Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Senior Assistant Psychologists with both a strong interest in, and demonstrable experience of, working with young people with mental health difficulties or neurodevelopmental conditions, to join West London CAMHS. We are seeking to appoint multiple candidates on either a permanent or fixed-term basis across our services in Ealing, Hounslow, and Hammersmith & Fulham, as well as our Cross-Borough teams.
You would be joining a large and welcoming CAMHS Psychology team 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, which means there is ample opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing expertise. You will receive your own regular Clinical Supervision from one of our Specialist or Highly Specialist Psychologists. We have good links with the North London Clinical Psychology training courses and frequently offer placements to trainees within our service. We also have regular opportunities to apply to CYP Psychological Therapies trainee roles across our services.
*Please note - this advert may close early if a high number of applicants are received*
Main duties of the job
The post holders will support their team in delivering psychological services to children and young people and their families. This may include assisting with assessments, co-delivering therapeutic interventions, supporting the team with Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs), providing check-ins to families on our waiting lists, supporting audit, service evaluation, research and Quality Improvement (QI) projects, and being part of service-user involvement and co-production activities across CAMHS.
About us
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 over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
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.
- 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.
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis, for example Excel, SPSS for Windows.
- 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
- 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
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis, for example Excel, SPSS for Windows.
- 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
- 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
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.
- 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.
