Neurodevelopmental Specialist Practitioner

Job summary

Our team is looking to broaden our multidisciplinary team to continue to deliver high quality neurodevelopmental assessments and treatment for children and young people aged 0 - 18 in North East Lincolnshire. We would welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds, including Non-Medical Prescribers, Clinical Psychologists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and beyond. We continually strive to deliver neuro affirmative, high quality and trauma-informed practices. Our team is determined to transform the care of the neurodivergent community through co-production, listening to the voices of those in the community. We are an innovative, supportive team who place great importance on staff wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

Candidates will use their experience, skills and knowledge to undertake neurodevelopmental assessments and/or treatment for children and young people, alongside their families and/or carers, as part of a multidisciplinary team. The day-to-day role of successful applicant can be tailored to their skill set, experience, background and interests. The candidates will work both autonomously and as part of a team within their professional guidelines as well as liaising closely with other professionals and partnership organisations. The candidate will demonstrate neuro affirmative practice, and will be trauma-informed in their approach to all aspects of the role. There will be varied aspects to the role, which include attending team meetings, offering consultation, supervising colleagues and contributing to service development projects, research and evaluation .

About us

Hello!

We are Navigo. We look after North East Lincolnshire's mental health and well-being, an award-winning social enterprise that provides mental health services to the NHS and beyond.

The whole basis of our work is to deliver services that we would be happy for our own family to use.

We offer a range of mental health services, including acute and community facilities as well as specialist support such as outstanding older adults inpatient services, rehabilitation and recovery community mental health and an outstanding specialist eating disorder facility.

Ranked as one of the top UK companies to work for, we feature in the Best Companies top 100 large company list.

As a social enterprise, we do things a little bit differently and have also developed income-generating commercially viable businesses that provide training, education and employment opportunities including Grimsby Garden Centre.

Working at Navigo is not like working anywhere else. Lots of places say that, but we really mean it.

We like to work with forward-thinking people who want to make a difference.

Come and Join us !

Please note: Whilst we value all applications, if we believe an application to be AI generated, we will use a checking tool and may reject any application that has been automatically generated.

Should you require any assistance in completing this application due to a disability or other needs please contact [email protected]

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical

As this post is open to a wide range of professionals with different backgrounds and skills, the main duties of the post will vary depending on the applicants.

For non-medical prescribers and medical staff in relation to the ADHD treatment pathway, the following will be required:

• Undertake comprehensive assessments of children and young people referred for ADHD medication treatment.
• Independently prescribe medication within scope of practice and competency in accordance with relevant legislation, professional standards and local protocols.
• Initiate, titrate and optimise ADHD medication, including stimulant and non-stimulant treatments in line with service policies
• Monitor effectiveness of treatment and manage side effects through regular review clinics.
• Assess physical health parameters including height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and other relevant monitoring requirements.
• Interpret clinical information and make informed prescribing decisions based on current evidence and national guidelines.
• Identify and manage clinical risk, safeguarding concerns and deteriorating mental or physical health.
• Develop and implement individualised treatment plans in partnership with children, young people and families.
• Provide psychoeducation regarding ADHD, medication options, benefits, risks and lifestyle considerations.
• Facilitate shared decision-making with children, young people, families and carers.
• Ensure accurate clinical documentation and record keeping within electronic patient record systems.
• Liaise with GPs, schools, paediatricians, CAMHS clinicians and other agencies involved in care.
• Contribute to transition planning for young people moving into adult services
• Maintain professional registration and prescribing qualification.
• Practice within professional codes of conduct and scope of competence.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of ADHD assessment, treatment and prescribing guidance.
• Participate in clinical supervision, appraisal and continuing professional development.
• Support the implementation of evidence-based practice within the service.
• Adhere to medicines management policies and procedures.

In relation to clinicians undertaking neurodevelopmental assessments, the following will be required:

To use their skills and knowledge to undertake neuroaffirmative, highly specialist, NICE compliant, neurodevelopmental assessments, which includes ADHD and ASD with children and young people, and their families/carers.

