Senior SPA Practitioner

We are looking for a dynamic, innovative, and committed individual to join us and work as part of our Single Point of Access Team to deliver improved access and outstanding services for children and young people.

You be joining friendly nurturing team and who work in fast paced service. You will need to hold a professional qualification and be from a strong community mental health background, ideally with experience and knowledge of CAMHS or children’s services.

We are seeking to appoint a Senior SPA Practitioner - Neuro developmental Specialist to join our Bucks CAMHS Single Point of Access team.

The post holder will primarily support triage of referrals that may benefit either assessment, sign posting or advice giving, sign posting to other suitable support services. As the role will sit inside our generic camhs spa. A working knowledge of mental health diagnosis, Neuro-developmental conditions, presentation and risk management is essential.

Previous applicants need not apply.

You will need to hold a professional qualification and be from a strong community mental health background, ideally with experience and knowledge of children’s services.

The Buckinghamshire CAMHS Single Point of Access team is the Front Door into Buckinghamshire CAMHS. SPOA is the first point of contact countywide for members of the public, schools, health professionals and other professionals who are concerned about the welfare or emotional wellbeing of a young person. SPOA will screen and triage all received contacts and make decisions about where these needs sit on a Continuum of Need and which is the appropriate service for young persons and their families.

As a shift coordinator you will be responsible for decisions about which cases require further consideration and action by a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), which can be best met through early help-based support and which cases require further assessment and intervention from the CAMHS service.

This post offers an opportunity to work in a multi-agency environment within the team. You should have excellent communication skills and be able to undertake an screening and triage of presenting information in a fast paced environment.

Your practice must be evidence-based and you must be up to date on current theories and research. You will receive individualized support through a range of training and development opportunities to enable you to succeed in this role and to develop your career.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

**Our values are**: “Caring, safe and excellent”

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
- Excellent communication skills
- The ability to connect quickly with our most vulnerable families - you'll relish the opportunity to use your relationship skills.
- Risk analysis skills which will enable you to make decisions about the best approach, ranging from universal services to early help, to safeguarding.
- A firm grounding in evidence-based practice and able to keep on top of current theories and research.
- A qualified professional with core clinical back ground, with passion and drive for developing your clinical skills in a changeable environment.
- Experience of working with Neurodevelopmental conditions
- A keen interest in new and upcoming technologies within CAMHS
- Be self-motivated and able to work autonomously as well as showing initiative and promoting new ideas on how to improve the service
- Be compassionate, caring and creative with excellent communication skills
- A flexible and positive attitude with a willingness to accommodate our 24/7 service