Sleep Specialist

The Community Paediatric sleep service, provide specialist expertise in managing sleep difficulties in children with neurodevelopmental conditions and/ or social difficulties. The post holder will be joining a team made up of community paediatrician, assistant Psychologist, and administrator, who have close links with the Evelina Children’s Hospital sleep medicine service.

This is an opportunity for someone who has an interest in sleep and how to manage sleep issues and improve sleep for children

The post holder will work independently as well as within the team. Working in partnership with parents, education, social care, and voluntary organisations to provide integrated care for the clients, families, carers and educators.

The post holder will undertake specialist assessments, relating to the presenting child’s sleep difficulties. Working alongside the community paediatrician the post holder will support sleep inventions such as medication, and behavioural interventions. They will make referrals on to other agencies when required.

The post holder will raise awareness through interventions with parents on how to manage sleep and how to create supportive sleep environments.

The post holder will be required to develop and provide specialist training to professionals on sleep difficulties. They will oversee group behavioural sessions and they will attend meetings as agreed with professional lead and Head of Service.

Evelina London

Evelina London is part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and we are responsible for providing services for women and children. With over 3,000 dedicated staff, and led by an Executive Team and Board, we have significant devolved autonomy to focus operationally and
strategically upon the needs of our patients. We also benefit from being part of a large and successful NHS foundation trust, whose values we share.

We have an ambitious strategic development programme, with backing from Guy’s and St Thomas’. Every year, the number of children and young people Evelina London cares for, in hospital and in the community, continues to grow. We provide comprehensive health services from preconception, before birth, throughout childhood and into adult life for children, young people and for women from London, South East England, and - for some rare conditions - around the UK and the world.

As the only NHS Trust in London with women’s and specialist children’s services on one site we have unique opportunities to provide excellent, high-quality, integrated care for mothers, babies and children. We operate through four clinical directorates: Neonatology and Medical Specialties,
Surgical Services, Theatres and Paediatric Intensive Care, Children’s Community Services and Women’s Services.

Professional / Clinical responsibilities

1. To provide highly specialist, autonomous clinical case management including highly specialist assessments and intervention, adapting practice to meet individual client’s circumstances, overcoming any barriers to understanding.
2. To assess, develop and implement highly specialist sleep programmes to meet the needs of clients; adapting practice based on individual clients’ or families’ circumstances and outcomes, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
3. To develop information, specialised programmes and resources for clients, families and relevant others about sleep problems in typically developing children and children with Neurodisability
4. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of clients with sleep problems
5. To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice.
6. To demonstrate good negotiation skills in dealing with a range of complex issues and to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
7. To develop, implement and review care pathways and recommend changes in practice as appropriate.
8. To identify and make appropriate onward referrals to other agencies.
9. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of careful analysis and interpretation of complex situations utilising and guiding evidence based practice and outcome measurement.
10.To ensure that service users are able to express their views and opinions and are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans.
11.To identify training needs and to develop, provide and evaluate appropriate specialist training to parents, carers, volunteers, educators and practitioners.
12.To plan, guide and support the work of educators and carers responsible for implementing strategies and programmes of work in support of the Community Paediatric Sleep service
13.To lead and participate in projects, activities and events including attendance at team meetings.
14.To establish appropriate partnerships with agencies and disciplines which are seeking to promote social and educational inclusion for children with Neurodisability
15.To receive and communicate