Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Parenting and Child Team (PACT) within Psychological and Mental Health Services at Great Ormond Street Hospital as a Principal Clinical Psychologist. PACT comprises two clinical teams; the Child Care Consultation Team (CCCT) and the Attachment & Trauma Team (ATT).
CCCT is a multidisciplinary team which carries out psychological assessments of children and parenting assessments. We provide expert witness reports to the family courts, making recommendations for placement, contact and treatment.
ATT is an MDT providing psychological assessments for families and children with a background of early trauma and attachment difficulties. Many of our referrals are for an assessment of neurodevelopmental differences within the context of early trauma. As well as providing detailed psychological assessments of children and their parents, we provide trauma focused interventions.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will work flexibly across the service, taking cases across both teams.
Within CCCT, the postholder will be well-supported, by clinicians with substantial experience, to develop their assessment and court report writing skills. In both teams, cases are co-worked with at least two team members from different disciplines and time is set aside for regular case discussion and reflection within the multi-disciplinary team.
Interested applicants please contact Dr Sinéad Marriott, Consultant Clinical Psychologist 0207 405 9200 ext 8099 or or Dr Simon Wilkinson, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist on 0207 405 9200 ext 5380 or
Working for our organisation
GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.
We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.
We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women’s staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust’s mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential criteria
* GOSH values
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential criteria
* Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
* Registration with the HCPC
Desirable criteria
* Completed training in expert witness skills
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Substantial assessed experience of working as a qualified clinician at a highly specialist level
* Experience of writing expert witness reports for the family courts and giving expert evidence in court
* Experience of representing discipline within the context of multi-disciplinary care
* Experience of the application of discipline in different cultural contexts and of working in a multicultural framework
* Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and young people and child protection.
* Experience of supervising trainees, qualified staff and/or other professionals
* Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
* Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan.
* Knowledge of theory & practice of specialised therapies in children and adolescents and their families with attachment difficulties and complex trauma
Desirable criteria
* Previous experience working with looked after and adopted children and/or working as an expert witness.
* Experience or qualification within the field of child protection/social work
* Record of having published in peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
* Training and experience in carrying out formal assessments of ASD such as ADOS, 3Di or ADI
* training and experience in carrying out formal assessments of attachment such as CAI or SSAP
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
* Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their carers, and other professionals.
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
* Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
* Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
* Evidence of skilled and productive multidisciplinary team working
* Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems
* Ability to identify research needs of service and conduct research.
* Ability to prepare concise, evidence based, coherent reports summarizing information from multiple sources whilst adhering to timeframes.