainee Mental Health Practitioner - Learning Disability and Autism

This is a training role within the Psychological Trainings Programme. The post-holder will work within a Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service as part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering, under supervision, high-quality; outcome –informed, focused, and evidence-based interventions for children and young people Autism and Learning Disabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. To offer timely, accessible and effective therapeutic interventions to children and young people with Autism and Learning Disabilities
2. To provide assessment, interventions, therapy to children, young people and where appropriate, families as both an autonomous practitioner and as part of a multidisciplinary team in a variety of settings to address need.
3. To identify and report safeguarding incidents, in line with relevant policies and procedures.
4. To be committed to a quality approach for the care of children and young people.
5. The post-holder will demonstrate high levels of concentration and provide sustained effort in assessment of complex issues.
6. To manage busy caseloads; ensuring effective communication with families, professionals, staff, CYPs and wider stakeholders.
7. To operate within the clinical and case management supervision framework and engage effectively with clinical supervision on a regular basis.
8. To work flexibly including evenings to meet training and support needs for children and young people
9. To use a range of IT systems including patient record systems , ensuring high quality data is collected appropriately, kept securely and confidentially
10. To work in an innovative and child, young person and family centred way, in a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
11. To engage and manage your educational responsibilities and ensure all deadlines are met.
12. To demonstrate continued practice development and engage in line management supervision.

Support other Trust activities as needed under the direction of the CEO:

Person Specification
You will have considerable experience of supporting young people and families experiencing mental and emotional health difficulties, a minimum of 2 years full time work in this area OR if you don't have a core profession (see extract at end of person specification for details) you will need the equivalent of 4 years full time experience in mental health or SEND.

You will have a relevant degree and/or a professional qualification providing a strong understanding of the factors impacting on children’s mental and emotional wellbeing and the support and interventions that can maintain and improve it. If you don’t hold a relevant professional qualification you will be required to complete a KSA successfully before being accepted onto the programme. An example of KSA requirements can be found on the BABCP website Knowledge Skills and Attitudes babcp.com

You will use your skills and knowledge to work directly with children and families, providing responsive, effective support. You will be accessible and engaging, able to build positive working relationships with children, young people and families – and with other professionals supporting them – to work in a personalised, collaborative way to agree plans which build resilience, autonomy and self-management.

You will be able to communicate clearly, face to face and in writing with children, young people, families, colleagues and other professionals, keeping good records and sharing information respectfully and appropriately as required. You will be able to assess risks to self and others and make referrals and recommendations to other professionals and services.

You will be confident in providing support, advice and enabling reflection and practice development in others, including reviewing cases with colleagues. 

Essential Criteria - To be considered for this job you must demonstrate the following in your application.

1. Have a relevant degree and preferably a relevant professional registered qualification.
OR
If you hold no professional registered qualification, you will complete a KSA as part of your application
2. Have a minimum of two years full time experience, including significant work with children and families and experience of providing mental health support to others
NOTE: If you don't have a core profession (see extract at end of person specification for details) applicants required to have the equivalent of 4 years full time experience in mental health or SEND
3. Demonstrate in your application experience, continued learning and interest in Learning Disability and Autism
4. Have the time and capacity to attend teaching days and complete associated academic requirements as part of the course
5. To commit to and engage positively with supervision and feedback to continue professional development
6. Be able to develop appropriate therapeutic relationships with those you are supporting
7. Have an understanding of child and adolescent development and the role of the family in supporting children and young people’s emotional well-being
8. Be resilient and confident and able to work independently within the responsibilities of the post, managing the challenges and seeking support appropriately
9. Have excellent interpersonal communication skills, able to listen, encourage, respect, motivate and show genuine care for young people as unique individuals.
10. Be able to travel across Kirklees for meetings with young people and professionals. Therefore, access to an appropriate vehicle and business use insurance cover is required. Travel expenses are provided.
11. Be competent in using information technology to maintain records and communicate.
12. Have an enhanced DBS check, with no indication of unsuitability for the post and be willing to undertake Safeguarding training to level 3.
13. Be eligible to work in the UK, providing evidence of ID as required.

*Core Profession: Participants will be predominantly qualified members of the main mental health professions (Mental Health Social Workers, Psychiatric Nurses, Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Occupational Therapists in Mental Health, Accredited Counsellors), or Learning Disability Nurses. Please consult the following link for a list of all health, mental health and social care professions currently accepted by BABCP as a recognised core profession, which will be accepted as entry criteria: Core Professions (babcp.com)