Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist with both a strong interest, and demonstrable experience of working with young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, to join Hounslow CAMHS Neuro-Developmental Team (NDT). We are seeking to employ a candidate with a real interest and commitment to working with young people with neuro-diversity.
Main duties of the job
Your role will be to support other team members with generic and specialist assessments (initial screening, diagnostic assessments, cognitive assessments, school observations) and interventions such as psychoeducation groups for parents and children and individual psychological therapy using CBT and other evidence-based interventions. You will also be involved in supporting and contributing to the exciting Quality Improvement Projects underway in Hounslow NDT. You will be attending regular team and service meetings and will be able to develop a good understanding of how CAMH services work.
You must have a strong interest and demonstrable experience of working with young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, who may also present with a range of complex mental health needs. You will need to have excellent communication and engagement skills and a commitment to improving service delivery.
You will be expected to maintain a high standard of professionalism throughout your duties and work in accordance with the Trust Clinical Governance Framework.
About us
The successful applicant will be joining a thriving group of supportive, committed and skilled professionals within Hounslow NDT who are dedicated to ensuring young people with neuro-diversity reach their potential.
Hounslow CAMHS NDT is part of a large and busy CAMH service comprising, in addition to the NDT, an Adolescent Team, Child & Family Team, Tier 2 Community CAMH Service, Mental Health in Schools Teams and LAC Team. The Neuro-Developmental Team is a large multi-disciplinary team comprising professionals from Psychiatry, Psychology, Nursing, Teaching and Family Therapy.
You would be joining a welcoming psychology team in West London NHS Trust who are committed to service improvement, staff well-being, and who value diversity in our workforce. West London employs psychologists in the full range of settings including primary care, secondary care, inpatients and forensic services. This means there is ample opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing expertise. You will receive your own Clinical Supervision from one of our Specialist Clinical Psychologists. You will be encouraged to join our monthly Hounslow Psychology Meetings. We have good links with the North London Clinical Psychology training courses and offer placements to trainees within our service.
Annual Leave starts at 27 days per year plus Bank Holidays.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will support the MDT in delivering psychological services to children and young people and their families who are referred into the neuro-developmental team based at Hounslow CAMHS (Tier 3). This may include specialist assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), running psycho-education groups for parents and children and individual therapeutic work with children and young people with comorbid mental health difficulties. The post holder will also contribute to the ongoing Quality Improvements Projects within the team. The post holder will work under the supervision of one of the Specialist Clinical Psychologists within the team who will support adherence to professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.
The post would suit a professional with a strong interest and experience in working with children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions and who wants to develop their assessment and therapy skills. They will join an excellent and well-established team, staffed by experienced multi-disciplinary workers, including professionals from Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy, Psychiatry, Nursing and specialist teachers. They will be part of the thriving psychology department based in CAMHS which also has several Tier 2 Psychologists within it. This, in turn, is part of the wider tri-borough CAMHS service, which includes Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham boroughs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will support the MDT in delivering psychological services to children and young people and their families who are referred into the neuro-developmental team based at Hounslow CAMHS (Tier 3). This may include specialist assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), running psycho-education groups for parents and children and individual therapeutic work with children and young people with comorbid mental health difficulties. The post holder will also contribute to the ongoing Quality Improvements Projects within the team. The post holder will work under the supervision of one of the Specialist Clinical Psychologists within the team who will support adherence to professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.
The post would suit a professional with a strong interest and experience in working with children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions and who wants to develop their assessment and therapy skills. They will join an excellent and well-established team, staffed by experienced multi-disciplinary workers, including professionals from Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy, Psychiatry, Nursing and specialist teachers. They will be part of the thriving psychology department based in CAMHS which also has several Tier 2 Psychologists within it. This, in turn, is part of the wider tri-borough CAMHS service, which includes Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham boroughs.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Work experience with families, children or adults with mental health difficulties and/or neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders - ASD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD).
- Experience of clinically relevant research or audit.
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
- Experience of working within a Health, Education or Social Care setting.
- Experience of teaching and training, or group work.
- Experience of working with families from different cultural contexts.
Knowledge
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, other disabilities, and social difficulties.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health and social care context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health and social care.
Desirable
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis, for example Excel, SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience of having written research and/or evaluation reports and papers.
- Knowledge of the issues of conducting research/evaluation in the context of multi-agency teams.
- Knowledge of specific strategies for working with children with Neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Knowledge and skills in functional analysis and positive behavioural interventions.
Knowledge Personal Qualities
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact with children, young people and families who have complex needs and may be hard to engage.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Willingness to work flexibly when necessary.
- Commitment to working collaboratively with team colleagues to support innovative ways of working.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a multi-cultural framework, with people with a diverse range of backgrounds.
- An interest in working with people with social and mental health/health difficulties or disabilities, especially children with ASD / ADHD.
- An interest in service development and research and a passion for evidence-based practice.
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Work experience with families, children or adults with mental health difficulties and/or neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders - ASD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD).
- Experience of clinically relevant research or audit.
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
- Experience of working within a Health, Education or Social Care setting.
- Experience of teaching and training, or group work.
- Experience of working with families from different cultural contexts.
Knowledge
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, other disabilities, and social difficulties.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health and social care context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health and social care.
Desirable
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis, for example Excel, SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience of having written research and/or evaluation reports and papers.
- Knowledge of the issues of conducting research/evaluation in the context of multi-agency teams.
- Knowledge of specific strategies for working with children with Neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Knowledge and skills in functional analysis and positive behavioural interventions.
Knowledge Personal Qualities
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact with children, young people and families who have complex needs and may be hard to engage.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Willingness to work flexibly when necessary.
- Commitment to working collaboratively with team colleagues to support innovative ways of working.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a multi-cultural framework, with people with a diverse range of backgrounds.
- An interest in working with people with social and mental health/health difficulties or disabilities, especially children with ASD / ADHD.
- An interest in service development and research and a passion for evidence-based practice.
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This 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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This 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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
