Principal Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist

West London NHS Trust; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join West London NHS Trust as a Principal Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist and contribute to a new Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Service. In this role, you will provide vital assessment and intervention services to young people facing emotional and behavioral challenges. This position offers a chance to positively impact children and adolescents while working within a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Access to continuing professional development

Supportive team environment

Diverse workplace

Qualifications

• Active Professional registration with Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Evidence of accredited courses in child and adolescent mental health practice.
• Post registration training in CAMHS.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist DBT to service users, including assessment and intervention.
• Manage a small caseload, delivering skills training groups to young people and families.
• Work collaboratively with schools and local services to enhance integrated practice.

Skills

Consultation Skills

Communication

Risk Management

Organisational Skills

Emotional Sensitivity

Education

Degree or Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Active Professional registration with the NMC

Independent Non-Medical Prescriber

Job description

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Principal Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist, London

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Client:

West London NHS Trust

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

676d4996c45e

Job Views:

4

Posted:

02.06.2025

Expiry Date:

17.07.2025

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Job Description:

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join and help shape a new service. West London NHS Trust is recruiting to a new Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Service for Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham CAMHS. The team will undertake Intensive DBT training together in November 2024, provided by British Isles DBT.

The service will provide assessment, treatment; training and consultation in relation to young people aged 12 to 18 who present with persistent self-harm and suicidal behaviour, which may be in the context of emotional dysregulation. Many of the young people seen will present with complex needs including high risk behaviours. All young people seen will have a comprehensive assessment to inform decision making and planning for the future. Each team member will have a small caseload and the team will support each other via consultation meetings and supervision.

Within the DBT service each clinician will play an active role in all aspects of theservice, including assessment, treatment (individual therapy, skills group, phonecoaching) teaching, training, research, and service development.

Main duties of the job

•To provide specialist DBT to the service users of the WL CAMHS DBT Service, including specialist assessment and intervention for young people referred to the service. Contribute to service evaluation, policy development, audit, evaluation, and research in the area of self-harm and emotional dysregulation. Provide clinical supervision, teaching and consultation as appropriate.

• To use and maintain skilled standards of professional clinical practice in the treatment modalities required by the children and young people attending the DBT service and be a resource to the whole service in maintaining the skills of others.

•To manage their own caseload and provide specialist DBT interventions for young people. They will be responsible for the provision of skills training groups for young people and parents/carers.

•To work in partnership with schools, social services departments, as well as local and national services to support integrated practice and service delivery.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CAMHS is a fast growing, friendly and proactive service. We offer staff benefits which are outlined in the candidate pack and a great level of job satisfaction.

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required and the link below will also provide useful information.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Degree or Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
• Active Professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• Training in the prevention and management of violence and aggression in children and young people
• Post registration training in CAMHS
• Independent Non-Medical Prescriber
• Evidence of accredited courses in child and adolescent mental health practice
• Training in specialist skills e.g. DBT

Experience

• Significant post registration experience in mental health
• Demonstrable experience of assessment and direct work with children and adolescents with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties
• Experience working with young people with in a community setting
• Experience of providing consultation and liaison support to colleagues, referral agencies and services responsible for the care, support and wellbeing of service users and their families/carers
• Experience of working with highly complex children and adolescents who self-harm and/or have suicidal ideation
• Experience of management of child protection emergencies
• Experience of working in a number of ways i.e. assertive outreach, clinic based settings, home, school or other appropriate environments
• Experience of using therapeutic skills, such as CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Family Work
• Experience in assessing and managing high risk behaviours and in developing and implementing risk management plans
• Experience of preparing comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment reports
• Experience of working with children and young people with ASD, ADHD and tic disorders
• Working knowledge of psychological therapy CBT and DBT techniques

Knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation relevant to the Children’s Act 2004, Mental Health Act 1983 & Safeguarding Guidelines
• A sound working knowledge and application of the NMC Code of Practice
• Knowledge of the legal issues relating to consent and capacity in children and young people.
• An awareness and understanding of the issues facing, children, adolescents and their families
• Knowledge of the various assessment tools used in CAMHS

Skills

• Skills in communicating with children, adolescents and their families or carers
• The ability to present and communicate complex information
• Good organisational and prioritising skills
• Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
• Flexible approach
• Good team player
• Able to manage risk
• A good understanding of, and ability to use, clinical supervision
• A high level of self-awareness and capacity to reflect
• Ability to contain the anxieties of severely unwell young people and their parents.
• Consultation Skills
• Skills and sensitivity in working with difficult to engage families
• Ability to deal with challenging behaviour in possibly distressing situations.
• Car Driver

Other Requirements

• Evidence of continuing professional development as expected by the NMC.