Senior Assistant Psychologist

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Harrow; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) in London seeks an Assistant Psychologist to support psychological care for children, young people and their families. You will work under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, contribute to assessments, treatment planning and group work across CAMHS settings.

The role involves developing resources, assisting with audits and research, and attending multi-disciplinary meetings to promote best practice.

Qualifications

• Upper second-class honours degree in psychology.
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Direct and indirect structured observations of clients.
• Assist in developing resources for use with children, young people and their families.
• Assist in formulation and delivery of care plans under supervision of registered psychologists.
• Assist in coordinating and running therapeutic groups as required.
• Assist in developing a psychologically based framework of understanding and care across settings.
• Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings.

Education

Upper second-class honours degree in psychology

Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job description

Job Overview

To support and enhance the professional psychological care of children, young people and their carers across all sectors of care; providing psychological interventions under the supervision and direction of a qualified clinical psychologist, working according to the plan agreed with a qualified clinical psychologist and within the overall framework of the Service’s policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

Main duties of the job

• To undertake direct and indirect structured observations of clients.
• To assist the qualified clinical psychologists by developing resources for use with children, young people and their families.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of qualified clinical psychologists.
• To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups where required.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

Working for our organisation

The Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is responsible for the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to the populations of Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster, as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to other Trusts and Agencies, and to a wider regional catchment area. Clients of the Trust are drawn from a population that is highly diverse ethnically and socio-economically, including refugees. There are high levels of social and economic deprivation.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holder’s professional and team/operational manager(s).
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
• To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
• To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
• To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by their lead Psychologist.

Person specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable criteria

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Relevant post-graduate experience as an Assistant Psychologist working in NHS with children or adults presenting with Learning Disability, Autism and other Neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Experience of regular clinical supervision from an HCPC Practitioner Psychologist.
• Experience in co-delivering therapeutic groups and ability to evidence outcomes using audit/research methodologies.
• Experience of working directly with children with LD/ASD either as an assistant psychologist/ support worker or other direct care role.
• Experience of working with families and/ or carers providing training/ support in implementing behavioural strategies.

Desirable criteria

• Post-graduate research experience, including experience using computers for databases or data-analysis.
• Experience of designing communication aids, including social stories.
• Experience in providing psycho-education sessions for teaching staff and parents.
• Experience of implementation of relevant therapeutic approaches, e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Systemic or Narrative Therapy

Knowledge And Skills

Essential criteria

• Developing understanding of and ability to assess the needs and difficulties of people with learning disabilities and autism, including those presenting with behaviour of concern or mental health difficulties.
• Developed communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate condition related information to clients and relatives, co-facilitate group sessions with clients and families, including when atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• An ability to undertake research and development activities independently and as part of a team.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
• An understanding of psychology applied to health care.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and skills in delivering Positive Behavioural Support strategies to adults or children and young people with learning disability and co-occurring conditions and their families/carers.
• Experience of and ability to work with diverse client groups, through interpreters and using video call technology.
• Developed standard of report writing and record-keeping.
• Knowledge of alternative communication systems, e.g. Makaton sign language and PECS

PERSONAL

Essential criteria

• Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• Developing ability to be reflective about own practice and to identify areas of development

Desirable criteria

• A keen interest in working with people who have a learning disability and their families/carers, many of whom are likely to have experienced the negative impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences, social stigma and inequality; and who present with behaviour of concern and/or mental health difficulties.

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Confident in using Microsoft applications such as Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Desirable criteria

• A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology