Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and innovative Clinical Psychologist to work across our specialist service for children with neurodevelopmental difficulties in Lambeth CAMHS. You will have the opportunity to consolidate your assessment and therapeutic skills working with children and families who present with a range of complex neurodevelopmental presentations and associated emotional or mental health needs. The role is an excellent opportunity for the post holder to develop therapeutic skills with children and families who present with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Learning Disability alongside skills in group work, consultation, teaching and training.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be based in the Neurodevelopmental Pathway in Lambeth CAMHS.. Lambeth CAMHS is a friendly, dynamic and dedicated multidisciplinary team. The team includes CAMHS Practitioners with backgrounds in Nursing, Social Work, Art Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology, Child Psychotherapy, Family Therapy and Child Psychiatry. Close working relationships with members of the team and partnership agencies e.g. Social Services, Community Paediatrics, Education and others is essential. You will demonstrate an interest in multi-agency and multi-disciplinary work and be familiar with evidence-based practice, particularly for children with neurodevelopmental concerns. Applicants will be supported to work independently and have good clinical/therapeutic and case management skills.
There are excellent opportunities for CPD, in service teaching, for supervision and professional support within the local psychology group, Lambeth CAMHS and the trust.
Working for our organisation
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package, feel valued and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance.
Some of our benefits include:
1. Generous pay, pensions and leave packages dependent on the role and length of service.
2. Work life balance, flexible working and supporting a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
3. Career development with plenty CPD opportunities such as mentoring, coaching, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
4. Accommodation, our staff benefit fromkeyworker housing at selected sites.
5. NHS discounts via theHealth Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
6. Counselling services
7. Wellbeing events
8. Long service awards
9. Cycle to work scheme
10. Season ticket loan
11. Childcare vouchers
12. Staff restaurants
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide specialist input to the assessment, formulation and treatment planning of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and additional mental health needs. This will be based on the post holders good theoretical knowledge of psychological theories, up to date knowledge of literature and evidence-based practice to make formulations about clinical presentation and risk. To be responsible for a specialist caseload for children will with moderate to severe learning disabilities and/or neurodevelopmental disorder (including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD), and additional mental health needs and/or behaviour that challenges. To contribute to intake assessment clinics for a wide range of children and young people who present with mental health difficulties in Lambeth CAMHS. Service assessment clinics support children across the tiers of intervention. To manage your own caseload and provide evidence-based assessments and interventions to manage complex cases. To undertake standardised cognitive assessments, producing psychometric reports, as and when required, to contribute to the formulation of a child or young person's difficulties from a neuropsychological perspective. Responsibility for the management of restricted test materials; interpretation of findings of neuropsychological assessments and the provision of culturally appropriate reports of the findings and the implications of these. Conducting occasional observations of children in school. Use of self-report and other screening measures to assess for comorbid difficulties or aid in differential diagnosis. Teach and support parents and carers in building skills in managing and coping with behaviour that challenges, and to improve the parent-child relationship. To work in partnership with clinical colleagues in the team, and other agencies, to support integrated practice and service delivery. Consulting to other colleagues from other professional backgrounds in relation to children with neurodevelopmental difficulties. Liaison with schools, nurseries, social care and other professionals involved in childrens care. On occasion to contribute to the CAMHS duty system. To assess and support young people and families who present in crisis. To assess, support and to engage in risk planning for young people who have been recently presented to A & E with mental health concerns. To share psychological knowledge and skills. To offer teaching and training sessions to a range of audiences such as parents, allied health professionals, CAMHS colleagues on areas of psychological specialism e.g. clinical interventions to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or learning disability. To undertake service evaluation, audit and research. To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct and be guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
13. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent.
14. Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable criteria
15. Additional Training specific to the clinical practice to work with children with ASD/LD
Knowledge
Essential criteria
16. Specialist and transferable psychological skills and knowledge of the theory and evidence base relevant to work with child and young people with moderate to severe learning disabilities and/or neurodevelopmental disorder (including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD), and additional mental health needs and/or challenging behaviour
17. Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
18. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities including the Children Act, child protection procedures, and the Mental Health Act
19. Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complexstatistical analysis.
20. Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care
Desirable criteria
21. Specialist advanced knowledge of the clinical and practice issues for children with ASD/LD
Skills
Essential criteria
22. To deliver psychological therapy in at least two models of psychological therapy including adapted cognitive behavioural therapy for children and young people with neurodevelopmental difficulties and across cultural and other differences.
23. To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
24. To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials
25. Consultation skills to work with the multiprofessional team or other professional groups within own service
26. Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
Desirable criteria
27. Advanced skill as a clinical psychologist to adapt therapeutic work for children with neurodiverse presentations
Experience
Essential criteria
28. Experience of clinical assessments, formulation and interventions with children and young people
29. Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs
30. Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of children with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in child and adolescent mental health
31. Experience in the use of assessment tools including the Wechsler Intelligence Scales
32. Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience.
Desirable criteria
33. Evidence of advanced practice and clinical experience as a clinical psychologist working with children with ASD/LD
34. Evidence of presenting complex clinical information to a range of client groups, stakeholders and professionals