To formulate complex presentations and provide a range of specialist neurodevelopmental assessments to vulnerable children and young people including Looked After Children; children and young people who have mild to severe Learning Disabilities; children who are at risk of contact with, or who have contact with, the Youth Justice Service.

To identify the need for and, where appropriate, complete psychometric and cognitive assessments when required to support a robust assessment and formulation

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual children/young people and to provide general advice to other professionals on neurodevelopmental aspects of risk assessment and management.

To be able to give differential diagnoses/formulation when ADHD and ASD are not identified as part of an assessment

To be able to provide diagnostic feedback tailored to the needs of the young person and family, delivering this in a sensitive manner

Produce high-quality, neuroaffirmative reports upon conclusion of assessments

To provide specialist neurodevelopmental advice, guidance and recommendations in line with the SEND Code of Practice

The following skills are required for all applicants:

To work both autonomously and as part of a team, and across teams, in partnership with parents, education, social care, voluntary and other health professionals to provide integrated care for clients, their families, carers and educators.

To exercise full responsibility and autonomy for the assessment, support and discharge of a case load of service users, meeting expectations relating to the quality and timeliness of the service provided

The standards of practice will include meeting the standards defined by their registration body and NAVIGO code of conduct.

Offer regular clinical supervision to a range of professionals within the service

Assist in the development of resources, protocols and guidance for families and professionals.

Support the implementation of innovative and evidence-based practice.

Act as a role model for collaborative and person-centred care.

To deliver training to staff, families and partner agencies.

Participate in audit, service evaluation and evidence-based practice initiatives.

Person specification

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with children, young people and families.
• Assessment and formulation skills.
• Report writing and record-keeping skills.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Competent use of electronic clinical record systems and digital technology.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own practice.
• Ability to manage own caseload including prioritisation skills.
• Well-developed concentration skills.
• Ability to fulfil travel commitments of community work independently.

Desirable

• Experience of line managing staff and/or other professionals.
• Experience of delivering clinical supervision.
• Experience of multidisciplinary and consultation-based working.

Qualifications

Essential

• Honours degree graded at a 2:1 or above in a relevant profession, such as, but not exhaustive to, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy.
• Registered member of the appropriate professional to body for the qualifications above.
• Additional specialist training related to working with children and young people with neurodevelopmental differences.

Desirable

• Trained in recognised neurodevelopmental assessment tools (e.g. psychometric assessment tools such as ADOS-2, Qb Test).
• Postgraduate qualification or above in neurodevelopmental practice, child development, autism, ADHD, mental health or related field.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children and young people with neurodevelopmental differences
• Experience of working with children and young people from 0 - 19 years of age and their families and carers
• Experience of working with children who have lived through adverse childhood experiences
• Experience of using a range of assessment methods, including observations, interviewing, psychometric tests, and clinical record reviews
• Experience of undertaking risk assessment and managing risk as part of care delivery
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of engaging and supporting families and carers.
• Experience of safeguarding children and young people.
• For NMPs - Experience of prescribing and medicines management
• Experience of providing supervision to other professionals who work with children and young people and their carers and families.
• Experience of providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Experience of developing and delivering teaching/training to professionals and parents/carers.
• Experience of audit or service evaluation.

Desirable

• Experience within CAMHS or specialist neurodevelopmental services.
• Experience of conducting diagnostic neurodevelopmental assessments in children and young people.
• Experience of working closely with local agencies (e.g. Paediatrics, Education, Local Authority).
• Experience of being involved in service development.

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of a neuro affirmative and trauma-informed approach, and how to embed this in clinical practice
• Knowledge and experience of neurodevelopmental differences
• Knowledge of specialist assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to professional background and underpinned by evidence based practice.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience of child protection and safeguarding
• Knowledge of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key professionals in health, education, and social services.
• Knowledge of relevant child protection, safeguarding, SEND and mental health legislation and its implications for clinical practice when working with children, young people and their families/carers.

Desirable

• Knowledge of differential diagnoses (such as Intellectual Disability, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), developmental trauma and attachment difficulties) and how this needs to be considered as part of a neurodevelopmental assessment.