Job summary
PALMS (Positive behaviour, Autism, Learning disability, Mental health Service) is evolving and we want to welcome additional clinicians to be part of our vibrant and multidisciplinary team which includes Clinical Psychologists, Positive Behaviour Analysts, Systemic Therapists, Learning Disability Nurses, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Practitioners, Speech and Language Therapists and Outreach Workers.
With the continued evolution of PALMS we are seeking to appoint 2 Positive Behaviour Analysts for maternity cover who are motivated and forward thinking clinicians and leaders who can work flexibly and are committed to supporting CYP and their families across Hertfordshire and the full PALMS' team
Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate will be:
- Passionate about and have a desire to contribute to change in a vibrant NHS team
- Dedicated to supporting CYP with autism and/or learning disability and their families.
- Collaborative in their approach to work with families, networks, and others services
- Able to work both in a team environment and autonomously
- Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings where there is a highly emotive atmosphere.
- Flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure
- Have professional registration for your specialty
About us
PALMS works across Hertfordshire providing a specialist multi-disciplinary approach. PALMS is a CAMHS commissioned service which offers individually tailored support for children and young people (CYP), aged 0-18 who have a global learning disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder, helping families to manage challenging behaviour, toileting, feeding and sleeping concerns which have not benefitted from community interventions and/or to support mental health needs which cannot be met with reasonable adjustment by other CAMHS services. Interventions include workshops, intervention groups, individual therapy, parent as therapist sessions, and a family clinic. PALMS aims to keep children and young people with their families thereby improving outcomes for all family members. PALMS predominantly applies narrative, systemic, positive behaviour, and bio-psycho social models adhering to the STOMP / STAMP and Transforming Care Agendas.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PALMS principally deliver a flexible service according to need and personal circumstances, in a planned way. For example, for a full-time worker this equates to flexibly working 37.5 across the working week. PALMS are open to flexible working and therefore part time / job share would be considered, working a minimum of 0.6 WTE.
We are committed to supporting flexible working options for staff, wherever possible, and welcome discussions on flexible working patterns to support our staff to maintain a healthy work life balance.
We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages
We can offer you:
- Regular clinical and professional supervision including opportunities to meet as a team including peer reflection and Intervision
- Regular appraisal, personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development. This includes specific support with regards to fulfilling the PALMS role.
- Opportunities to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team and learn from other evidence based frameworks and approaches.
- Opportunities to provide clinical supervision and line management to other members of the PALMS team as appropriate.
- Opportunities to connect with local and national networks
- Involvement in providing training.
A full valid driving licence and access to a car insured to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Applicants to be aware that PALMS work within the ULEZ zone and any charges due to non-compliant vehicles cannot be reimbursed by the Trust.
Interviews will be run either in person at one of our bases or using Microsoft Teams, full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.
Closing date: midnight 7th July 2024
Interview date: 16th July 2024
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate degree in appropriate field
- Working towards or completed MSc or PG Diploma in Applied Behaviour Analysis, Positive Behaviour Support, and / or Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities or equivalent.
- Working towards or accredited as a UKBA(Cert) and registered with the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis and / or oBoard Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with eligibility for registration with the UKSBA
- Working towards or accredited as aUKBA(Cert) and registered with the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis and / or oBoard Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA) with eligibility for registration with the UKSBA
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of autism, mental health and / or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and / or an autistic spectrum disorder
- Application of Applied Behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support.
- Assessment of challenging behaviour.
- Development of positive behavioural support plans.
- Implementation and evaluation of positive behaviour support plans.
- Experience of working with individual's who are non-verbal or who have significant communication difficulties.
- Attendance and participation at multi disciplinary meetings.
Desirable
- Clinical experience in a child learning disability context.
- Experience of service quality monitoring.
- Clinical experience of working in child and/or adolescent mental health context
- Experience of delivering Clinical Supervision and Line Management
- Implementation of the periodic service review
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
- Experience of teaching and training others, using a variety of multi-media materials.
- Experience of co facilitating or delivering group interventions.
Skills
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive, abusive or hostile.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues
- An understanding of the impact of challenging behaviour
- Practical computing skills including the use of databases and spreadsheets
Other
Essential
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
- Eligible to live and work in the UK
- Willingness to travel to alternate locations to provide services
Personal Abilities
Essential
- An interest in working with children who have a learning disability and/or an autism spectrum disorder.
- Values that match positive behaviour practices
- Positive interpersonal skills
- An ability to interact with children who have a learning disability and or an autism spectrum disorder and their families.
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all discipline
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships
- An ability to work effectively in a range of direct care settings with families, carers and staff.
- Good organisational skills and an ability to manage their workload
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
- Capable of using initiative and maintaining professional boundaries.
- Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
- Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively
- Ability to work as part of a 'virtual team'
- Ability to work with children & young people where behaviours which challenge may occur.
- Ability to think clearly and express self.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Address
Sandridge Gate Business Centre
St Albans
AL4 9XR