Job summary
The new Orchids Team, working in collaboration with the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Intensive Intervention Team (AID-IIT) are seeking for a Specialist Psychologist/Psychological Therapist/Psychotherapist/Arts Therapist/Family and Systemic Therapist. The Orchids Team is a new and innovative multi-disciplinary team covering the whole of London and working in partnership with the AID-IIT. The team offer specialist multi-disciplinary outpatient support to children and young people up to the age of 13 years old with neurodevelopmental disorders or intellectual disabilities who are at high risk of inpatient admission or already admitted to one of the CAMHS under 13s inpatient units. The Orchids Team co-work with inpatient and local CAMHS teams across London to improve care and support for young people with a diagnosis of autism or intellectual disability and high-risk presentations. Staff working in the Orchids Team benefit from excellent team support and development opportunities. The Orchids Team work in close partnership with the AID-IIT and have links with the rest of the Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND) and with other N&S CAMHS teams. As a new N&S CAMHS team we are at the forefront of the development of support, practice and interventions for children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders or intellectual disabilities with high-risk presentations.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will work as a qualified Specialist Psychologist/Psychological Therapist/Psychotherapist/Arts Therapist/Family and Systemic Therapist in the Orchids Team to provide clinical input into MDT assessments, psychological interventions to young people and parents/carers and contribute to consultation, training and support to multi-agency local networks (jointly with senior Orchids colleagues). The postholder will also provide supervision and support to other junior staff within the service where appropriate (e.g. assistant psychologists and trainees). The role includes work across a range of settings - offering work in community settings, inpatient settings, working from home, and working from the clinic base, depending on the needs of the young person, family and network. The role will also involve contributing to service developments and service evaluation within the Orchids Team where appropriate.
About us
About our locations:The Michael Rutter Centre is located on the Maudsley hospital site and is located in Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). (Due to move to the Pears Maudsley Children and Young People (PMCYP) at the Maudsley Hospital in late 2025/early 2026)
Flexible working:As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 9am to 5pm, giving you the very best of good work life balance. (This may include working early mornings, later evenings or Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post)
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will work within the Orchids Team and in close partnership with AID-IIT to provide assessment, intervention and support as part of a multi-disciplinary team including: To provide specialist psychological interventions to children under the age of 13 who are at high risk of a CAMHS inpatient admission in the context of a diagnosis of (or suspected diagnosis of) autism or intellectual disability, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment. To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate. To contribute to care planning of young people by attending CETRs, CPAs and other professional/network meetings. To use routine outcome measures and promote service evaluation, audit and research. To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor To be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate. To work flexibly as needed across settings offering outreach work when needed for example seeing young people in inpatient settings, family homes, community settings across London as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will work within the Orchids Team and in close partnership with AID-IIT to provide assessment, intervention and support as part of a multi-disciplinary team including: To provide specialist psychological interventions to children under the age of 13 who are at high risk of a CAMHS inpatient admission in the context of a diagnosis of (or suspected diagnosis of) autism or intellectual disability, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment. To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate. To contribute to care planning of young people by attending CETRs, CPAs and other professional/network meetings. To use routine outcome measures and promote service evaluation, audit and research. To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor To be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate. To work flexibly as needed across settings offering outreach work when needed for example seeing young people in inpatient settings, family homes, community settings across London as required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
- Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration. (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in CAMHS with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. (A/I)
- Experience of developing and carrying out audit/service evaluation/research projects. (A/I)
- Experience of working with issues of risk and safety both physical and relational.
- Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework.
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment relevant to working in CAMHS with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. (A/I/R)
- To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I/R)
Skills
Essential
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information. (A/I/R)
- To select and administer specialist assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I/R)
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R)
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I/R)
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour. (A/I)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
- Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration. (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in CAMHS with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. (A/I)
- Experience of developing and carrying out audit/service evaluation/research projects. (A/I)
- Experience of working with issues of risk and safety both physical and relational.
- Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework.
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment relevant to working in CAMHS with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. (A/I/R)
- To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I/R)
Skills
Essential
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information. (A/I/R)
- To select and administer specialist assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I/R)
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R)
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I/R)
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour. (A/I)
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
