Location: London, United Kingdom
Salary: £30,279 – £33,116 per year
Company: South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
Closing Date: 07 August 2024
Job Description
The South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated Deaf Family Support Worker to join the National Deaf CAMHS team in London. This role involves providing specialist support to deaf children and adolescents with complex mental health needs, including emotional and behavioral difficulties. The successful candidate will work within a multi-disciplinary team, supporting clinical assessments, developing treatment plans, and promoting deaf awareness among professionals and families.
About South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is committed to delivering high-quality care for individuals with mental health challenges. The Trust, rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission, aims to achieve ‘outstanding’ status. With a rich history and newly developed world-class mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, the Trust is transforming mental health care. They are inclusive, diverse, and actively anti-racist, striving to involve local communities in their mission of Making Life Better Together. They offer flexible working, career development, and various benefits to support their employees.
Main Duties of the Job
- Support multi-disciplinary teams during clinical assessments by identifying and profiling children’s language and communication needs.
- Develop and participate in treatment plans, promoting positive deaf awareness.
- Act as a deaf role model to support children’s deaf identity issues.
- Provide specialist input during language and social communication assessments.
- Collaborate with both deaf and hearing colleagues and BSL/English interpreters.
- Liaise with various professionals in both deaf and hearing environments.
- Attend National Deaf CAMHS meetings and have access to a vehicle.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Practice:
- Assist in initial assessments and intervention plans with young people, parents, and professionals.
- Undertake specific work with children and their families as part of a treatment plan.
- Liaise with other agencies, referrers, and carers.
- Build and maintain links with deaf organizations.
- Organize group work and community projects.
- Provide information and advice on health and well-being.
- Contribute to language and communication assessments and therapy programs.
- Support alternative communication strategies.
Education, Training, and Development:
- Help create deaf-friendly schools by working with school staff and hearing peers.
- Stay updated on research and developments in the mental health of deaf children.
- Promote Deaf culture and the Deaf Community.
- Maintain appropriate records and attend staff meetings.
- Participate in clinical supervision and development reviews.
- Provide training on communication strategies and sign language skills.
- Aim to achieve NVQ Level 2 and NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care.
Communication:
- Obtain and develop British Sign Language (BSL) Level 2.
- Adhere to the policy of using BSL when a Deaf person is nearby.
- Work with BSL interpreters and other language professionals.
Environment:
- Based at National Deaf CAMHS in London, with occasional travel to Cambridge and Kent.
Person Specification
Qualifications:
- Essential: BSL Level 1 or willingness to achieve it, NVQ Level 2 in Health or Social Care.
- Desirable: BSL Level 2, teaching qualification in BSL, NVQ Level 3.
Experience:
- Essential: Experience in the deaf community and culture, working with deaf children and families, and collaborating with professionals from other agencies.
- Desirable: Experience in language and communication assessment, working in health/mental health care.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check:
- This role requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for previous criminal convictions.
Visa Sponsorship:
- Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. Guidance on criminal records checks for overseas applicants is available.
Summary Table
| Job Title | Deaf Family Support Worker: Visa Sponsorship Available |
|---|---|
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| Salary | £30,279 – £33,116 per year |
| Company | South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust |
| Main Duties | Clinical assessments, treatment plans, deaf awareness, role model |
| Qualifications | BSL Level 1, NVQ Level 2 in Health or Social Care |
| Experience | Deaf community, working with deaf children and families, collaboration |
| Disclosure and Barring Check | Required |
| Visa Sponsorship | Available |
| Closing Date | 07 August 2024 |
South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust offers a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of deaf children and adolescents while developing professional skills in a supportive environment.
