Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - Neurodiversity

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Torquay; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000

Job description

Location: Torquay, TQ2 7BA & Dartington, TQ9 6JE
Salary: £46418.00 to £52809.00
Date posted: 1st April 2025
Closing date: 9th April 2025

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Band 7 Specialist Mental Health Practitioner, to join our innovative, integrated Neurodiversity team. We are keen to hear from professionals interested in supporting our new pathway model.

The Neurodiversity Pathway is a developing integrated pathway within CFHD. The Integrated Neurodiversity Team provides specialist assessment and intervention for children and young people and their families where the presenting need relates to neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Tics and Tourette Syndrome.

This provides an opportunity to work in a team with a strong multidisciplinary ethos as well as collaborating with colleagues in other pathways and working in partnership with other agencies such as local Paediatric teams and education providers.

This opportunity is based in our Torbay, South & West Devon locality.

Interviews are scheduled to be held on Wednesday 29th January 2025

Main duties of the job

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of an innovative care pathway for children and young people with neurodiversity. As a key member of our team, you will play an essential role in shaping the future of mental health support in Devon for neurodivergent children and young people.

As an SMHP within our Neurodiversity pathway, your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting high-quality, specialist assessments to better understand the needs of neurodiverse children and young people.
• Utilising your leadership skills to contribute to the development of evidence-based clinical interventions in the pathway.
• Providing good quality evidence-based interventions to children, young people and their families.
• Offering clinical supervision to the wider team when required, fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Providing guidance, advice, and training to colleagues, families, and partner agencies through consultative work. Your expertise will promote a unified and cooperative approach to supporting neurodiverse individuals.
• Maintaining awareness of the latest research and best practices in the field of neurodiversity and mental health.
• Forming close links with both colleagues in the pathway and within your professional discipline in the wider CFHD network.

About us

At Children and Family Health Devon, we are dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of children and young people across Devon and Torbay. We aim to create an environment where children and young people can thrive and are committed to reducing health inequalities and providing specialised support, empowering them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

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

Who we are

We are an alliance of NHS organisations led by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Devon Partnership Trust. We are a group of professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and many other professions.

Join us in beautiful Devon

With access to moors, sea and cities, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Devon. Whether you enjoy spending time in the cultural hub of Exeter, exploring the Jurassic coastline or discovering the world surfing reserve in North Devon, there really is something for everyone.

Job responsibilities

Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.

Information regarding the Neurodiversity Pathway can be found on the Children and Family Health Devon website here: Our Pathways - Children and Family Health Devon

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including using goal-based care and routine outcome measures in practice.
• Experience of working collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team and across agencies.
• Experience of working with children and young people's mental health needs, families and parents/carers, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal abuse.
• Experience of undertaking specialist mental health assessment and therapeutic interventions in the area of children's mental health, with the ability to work with complex needs and undertake risk assessments.
• Experience of safeguarding children and young people and ensuring the safety of children in partnership with other agencies as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by specialist training or equivalent experience to Masters level with a relevant core professional training e.g. Psychological profession, Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy.
• Training in an evidence-based therapeutic approach.
• Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body, e.g. NMC, HCPC, Social Work England, UKCP, BABCP.
• Training in supervision and/or leadership skills or willing to work towards.
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Ability to travel across Devon.

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.

Principal Clinical Psychologist - Neurodiversity