Job overview
Care Leavers are statistically more likely to need mental health support than young people in the general population because of the trauma and neglect that they may have experienced,
The post holder will work within the Children in Care Health Team, working directly with Care Leavers (18-25yr). The post holder will be a highly specialist and experienced Nurse with a substantial knowledge in the field of child and adolescent mental health, especially in the area of adolescent and young adult mental health. The role will involve working collaboratively with Newham Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and other professionals to support young people’s physical, emotional and mental health needs in preparation for transition into adulthood and independence. These might be from statutory, voluntary or school based sectors such as NHS trust, local authority, school or charitable organisation.
Main duties of the job
1. Work directly with Care Leavers in the holistic assessment of health needs, supporting transition into adult services, sign posting and referral onto appropriate agencies as indicated.
2. Work directly with those young people identified as having an emotional health need, providing one to one support for the young person as required and referring or sign posting on to specialist services.
3. Work with local services to meet the health needs of Care Leavers with special educational needs and disabilities to ensure sufficient provision is available when accessing services.
4. Support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children to have access to specific trauma based therapies as appropriate.
5. To be a resource of specialist advice, specifically relating to care experienced teenagers, to colleagues within CAMHS, other professionals and other agencies/organisations working in the field of adolescent mental health.
6. To liaise with inpatient services in the adult mental health directorate and private sector adolescent inpatient services.
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Role Specific duties:
1.1Work directly with Care Leavers in the holistic assessment of health needs, supporting transition into adult services, sign posting and referral onto appropriate agencies as indicated.
1.2The role will require effective communication with young people, sometimes this can be challenging especially those young people who have previously been hard to reach. A good amount of patience and an enabling and empowering approach is required to support young people to meet their own health needs.
1.3Work directly with those young people identified as having an emotional health need, providing one to one support for the young person as required and referring or sign posting on to specialist services.
1.4Provide regular health and well-being advice at the Newham Care Leavers Hub. This will include a face-to-face presence at the Hub with arranged sessions. Participating in a variety of approved Social Media technology including video / Whats App calls /messaging to ensure those young people placed out of borough can access health advice and support.
1.5Support Care Leavers to make behaviour changes which lead to positive lifestyle changes.
1.6Work with local services to meet the health needs of Care Leavers with special educational needs and disabilities to ensure sufficient provision is available when accessing services.
1.7Support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children to have access to specific trauma based therapies as appropriate. Consider the very specific health and wellbeing needs to prepare them to adjust to independent living.
1.8 Attendance at London Regional Children in Care Forum.
1.9 Link in with LBN Care Leavers Forum / Participation Team.
1.11 To be a resource of specialist advice, specifically relating to care experienced teenagers, to colleagues within CAMHS, other professionals and other agencies/organisations working in the field of adolescent mental health.
1.12To liaise with and where appropriate participate in joint work with the Clinical Nurse Specialists in Youth Justice, Justice and Substance Misuse services and with the Trust adolescent and adult inpatient service.
1.13To liaise with inpatient services in the adult mental health directorate and private sector adolescent inpatient services.
1.14To ensure that the needs of the client group is paramount, and be aware of and adhere to the London Child Protection Procedures and Guidance (2019) and the London Multi-Agency Adult and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures (2019).
1.15To ensure acceptable levels of safety (regarding potential verbal and physical aggression from more complex clients) for self and to advise other colleagues when necessary. To adhere to the “lone worker policy “and update training in breakaway techniques when necessary.
1.16Requirement to travel to young people placed both in and out of borough. This could be by public transport or own car in line with ELFT travel and expenses policy. Use of social media platforms – virtual meetings, working from home.
1.17Link with Newham Virtual School to support young people have access to education / training or employment.
2. Governance, Policy and Procedure:
2.1Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with GDPR, EFLT Local Policy and NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
2.2Maintain accurate and contemporaneous health records when working with children and young people using electronic systems in accordance with GDPR and local record keeping policy and procedures.
2.3To work with the Named Nurse Children in Care to initiate nursing developments as part of overall service development.
2.4To participate in the development of the locality and trust wide policies and guidelines relating to ELFT. To translate these policies into partnership working with other aspects of the service within and outside the trust e.g. Newham General Hospital site, CHN, locality CAMHS, and other key agencies such as social services.
3. Continuing Professional Development:
3.1The post-holder will meet the Knowledge, skills and competencies as outlined in Children in Care: Knowledge, skills and competences of healthcare staff, Intercollegiate role framework (2015)
3.2The post-holder will attend appropriate level of Safeguarding Children training as described in Safeguarding Children: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff 2019: Intercollegiate Document.
