Offering individual/ contracted Clinical Assessments, Clinical Reviews, Social prescribing, Health and Social Needs Assessment, ADOS2 assessments, school observations and family interviews within the ADI-R framework, and bespoke packages of peer supervision for independent practitioners.
Health and Social Needs Assessments; social prescribing and report writing.
I write comprehensive and robust child and adult; family focused and holistic health needs assessments,
These reports are individual and the information is gathered through observation, play based assessment, family interviews and discussions.
The reports are person centred, succinct and an accurate reflection of the child or adult in real time. The information contained within the report is extensive and the reports are produced in a format which is structured for ease of reading.
Charges depend on the number, nature and demands of the report and will be negotiated at the onset of any contract.
ADOS2 assessments/ play based Autism assessments/ Observations and family interviews working within the ADI-R framework
ADOS2 assessment- I am trained in administration and coding- I can offer these assessments as one off pieces of work or on a contractual basis. As part of my professional development, I attend ADOS2 reliability workshops to ensure my reliability rates are within the recommended range and to ensure my coding does not drift. The workshops ensure coding is in agreement with international thresholds.
I also offer school based observations, home visits and family interviews to gather information to formulate a report using the ADI-R framework. I have been undertaking these assessments since 2015 when I was asked to support families to get on the referral pathway for Autism and Complex Communication Assessments in CAMHS. There have been changes in referral pathways and more recently these assessments have been sourced to help families access the ‘Right to Choose’ pathway through GP services.
These reports are detailed and offer a comprehensive write up including all detail from the school observation and family history, to inform services of existing and potential need. These reports are also used by wider panels when making diagnosis decisions for a child, young person or adult.
Charges depend on the number, nature and demands of the report and will be negotiated at the onset of any contract.
Peer Supervision
Facilitating and delivering quality programmes of supervision for Professionals- “solution focused, individualised and in accordance with national recommendations and guidance”.
The supervision pack is also available as a stand alone work programme which can be sourced without the facilitation element. This pack offers a work book for each person involved and is designed to pull professionals together to share in good practice, formulate learning and develop an established working supervision group. The programme offers guidance and clear direction for 6 sessions as well as policy guidance, engagement contracts and templates for learning.
Naming Celebrant with Humanists UK
As well as my work alongside health and social care, I am also an accredited Naming Celebrant with Humanists UK.
https://humanist.org.uk/catherineBlythman
I write and coordinate non-religious naming ceremonies for any occasion where a new member of the family is welcomed, or someone simply wishes to celebrate a change in their own name and what that means for them. Please see the above website.
Clinical Reviewing
My current skills with Clinical Reviewing sit within the Death in Custody service, Commissioned by NHSE and the MOJ.
I write Level 1 and Level 2 Clinical Reviews for the PPO to evidence ‘equivalence of care’ in secure establishments.
My reviews include making recommendations to improve practice and identifying good practice across the prisons- I am also expected to attend Coroner’s Court if called, to present and discuss my recommendations.
About me…….
In my 30+ years as a qualified Nurse, I have worked with many different disciplines providing services to children, young people, families, adults and carers.
I have undertaken and developed many independent and autonomous roles. These have included work within education, health and the independent sector.
My skill set has always been at its best in assessment and observation. I am currently an accomplished Clinical Reviewer for the Death in Custody service; a Clinical Assessor for the Leeds Learning Disability CHC team- undertaking DST assessments, FNC assessments and reviews of care and support.
I also contract with the NE Primary Area Inclusion Partnership assessing the needs of primary school aged children who are having difficulty accessing mainstream education. This role includes the school observations and parent interviews which feed into wider Autism assessments. These assessments are undertaken using the ADI-R framework.
This role also includes some sensory preference work which looks at an individuals sensory needs and identifies ways professionals can make reasonable adjustments to environments to better support the individual. Each child engages in an interactive game and parents complete a questionnaire to identify some sensory preferences. The information is then collated into a one page plan which identifies individual preferences and ways to support these in the school environment.
I am also trained administration and coding of the ADOS2 assessments for children and adults. These assessments are used to inform a wider panel of professionals who are assessing a person for Autism. The ADOS2 is not a diagnostic tool but is regarded as a Gold Standard Indicator for deciding whether a person has Autism. Findings and suggestions from the ADOS2 assessment are used as an indicator when diagnostic decisions are being made.
I have also facilitated Professional and Peer Supervision for a range of professionals; using a structured and comprehensive programme I designed. This is available to all of my clients in the form of a workbook. This workbook contains guidance and direction for 6 sessions as well as engagement contracts and templates for learning. This programme is designed to pull professional groups together to share good practice, formulate learning and provide focus for future CPD.
My skills are diverse and varied and I am always looking for opportunities to develop further strings to add to my bow!
I continue to develop associations and networks with other practitioners on a daily basis. I combine their expertise with my own resulting in enhanced assessment work, comprehensive and robust report writing and delivery, social prescribing and signposting in a meaningful and outcome focused manner.
Please get in touch:
CAB-Independent Health Consultancy Ltd 