Principal Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist

TN United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic team at an innovative NHS Trust dedicated to providing top-tier mental health services for young people. This role offers the chance to make a significant impact by delivering Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to adolescents facing emotional challenges. With a focus on collaboration and professional development, you will engage in assessments, individual therapy, and skills training, all while working alongside a supportive team. If you're passionate about mental health and eager to contribute to a vital service, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mental Health Nursing and active NMC registration required.
• Significant experience in mental health with children and adolescents.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist DBT interventions and manage a small caseload.
• Collaborate with schools and social services for integrated care.

Skills

DBT

CBT

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Risk Management

Education

Degree or Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Post registration training in CAMHS

Independent Non-Medical Prescriber

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 the service, including assessment, treatment (individual therapy, skills group, phone coaching) teaching, training, research, and service development.

Main duties of the job

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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’ overall by 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.