Senior Mental Health Practitioner/team Lead

To manage a high clinical profile, being highly visible, accessible and approachable to staff, children and young people or service users and the public to ensure that open and honest communication channels are created and sustained. To ensure the provision of highly specialised Children in Care Team in CAMHS is being delivered. This includes minimisation of risk of harm across the team, maintaining an overview of the standards of care being delivered and instigating remedial action if necessary and in accordance with current legislation and Trust policy and procedure. To monitor clinical incidents within defined area, observing for trends and needs for service or staff development and working with Divisional CIC Lead to inform strategy and service development improvements.
To work with the Divisional CIC Lead in assessing the clinical skills required to deliver a safe and high quality evidence based Child in Care service, identifying gaps and supporting developing programmes to address these issues. To act as a coach, mentor and resource to staff. To guide and support developmental projects and advise on further resources as appropriate. To actively promote carer/user involvement in all aspects of care planning and delivery, whilst respecting the rights, cultural needs, capabilities and wishes of the individuals concerned.
To ensure local safeguarding processes and systems are in place and adhered to. To actively involve young people and their carers in the delivery of care. To be a champion of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working, ensuring strong working relationships with partner agencies. To actively participate in the ongoing development and review of the Child in Care provision and related policies and protocols as a Senior Mental Healh Practitioner within the service.
To lead on relevant developments and provide training packages and leadership ensuring that relevant care packages are implemented within CAMHS. To work in partnership with the other services and key providers and undertake a defined role, in the development of standards and audit of practice. To work in partnership with the Service Manager/Clinical Lead and key providers and undertake a defined role, in the development of improved pathways of care for young people, supporting choice and flexibility and identifying gaps in service provision. To actively participate, and lead when required, in the recruitment and selection of clinical and non-clinical staff ensuring appropriate skill mix for the service.
To be responsible for service user engagement and development from their feedback and input. Undertake appropriate, evidence based mental health assessments with children, young people in care and carers who require a service, incorporating therapeutic knowledge and skills. Effectively communicate the Trusts policies re confidentiality and consent to children, young people and carers. Develop a planned programme of clinically appropriate, evidence based interventions as appropriate.
Manage a specialist caseload and provide advice and consultancy to children, young people in care and their carers and other professionals. Co-ordinate multi-disciplinary specialist assessment. Provide expert advice to children, young people, families and multi-agency professionals. Act as care co-ordinator, ensuring the provision of a care package appropriate to the needs of the children and young people in care and carers.
Provide specialist training both internally and externally. To oversee and review clinical outcomes through evaluation, audit and review. Ensure evidence based practice in all clinical work and promote the evidence base in area of specialist expertise. Be flexible in working hours as and when appropriate.
Be flexible in the delivery of clinical work in terms of modality and location. To build capacity and skills in both clinical and non clinical staff that the service has contact with. To receive regular management and clinical supervision in accordance with professional guidelines. Provide clinical supervision to staff from own and other service groups/team.
To provide management supervision as appropriate to your banding. Participate in multi disciplinary team meetings providing a professional perspective as appropriate following evidence based practice. Assume a shared responsibility for the implementation, monitoring and review of service developments. Responsible for recruitment, appraisal and training needs of the team.
Also responsible for attendance management, performance management, disciplinary and grievances of the team. Ensure appropriate use of resources and equipment. Undertake Research & Development activities as appropriate. Undertake project management as requested by the Operational Manager.
To work alongside the Service Manager/Clinical Lead, Divisional Lead for CIC, quality and audit team, external agencies, CAMHS managers/leads in service performance management including the collection/collation and submission