Job overview

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities whose behaviours challenge in Croydon and promote the best outcomes possible? An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Specialist Practitioner (behaviour support) to join the Croydon Community Learning Disabilities Team. We are looking for a passionate practitioner to join and enhance our established multidisciplinary behaviour support service.

The successful applicant will join a highly valued multidisciplinary community team for adults with intellectual disabilities, based in the heart of Croydon. The service is located in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council headquarter, and has strong working relationships with key partner agencies including Croydon Adult Social Care, Croydon Mental health in Learning Disabilities (South London & the Maudsley), and the Forensic LD & ASD Service (SLaM). The CLDT comprises of Psychologists, Specialist Practitioner, Learning Disability Nurses, Speech & Language Therapists, a Dietitian and Physiotherapists. We provide a psychological service to adults with intellectual disabilities with mental health needs, and/or behaviours that challenge.

Main duties of the job

• To contribute to the provision of the Behaviour Support Pathway as part of Croydon Community Learning Disability Team supporting adults with intellectual disabilities whose behaviours challenge
• To provide specialist behavioural assessments and interventions including support with implementation and monitoring of outcomes across a range of settings. The post holder will work autonomously alongside clients, families, support workers and professionals to enable others to better understand and respond to behaviours that are challenging.
• The post holder will be required to supervise junior staff as agreed with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist. They will use research skills to carry out audits, service evaluations and research activities relevant to the service.
• The post holder will be required to contribute to the effective running of the Croydon Community Learning Disability Team, delivering, or advising on the delivery of, high quality care and ensuring consistently high standards of practice. They will be required to contribute to effective multidisciplinary team working ensuring that care is delivered in a holistic way that involves service users and carers.
• To work as an autonomous professional within professional and Trust guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work under the direct guidance, close clinical and professional supervision of a practitioner psychologist.

Working for our organisation

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity. 

Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We’re also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people’s homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon and our Children’s Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without them having to come to hospital. 

Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we’re no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. As well as offering access to a range of core skills training and professional development.