3.3The post-holder will attend appropriate level of Adult Safeguarding training as described in Adult Safeguarding: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff (2018)
3.4The post-holder will access clinical supervision offered by Newham CAMHs
3.5Liaison with Adult Social Care and knowledge of ELFT NHS Adult policies.
3.6Acquiring knowledge, skills and expertise in child safeguarding should be an on-going process.
3.7Must meet professional body and ELFT requirements for training and competency.
3.8 Maintain Professional Body registration.
3.9Attend relevant regional and national continuing professional development activities to maintain skills.
3.10Participate in regular safeguarding/child protection supervision and undertake reflective practice.
3.11Recognise the potential personal impact of working in safeguarding/child protection on self and others, and seek support and help when necessary.
3.12Receive regular supervision and peer review, and undertake reflective practice from outside the employing organisation.
4. Human Resources
4.1 To establish effective interpersonal channels of communication.
4.2To provide advice and support on issues of professional and personal development for nursing staff within the team working jointly with the Named Nurse for LAC where appropriate.
4.3To take an active part in the recruitment of nurses to LAC and child and adolescent mental health services if required.
4.4 To provide statistical and other information as required by line manager – Named Nurse for LAC. Lead Nurse for SCYPS,
or Associate Director of Nursing.
5. Clinical Governance
5.1 To take a leadership role in defining, monitoring and interpreting standards of nursing practice.
5.2 To work in partnership with the Named Nurse LAC and other members of the LAC team to implement, agree and develop evidence based practice.
5.3 To be aware of the up-to-date research and evidence relating to the care and treatment of adolescents with mental health problems, with particular emphasis on trauma; crisis/urgent work and emerging personality disorder.
5.5 To identify relevant research related to practice and ensure this is reflected in own practice and the practice of others.
5.6 To be a resource for specialist nursing advice within Health LAC, CFCS, previously identified areas and the third sector.
5.7 To recognise and support the Trust’s commitment to research and development.
5.8 To participate in standard setting, clinical audit and research proposals.
5.9 To investigate potential areas for nursing research, with particular regard to adolescent mental health.
5.10 To develop systems for the dissemination and sharing of research and audit information.
5.11 To be involved in audit and research projects undertaken by the service.
5.12 To work within professional and ethical frameworks established by National bodies such as the Department of Health, NMC.
6. Performance Management
6.1To ensure documentation and care plans are comprehensive and of the highest standard in line with Trust policy.
6.2To record relevant information as consistent with Trust record keeping policy.
6.3Collate and report on clinical information across a specific area(s).
6.4To provide clinical information as required for input into local and trust electronic information systems.
6.5Be responsible for monitoring and recording and reporting on clinical work and communicating complex clinical information to a variety of recipients e.g. children and young people, families and carers and other professionals orally and in writing.
6.6To provide service related information to senior managers and staff to aid day-to-day service management and future planning.
Person specification
Education and Training
Essential criteria
7. Mental Health Nurse Level 1 (RN3, RNMH in sub part 1 of the NMC Register) or Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (HV) or (SN)
8. ENB 998 or equivalent teaching/mentorship qualification.
Desirable criteria
9. Relevant post-graduate qualification in child and adolescent mental health.
Experience
Essential criteria
10. At least 2 years’ experience of working in a Band 6 post
11. Experience of line managing junior staff
12. Experience of service development
13. Experience of working in a Multi-disciplinary team.
14. Experience of working specifically with adolescent mental health.
Desirable criteria
15. Experience in crisis work Experience of CPA
16. Evidence of further training (in house or external) in a psychological therapy (for e.g, CBT (including trauma-specific) / Systemic/Family Therapy/Psychotherapy)
Skills and Ability
Essential criteria
17. Evidence of well- developed individual clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS.
18. Able to appropriately manage challenging situations and behaviours. Facilitating a supportive and enabling approach to empower young people.
19. Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries.
20. Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres.
21. Undertaking Care Leaver assessments and writing relevant reports
22. Good time management and organisational skills
Desirable criteria
23. Clinical supervision/support of junior staff
Knowledge
Essential criteria
24. Knowledge of specific inner city issues which impact of care delivery.
25. Specific knowledge of pertinent issues for Children in Care, Leaving Care, Adolescent mental health
26. Knowledge of the Children’s Act and other appropriate legislation
27. Knowledge of standard setting and audit implementation
Desirable criteria
28. Knowledge of development in inter agency partnership working.