The closing date is 16 July 2026Interview date: 29 July 2026Job summaryThe Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) team is a specialist support service for children and young people (CYP) presenting to the paediatric wards of UHDB with complex social and/ or emotional (mental health) needs and distressed behaviours. The service aims to understand the CYP's individual needs and develop personalised plans that support safe, co-ordinated and consistent care during their stay and transition beyond the hospital.
The PBS Team is multidisciplinary. It sits within the Clinical Psychology Department and is Psychology led. The team comprises of a Clinical Psychologist, Mental Health Practitioners, Specialist Eating Disorder Nurses and an Assistant Psychologist. Staff have experience and additional training in person-centred approaches, mental health and positive behaviour support.
The team operates within a PBS framework and promotes least restrictive practice. A large focus of the work is on assessing individual needs; increasing meaningful engagement; adapting environments; developing skills; providing psychoeducation; and improving wellbeing/ quality of life to support the reduction of distress behaviours. In addition to direct work with CYP and their families, the team offers staff support, advice/ consultation and training to the professional network. The team work within local safeguarding Children procedures and have a duty to respond to areas of concern relating to the protection of CYP.
Main duties of the jobThe mental health practitioner role is patient-facing within the paediatric children's wards at the Royal Derby Hospital and Queen's Hospital Burton. The post holder will provide and co-ordinate care primarily of CYP admitted to the paediatric wards whose behaviours pose additional challenges. They require strong team and multi-agency working skills and will work in close communication with appropriate colleagues in health, education, social services, and voluntary agencies.
- Offer individualised evidence-based biopsychosocial assessment and intervention to CYP and families and contribute to multi-agency working to ensure safe and effective care in relation to their complex needs and presenting risks.
- Make clear plans of care and contribute to wider decisions on how best to support CYP during their acute hospital admission.
- Support staff to identify and manage risks within the acute environment within a least restrictive framework.
- Contribute to complex clinicaldiscussions around individual'sneeds and diagnoses.
- Support staff in adopting trauma-informed approaches and making reasonable adjustments around presenting needs including neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Advise staff, contribute to staff training programmes and support quality improvement projects and service developments within the Trust
The PBS team operates Monday-Friday predominantly between the hours of 9am-5pm.
About usAs a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer:
- Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
- On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
- Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes
Key Facts:
- We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
- We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
- An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
- Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
- Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
- We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
- We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
- UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.
DetailsDate posted: 03 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year, pro rata pa
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 320-W&C-1181-A
Job locations: Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, United Kingdom
Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AIgenerated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorshipSkilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers
Important visa information: Due to UK Home Office immigration rule changes effective from 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored under Occupation Code 6131 (Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants) may not be eligible to bring dependants under the Skilled Worker route if their Certificate of Sponsorship is issued on or after this date. Applicants are responsible for understanding how these rules apply to their individual circumstances. The Trust cannot provide immigration advice. Further information is available on the Skilled Worker visa: Your partner and children - GOV.UK
Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).
Person SpecificationEducation and qualificationEssential- Completion of an accredited training course in a relevant professional degree level qualification in Psychology, Social Care, Nursing or Counselling/ Therapeutic discipline
- Eligible for professional registration under the relevant professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC)
Desirable- Further training/ qualification in mental health or therapeutic approaches, demonstrating development in breadth of knowledge
Experience and knowledgeEssential- Demonstrable knowledge of positive behaviour support principals and approaches
- Experience of biopsychosocial informed assessment and treatment across a range of settings
Desirable- Experience of working with autistic CYP and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Experience of working with individuals with complex mental health needs/in crisis
Skills and abilityEssential- To be able to demonstrate the ability to assess risks associated with CYP's presenting needs and to develop management plans
- Ability to develop clinical care plans
Desirable- Skills in training, leading, mentoring or coaching others.
- Ability to contribute to complex clinical discussions within an MDT
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer detailsEmployer name: University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: PBS Team, Positive Behaviour Support Team, uhdb.positivebehavioursupport@nhs.net, 01332785407
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