Job overview
We are looking for a highly motivated and innovative Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join our friendly and compassionate established multi-disciplinary Team.
· To join the Multi Agency Psychological Support (MAPS) Service - which is located in the local authority (London Borough of Hillingdon) and is part of an existing NHS service. The MAPS service comprises of a team of psychologists, providing a service for children, young people and young adults who are in/leaving care and/or adopted or have special guardianship orders, or who are children in need of protection, children in need, or vulnerable children referred to the stronger families service. We work closely with our Hillingdon CAMHS service.
· An additional part of role will be to provide psychological support for the ‘Staying Close’ project. Staying Close aims to provide stable accommodation and comprehensive support to care-experienced young people, aged 18+, who are leaving residential or supported living placements. This will be delivered in partnership with a range of agencies and organisations, including health, education, and employment providers. The aim is to ensure that young people receive joined-up support that meets their needs and helps them to achieve their full potential as they step out of care and transition into adulthood.
Main duties of the job
1. To provide specialist psychological and/or systemic or psychotherapeutic assessments and interventions whilst interpreting and integrating complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members, foster carers and others involved in the client’s care, including frontline workers in health, education, social services and the voluntary sector.
2. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of children and young people with mental health difficulties, including those children who are looked after and adopted, or are children in need, children in need of protection, young adults leaving care, or vulnerable children who are part of the stronger families teams. These plans will be based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client’s problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.
3. To work to prevent placement breakdown, and far more effective rehabilitation of children and young people back into their families where appropriate.
Working for our organisation
The Multi Agency Psychological Support (MAPS) Service – Is a service which is located in the local authority (London Borough of Hillingdon)and is part of an existing NHS service. The MAPS service is a well-establishedteam of psychologists, and provides a service for children, young people and young adults who are in/leaving care and/or adopted or have special guardianship orders, or who are children in need of protection, children in need, or children referred to stronger families service. We work closely with our Hillingdon CAMHS service based at Minet Clinic, Uxbridge. The CAMHS team is well established and is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will join an established Looked After Children and Early Intervention Service, and will have the opportunity to be part of the ‘Staying Close’ project (Leaving care young adults). These services work alongside an MDT CAMHS Team and undertake the following responsibilities:
Clinical:
1.To provide specialist psychological and/or systemic or psychotherapeutic assessments and interventions whilst interpreting and integrating complex data from a variety of sources including psychological andneuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observationsand semi-structured interviews with clients, family members, foster carers and others involved in theclient’scare,includingfrontlineworkersinhealth,education,socialservicesandthevoluntarysector.
2.To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of childrenand young people with mental health difficulties, including those children who are looked after andadopted, or are children in need, children in need of protection, young adults leaving care, or vulnerable children who are part of the stronger families teams. These plans will be based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client’s problems, and employingmethodsbased uponevidence ofefficacy,acrossthefullrange ofcaresettings.
3.To work to prevent placement breakdown, and far more effective rehabilitation of children and young peoplebackinto theirfamilieswhere appropriate.
4.To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological, psychotherapuetic and systemic interventions for individuals, carers, familiesand groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refiningpsychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number ofprovisionalhypotheses.
5.To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical andtherapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical, environmental, biological anddevelopmentalprocessesthathave shapedthe individual,familyorgroup.
6.To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge ofclientswhose problemsaremanaged by psychologicallybased standardcare plans.
7.To collaborate with colleagues in devising appropriate psychological, psychotherapeutic and systemic interventions for children, young adults, familiesandgroups.
8.To provide specialist psychological/ systemic advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals who comprise of the team around the child/young adultcontributing directlyto clients’ formulation,diagnosisand treatmentplan.
9.To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically and or systemic based framework of understanding and care to thebenefitofallclientsoftheservice,acrossallsettingsandagencies servingtheclientgroup.
10.Toundertakerisk assessmentandriskmanagementfor individualclientsandtoprovideadvicetootherprofessionson psychologicalaspectsofrisk assessmentandriskmanagement.
11.Toactascarecoordinator,whereappropriate,takingresponsibilityforinitiatingplanningandreviewofcareplansincludingclients,theircarers,referringagentsandothersinvolvedthenetwork ofcare.
12.To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni-andmulti-disciplinarycare.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
1. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
2. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the
3. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.