Job overview
As a result of continued investment in our Autistic Spectrum Diagnosis Service for children at Mile End Hospital, we are excited to advertise this post. We are looking for an experienced clinical therapy leader with expertise in autism diagnostics to lead our multi disciplinary team of therapists. The team is comprised of speech and language therapists, psychologists and occupational therapists who work together with the medical team to provide assessment and diagnosis for children referred with neurodiversity.
The post holder will be responsible for coordinating the clinical activity of the team, agreeing the most appropriate diagnostic pathway for children and working as part of the diagnostic team. The post holder will be required to liaise with system partners across health and education to develop the offer in Tower Hamlets for children and young people with neurodiversity as well as support with audit and quality improvement.
As this is a fixed term post we would welcome applications form individuals who may be interested in a secondment.
Main duties of the job
ASDAS is a multidisciplinary service providing diagnostic assessments to CYP with suspected autism in Tower Hamlets. The role has responsibility for providing expert support, advice clinically and operational oversight to ASDAS. The role includes clinical & professional components through clinically supporting the staff in the team by providing supervision and guidance as appropriate. The post holder will develop key links with colleagues in Tower Hamlets and North East London and will be an identified person to represent the service with wider stakeholders involved in the local Autism strategy. The post holder will also be involved in developing, implementing and monitoring integrated pathways, ensuring effective quality assurance systems are developed and evidence based practice is implemented.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
1. Experience of working with children and / or young people with social communication disorders and/or ASD
2. Experience of supervision / management of staff
3. Experience of clinical governance, including evidence-based practice, audit, quality standards, target-setting, and evaluation
4. Experience of working in an ASD diagnostic team
5. Experience of multidisciplinary working within health and / or education
Desirable criteria
6. Experience of working in deprived socio-economic, inner-city areas
7. Experience of organising and ensuring care of equipment and resources
8. Experience of working with children and / or young people with social communication disorders and ASD in a resourced provision or special school setting
Skills
Essential criteria
9. Time management, organisation, delegation, and prioritisation skills
10. Excellent interpersonal skills
11. Good analytical and reflection skills
12. Ability to work independently without direct support from colleagues
13. Ability to deal with highly contentious and sensitive issues with parents / carers, staff, and other agencies
Knowledge
Essential criteria
14. Advanced knowledge of the theory and practice relating to ASD
15. Knowledge of recent developments in evidence-based assessments and treatments and government initiatives for working with children and young people with ASD, challenging behaviour, within their family, education and wider community.
16. Knowledge of current therapeutic developments and guidelines in the assessment and treatment with children and adolescents with ASD and behavioural difficulties.
17. Sufficient knowledge of other co-morbidities in order to consider differential diagnoses with colleagues.
18. Knowledge of child development/ mental health issues
19. Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and ethical issues, including The Children Act, and strategic frameworks and their implications for both clinical practice and professional management
Qualifications
Essential criteria
20. Recognized degree either Speech and Language / Occupational Therapy
21. Registered with HCPC
22. Evidence of post-graduate training in clinical areas related to children with ASD
23. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)
24. Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised or similar e.g. DISCO, 3Di etc