This is an exciting opportunity to join a multidisciplinary and multi agency team delivering an innovative autism assessment pathway acrossManchester. You will be be part of a multi-agency team, working alongside speech and language therapists, clinical psychologists, mental health practitioners, educational psychologists, paediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists and CAMHS colleagues. You will have the opportunity to develop core diagnostic skills whist practicing as a more specialist occupational therapist. The posts provide ample opportunity for training, consultation and service development and form part of a unique offer to deliver a timely, evidence based assessment for children and young people with social communication difficulties. The pathway was originally co-produced with Manchester families and the post-holder will be expected to be part of the ongoing co-production of autism services in Manchester.

MFT CAMHS has been graded 'Outstanding' by CQC. This citywide autism assessment team operates across Manchester, this post being based with the team covering the central Manchester area. Each team is committed to providing innovative, quality care to children and young people and their families and the new team will join part of a lively, engaging 'Autism Hub' within the city.

Main duties of the job

You will join a multi-disciplinary team of dedicated diagnostic clinicians, and contribute to service development and innovation. You will manage a caseload of assessment and bring specialist occupational therapist skills to the team.

You will support colleagues to provide specialist autism assessments for children and adolescents referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources including developmental history, school observations, specialist assessments, self report measures, direct and indirect observation and interviews with young people, family members and/or carers.

You will link with local CAMHS teams and other agencies and contribute to the ongoing CPD of colleagues.

About us

MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of £2.6bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at resourcing@mft.nhs.uk.Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Person Specification

Registration/ Accreditation

Essential

• You must be registered/accredited with the HCPC.

Qualifications

Essential

• You must have a degree in Occupational Therapy.

Desirable

• Additional qualifications relating to the assessment of autism e.g. ADI, ADOS training.
• Certificate in supervision skills.
• Additional qualifications relating to LD or autism.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working with children and young people with autism and social communication difficulties, including autonomous management of a complex caseload.
• Relevant experience and training in multi-disciplinary assessments of autism in children and adolescents.
• Experience of working with hard to reach diverse community groups and individuals with emerging complex needs, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities and safeguarding.
• Experience of assessing and managing risk, including safeguarding.
• Experience of evidenced based assessments and care plans and effective use of ROMS.
• Experience of liaison and working with a range of other relevant agencies and professionals, including managing difficult conversations and differences of opinion.
• Experience of mentoring and supervision of others, including supporting the wellbeing of junior staff and students
• Experience of consulting with health care and other professionals.

Desirable

• Experience of providing a variety of interventions for children and young people and their families.
• Working knowledge of professional systems involved in work with children.
• Experience of group work and/or delivering training.
• Experience of administering and interpreting paediatric standardised assessments, e.g. The Movement ABC.
• Experience of audit.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Ability to select, use and interpret a range of occupational therapy assessments.
• The ability to assess, formulate and manage care appropriately, ensuring discharge is timely.
• The ability to select, use and interpret assessment tools and outcome measures effectively and in collaboration with the child, young person, and family.
• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information and overcome barriers to acceptance with children, parents and professionals.
• To be able to function as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other agencies i.e., education, GP's, maintaining positive working relationships.
• To be able to provide feedback and constructive guidance to junior members of the team and trainees to facilitate their personal and professional development.
• The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance.
• To have the ability to manage own caseload and act as lead practitioner.
• Ability to manage and organise own time and diary, and work flexibly and creatively in a clinical context and pressurised situations.
• The ability to follow policy and make proposals for change.
• The ability to work independently with the support of clinical and management supervision.
• The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic.
• Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures.
• The ability to cope with stressful situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the case of highly emotive and distressing problems.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• A commitment to undertake further relevant training and self-directed study.
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required.
• A commitment to the inclusion of young people's, parent/carer views in service delivery, development and design.
• Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance and the ongoing development of the service.
• Positive approach to own continuing professional development.

Work Related Circumstances

Essential

• Ability to travel across the MFT footprint.
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse

140 Raby Street, Moss Side,

Manchester

M14 4SL

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

349-MCH-6727136*