Assistant Practitioner

Job summary

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) is the place to beWe have developed an innovative, integrated model of childrens communityservices. We are now looking to appoint enthusiastic individuals to join ourfriendly and dedicated locality and county-wide professional teams.

You will be joining a strong and supportive group of professionals who will be your peers, yourphone a friend network and your inspiring colleagues. This provides a realsense of professional collaboration at work, that will be an asset to yourdaily work, your career development and your support network.

We are currently seeking dedicated and compassionateindividuals to join our Eating Disorder team as Band 4 AssistantPractitioners. You will play a crucial role in providing essential support tochildren and young people who are experiencing an eating disorder. We have an opportunities available in our teams across the county.

You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team,collaborating with other professionals to deliver high-quality care and supportto those in crisis.

If you are passionate about making a difference in the livesof children and young people, and are committed to personal development andgrowth, we invite you to apply for this rewarding position. We also offer Band3 trainee opportunities for candidates who do not hold the relevantqualification but have relevant experience.

Main duties of the job

As an assistant practitioner, you will play a vital role inproviding care and support to children. Working alongside a multidisciplinaryteam, your focus will be on meeting the unique needs of these young people in acomprehensive and holistic manner. Your insights and contributions will informcare planning and decision-making processes.

Your primary responsibility will involve conductingassessments and observations of children presenting with an eating disorder.You will gather information to identify immediate needs and risks. This willenable the team to implement timely interventions that support the well-beingof young people. You will also provide interventions and support to youngpeople.

Your active participation in the development ofcomprehensive care plans, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, isessential. By engaging in care planning and implementation, you will ensurethat the plans are tailored to each child's unique circumstances,evidence-based, and person-cantered.

Accurate and up-to-date documentation of assessments,interventions, and evaluations is vital for providing quality care. Bymaintaining records and adhering to relevant policies and procedures, you willcontribute to the overall coordination and continuity of care.

About us

Children and Family Health Devon(CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improvehealth outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care andtreatment for children and young people across physical and mental health. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure wedeliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of ourservices, based on the i-Thrive Framework, in response to consultation with ourservice users and communities.

CFHD works closely with our localuniversities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where wesupport students in clinical training placements and in addition support our ownstaff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatmenthas been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people andtheir families/carers.

Our childrenand young people say

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

Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant,partnership that benefits the communities we serve.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The principal purpose of the job is to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families with a range of mental health difficulties. This will be achieved by:

Active involvement in the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate mental health services as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Implementing specific assessment, review and care packages to individuals and groups within standard protocols, integrated care pathways.

Providing evidence based advice and consultancy to young people, family members/carers within standard protocols.

Organising and managing a defined caseload under distant guidance and work as lone workers where appropriate. The post holder will be accountable for their own actions within the delivery of this care.

Seeking advice and expertise of a registered practitioner when required through the use of regular managerial and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Must already hold or obtain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment Level 3 QCF in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification GCSE in Maths and English (Grade C or above) OR Level 2 Key Skills / Functional Skills in Maths and English Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or qualification to diploma level or equivalent Evidence of additional relevant health training eg. Eating disorders /Working with young people experience/ Eating disorder/Social Care.

Experience

Essential

Previous experience working in a range of different mental health care settings Experience of working autonomously and using own initiative Working with young people with challenging behaviour and complex health needs

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of a range of Mental Health presentations and medications An understanding of physical health problems which can impact on a persons mental health and monitoring of the same.

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