PALMS is expanding again and we are seeking to appoint motivated, committed, flexible and forward thinking Mental Health Practitioners to contribute to the development of a Crisis Team for the PALMS' population.

The PALMS' crisis team will include an Administrator, Clinical Psychologist, Consultant Psychiatrist, Outreach Workers, PALMS' Urgent Responders and/or Mental Health Practitioners and a Specialist Positive Behaviour Analyst. This MDT will work collaboratively and in collaboration with the wider PALMS' MDT to support these CYP as well as working with colleagues in the existing Hertfordshire crisis service C-CATT (CAMHS Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team).

Main duties of the job

The ideal candidate will be able to:- Work directly with families, carers and other agencies to support them at times of high distress.- Contribute to the formulation and development of individual intervention plans and risk assessments and implement agreed aspects of these plans in conjunction with PALMS' colleagues, other agencies, children and young people and their families.- Use initiative and practice autonomously, within parameters of the role, to ensure agreed goals and outcomes are achieved following multidisciplinary assessment and as part of the care planning process.- Maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings where there is a highly emotive atmosphere.- Be flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure- Work both in a team environment and autonomously

About us

We can offer you:

- Regular clinical and professional supervision- Regular appraisal, personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development.- Regular opportunities to meet as a team- Regular CPD and Peer Reflection- Opportunities to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team and learn from other evidence based frameworks and approaches.- Involvement in service development- Opportunities to provide line management and clinical supervision to other members of the PALMS team- In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,066 and a maximum payment of £1,845 per annum pro rata.

Job description
Job responsibilities

PALMS has longstanding commissioning arrangements to provide input to Children and Young People (CYP) on three distinct pathways of tailored intervention: standard, heavy and intensive. There has been an increase in the number of CYP presenting in/at risk of going into crisis; These children and families require a significant amount of clinical input to enable de-escalation, reduce risks and decrease the likelihood of being placed out of county.

Throughout 2020/21 PALMS have been able to collect robust data on the time and skills required to meet the needs of CYP presenting in crisis and demonstrated significant positive outcomes for CYP and their families. In addition, PALMS has been able to evidence the importance of a MDT approach to support these CYP. Simultaneously, Hertfordshire is committed to realising the vision of the long term plan. PALMS have therefore been provided with additional funding to support the PALMS population who are at risk of, or at, crisis.

Alongside supporting these CYP and their families, the work of the team will provide decision makers with evidence informed options and clear recommendation for developing and delivering an effective multiagency crisis service that is responsive to needs within Hertfordshire and which fully meets the vision of the long term plan.

The post is 2.2 WTE and permanent; Roles within the crisis team are flexible in terms of base as most of the work will be within the community across the county and as such a full valid driving license and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Closing date for applications will be midnight on Sunday 14th August with Interviews running on Monday22nd August. Interviews will be run using video conferencing and full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.

Please note there will be a group task at the beginning of the day which all candidates will need to attend. Successful candidates will then be invited to return for their individual interview later in the day. Timings will be allocated on the day.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Degree or equivalent in relevant field Professional Qualification (RMN, DipSW, OT or equivalent) supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses plus further specialist training to master's equivalent level.
• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology.
• Experience in relevant mental health/learning disability setting.
• Specialist knowledge within the field of clinical skills gained through theoretical and practical training and experience.
• Membership of relevant professional bodies

Desirable

• Approved mental health professional (AMHP)
• Further training in relevant areas of Autism, Learning Disability and mental health.

Experience and Knowledge
Essential

• Significant experience of risk assessment within a mental health or learning disability setting.
• Comprehensive assessment skills
• Significant experience of working clinically in a mental health and/or learning disability setting assessing, containing and managing complex cases in a multi-disciplinary setting
• Experience of working with people who have a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole course of presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the treat of physical abuse
• Knowledge of child development, child and adolescent mental health and a range of therapeutic models
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised therapies and assessment methodologies
• Multi-Disciplinary Team and multi-agency working
• Experience of dealing with Safeguarding Incidents.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and national policies
• Knowledge of evidence based practice
• An understanding of the impact of Learning Disability, Autism and mental health difficulties and challenging behaviour on family life.

Desirable

• To have good knowledge of local community services.
• Provision of effective clinical/practice supervision
• Experience of developing and delivering training and/or groups

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to lead professionally and managerially.
• Ability to identify appropriate evidence based interventions for mental health and/or challenging behaviour.
• Ability to communicate effectively when under pressure and dealing with challenging phone calls.
• Ability to perform under pressure, to be able to analyse information effectively, therefore ensuring correct conclusion for action.
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• Evidence of well-developed critical decision-making skills Ability to access various sources of information.
• An ability to make autonomous clinical judgements involving highly complex facts and situations
• High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate effectively complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a range of audiences.
• An ability and commitment to work as a member of a team and effectively communicate with the team.
• Excellent IT skills including use of databases and spreadsheets
• Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
• Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Ability to recognise the emotional consequences of working with children with distressing and life changing disorders and seek support if needed.
• Ability to recognise signs of stress and to seek appropriate support.
• Ability to work as part of a 'virtual team'.
• Ability to think clearly and express self.
• Ability to work with children & young people whose behaviour is personally challenging.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships
• Ability to manage potentially distressing telephone calls and situations
• An ability to work effectively in a range of direct care settings with families, carers and staff.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
• Ability and willingness to work flexibly including evenings and weekends as required

Others
Essential

• A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

812-PALMS-CRISIS-MHP-H