Autism Nurse Practitioner and Designated Safeguarding Lead in Silverdale

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Designated Safeguarding Lead to join our dedicated, experienced and growing team of professionals as we embark on a journey of expansion.

About Caudwell Children: Caudwell Children aims to change people’s lives, change the way society perceives and treats disabled and autistic people and change the way that charities operate, through the provision of child-centred practical and emotional services, passionate campaigning and demonstrating best practice. We believe in a world where disabled and autistic children have the choice, opportunity, dignity and understanding they deserve #jointhechange and help us in our mission!

Our facilities provide a state-of-the-art base within the grounds of Keele University, Staffordshire, with the option of informal homeworking arrangements up to 40% after passing probation.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Safeguarding: Liaise with, pass on information to and receive information from statutory child protection agencies such as the local authority child protection services and the police. This includes making formal referrals to agencies when necessary. Store and retain child protection records according to legal requirements and the organisation’s safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures. Work closely with the board of trustees and senior team to ensure they are kept up to date with safeguarding issues and are fully informed of any concerns about organisational safeguarding and child protection practice. Report regularly to the management team and board of trustees on issues relating to safeguarding and child protection, to ensure that child protection is seen as an ongoing priority issue and that safeguarding and child protection requirements are being followed at all levels of the organisation. Be familiar with and work within inter-agency child protection procedures developed by the local child protection agencies. Be familiar with issues relating to child protection and abuse, and keep up to date with new developments in this area. Attend regular training in issues relevant to child protection and share knowledge from that training with everyone who works or volunteers with or for children and young people at Caudwell Children. Attend team meetings, supervision sessions and management meetings as arranged. Work flexibly as may be required and carry out any other reasonable duties. Appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory vetting and barring checks. Provide leadership and support on safeguarding policies and practices. Conduct regular training sessions and updates for staff on safeguarding matters, including specific issues like online safety and child protection.
• Clinical Responsibilities: To provide support for young children and their parents/carers referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological, self-report measures, observations, assessments and semi-structured interviews. To support the use of diagnostic tools as part of the assessment to provide and/or contribute to the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Support recruitment and open days to facilitate new staff, offering support and being involved in new starter induction pathways. To contribute to diagnosis and recommendation options as outlined by the case lead and MDT. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for their own practice. To contribute to and/or use evidence-based, integrated working tools and processes to support the assessment process. Participate and implement all aspects of governance to ensure compliance e.g., audits, meeting targets and ensuring best practice is followed across the charity. To undertake risk assessments for young children and their parents/carers. To communicate, in a skilled and sensitive manner, information on the assessment, formulation and recommendations for young children and their parents/carers who are under their care. To maintain accurate and accessible records and adhere to Information Governance requirements. To demonstrate high level communication skills, both written and verbal, within all Agencies, families and children.
• Teaching, Training, and Supervision: To receive and partake regular clinical professional supervision. To gain additional experience and skills relevant to the profession and/or the charity as agreed with the clinical lead to enhance the service and personal development.
• Support and Enhance Service Development: To contribute to a culture that is productive, accessible, inclusive and flexible to meet the needs of the local population. Work closely with colleagues in the multi-disciplinary and multi-agency setting including statutory and voluntary sector who are involved with young people. Work as an autonomous practitioner to the standards set out within the relevant professional’s organization care standards and relevant clinical standards - NMC code of conduct. Adhere to Charity policies and procedures. Be aware of and act in accordance with local Safeguarding Children Board procedures.
• Planning and Organisational Skills: Effectively plan and prioritise the competing demands of caseloads, assessments, report writing and multi-professional working on a daily basis. Have the flexibility required to respond rapidly to unplanned work. Keyboard skills required for inputting data and clinical notes. Responding to emails and producing reports. Frequently sitting, standing, and walking.
• Other: Provide enhanced clinical support to the family support team in relation to families and children accessing the clinical services. Lead on a child/young person’s autism assessment from referral to discharge. Support ADOS and ADI-R assessments with children on the autism service pathway. Communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment and formulation of children and families accessing the clinical pathway. Undertake clinical work with individuals, providing advice, resources and strategies, as appropriate, using specialist skills and autism specific approaches where required. Where necessary, undertake risk assessments and risk management for children and their families and to provide advice to other professions on aspects of risk assessment and risk management. Contribute to the development of the multi-disciplinary team. As part of the team engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities to inform evidence-based practice. Support service teams to ensure children and families are involved in future programme planning and delivery. Communicate with children, families and all stakeholders in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture. Provide mentorship and clinical supervision for practice education placements. Where appropriate, share and disseminate research findings with professional colleagues in the interests of practice development. Work collaboratively with all members of the MDT.
• General: Communicate with children, families and all stakeholders in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture in full compliance with the Equality & Diversity Policy. Uphold the principles and practice of customer care and continuous improvement. Maintain confidentiality and Data Protection and at all times work in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations 2018. Have an awareness of relevant health and safety regulations and legislation, being responsible for your own health and safety and that of anyone else whom your acts and omissions may affect. Report any concerns of potential abuse of a service user in line with the Safeguarding Policy and procedures. Ensure maintenance and security of physical, financial and information resources. Demonstrate commitment to ongoing personal and professional development. Keep comprehensive and accurate records in relation to your role and in accordance with policies and procedures. Attend training as appropriate to the role, applying knowledge gained to the workplace. To work effectively and collaboratively as a member of the team, building and maintaining good working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders. Ensure compliance with statutory and non-statutory bodies. Adhere to all Caudwell Children policies and procedures. Demonstrate commitment to Caudwell Children’s mission, vision and values. On occasion and when necessary, work flexible hours to meet the needs of the business. Willingness to travel on occasion in order to fulfil the needs of the post.

This Job Description is not exhaustive. The post holder may be required to carry out any other task as deemed appropriate for the level and responsibilities of the post.

Person Specification:

• Previous experience in a Lead Safeguarding role, adult or Children.
• Relevant safeguarding training and qualifications, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training.
• Previous experience of working with children/young people with Special education needs and disabilities SEND e.g. Autism, Intellectual disability.
• Experience of working with families in the community.
• Experience of working within an MDT and knowledge of neurodevelopmental pathway assessment tools.
• Experience of undertaking standardised formal assessments.
• Ability to work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads.
• A positive ‘can-do’ attitude with a flexible approach to work.
• Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for illness or disability.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey safeguarding policies, procedures and using skills when conversing with young people/families.
• Is able to adapt communication skills when working with children/young people and families.
• Ability to build relationships with children/young people, families, and staff, fostering a culture of trust and safety.
• Being self-motivated and having a flexible and proactive approach.
• Working with limited supervision or direction and has the ability to work off their own initiative.
• Self-motivated with a flexible and proactive approach.
• ADIR trained.
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Experience of working in the Third Sector.
• Experience of working in CQC and ISO regulated organisations.
• Experience of working with volunteers.

Disclosure & Barring Service Checks: The Charity is committed to safeguarding children and young people and therefore adopts a safer recruitment approach through a robust recruitment and selection process. All posts within the Charity are subject to DBS checks, in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). This role is eligible for an enhanced disclosure check. Caudwell Children is a Disability Confident employer committed to offering an interview to all applicants who meet the minimum criteria and declare they have a disability as defined in the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and will not discriminate for any reason against any person because of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex or sexual orientation. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background and other underrepresented groups.

Location: Caudwell International Children’s Centre (CICC). Up to £47,500 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience.