Senior Practitioner

Act as a role model to colleagues, always seeking to maintain the highest standards of professionalism. Use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients. Hold continuing responsibility and effective management of the learning disability pathway case load in CAMHS, ensuring recovery focused specialist health interventions are delivered to children and young people with learning disabilities and mental health needs in a multi-disciplinary team. Assist in monitoring the appropriateness of referrals in relation to service access criteria, and monitor/develop the child service offered.

Asses the mental health/behavioural needs and deliver therapeutic interventions with young people and their families, using approaches such as functional and developmental assessment, Positive Behaviour Support and family/parenting work. Act as a key worker for an individual caseload. Within their sphere of competence, be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children, young people and/or vulnerable adults for whom they are responsible or may come into contact with in. Facilitate/teach effective systems to carers/parents to enable the transfer of skills required to maintain positive management of behaviours.

Deliver consultation to other professionals and agencies. Work with complex individuals and groups to prevent relapse of mental health and behaviours that challenge. Support generic CAMHS staff in learning disability related issues. Promote knowledge of mental health and the prevention of mental health illness with children and young people, members of the public and families.

Review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and the staff appraisal system. Promote and maintain good working relationships and effective communication through liaison with service users, colleagues and other professionals. Carry out risk assessments appropriate for children and young people with a learning disability. Monitor and evaluate interventions using outcome measures.

Develop, monitor and audit standards of practice to ensure compliance with best practice. Design and deliver training to carers and education staff; team members; colleagues in the trust; and a variety of other agencies. For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.