Assistant Psychologist

Assistant Psychologist

Entry level 30000 - 42000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support children and families with neurodivergence through consultations and group work.
  • Company: Achieving for Children, a not-for-profit social enterprise focused on mental health.
  • Benefits: Gain clinical supervision, professional development, and be part of a supportive team.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people while growing your skills.
  • Qualifications: Degree in Psychology (2.1 or better) and experience with child mental health services.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for innovation and personal growth.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.

The emotional health service sits within our Education Directorate. The service is a dynamic team of Mental Health professionals including Clinical / Counselling Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Systemic Psychotherapists and Creative Therapists. The service sits alongside our Mental Health Support Teams in Schools. The EHS is focused on providing fully integrated, high quality and swift mental health consultation, advice, training and reflective practice space for our social care and education colleagues. This is a newly created service, following our local independent CAMHS review and therefore there are many opportunities for development. We are a supportive group of professionals who recognise that the emotional wellbeing of the workforce is central to the work we deliver.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this post is to support children and their families with neurodivergence. As an Assistant Psychologist in the Emotional Health Service for Achieving for Children, you will be responsible for:

  • Developing and delivering our local offer of the post diagnostic pathway
  • Offering parents regular check-ins via phone calls or video calls and following it up with signposting
  • Co-facilitating post diagnosis groups for young people focusing on psychoeducation and coping strategies
  • Co-facilitating post diagnosis groups for parents
  • Supporting consultation with Child and Family teams

You will also receive clinical supervision and line management within the service.

About us

Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government.

About the role

As an Assistant Psychologist in the Emotional Health Service (EHS) you will be passionate about improving the mental health of children and young people and putting them at the centre of all you do. You will provide input and support to the Child & Family Help social care teams with a focus on neurodivergent children and families with outreach to the Family Hubs in the community. You will support the EHS Clinician for Child & Family Help team to deliver consultations, reflective practice and bespoke training to specialist education, social care and family support worker colleagues. You will also support the team with group work and aspects of assessments and interventions. You will be part of a team of clinicians providing access to regular peer supervision and many exciting development opportunities. You will also receive clinical supervision and line management within the service.

About you: Our role specification

Qualifications

  • Educated to a degree level in Psychology (2.1 or better)
  • Additional CPD in Autism and ADHD

Skills and experience

  • Experience of working in CAMHS or other child mental health service
  • Experience of working with children and/or young people with Autism or ADHD
  • Experience of a range of assessment tools and frameworks to evaluate progress and outcomes for children and young people
  • A knowledge of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • Have the ability to demonstrate a high level of determination, personal drive, energy and ambition to achieve challenging targets
  • Have high-level verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to use different communication styles and techniques to present ideas and influence others
  • Have knowledge and understanding of legislation, statutory frameworks, child development and relevant pedagogy including Safeguarding
  • Have the ability to recognise your own professional limitations and gaps and to use clinical supervision and regular CPD to overcome limitations and close knowledge gaps
  • Have good IT skills including use of database or spreadsheet packages

Personal attributes

  • A passion for Achieving for Children's vision, mission and values to support children and young people to live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives
  • Evidence that you put children and young people first
  • Evidence that you work in partnership to improve services
  • Evidence that you focus on quality and innovation
  • Evidence that you listen and learn to develop the EHS and AfC as an organisation
  • Evidence that you champion inclusion and value diversity

Person Specification

Experience

  • Experience of working with children preferably in CAMHS or other child mental health service
  • Experience of working with children and/or young people with ASD or ADHD
  • Experience of a range of assessment tools and frameworks to evaluate progress and outcomes for children and young people
  • Have high-level verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to use different communication styles and techniques to present ideas and influence others
  • Have knowledge and understanding of legislation, statutory frameworks, child development and relevant pedagogy including Safeguarding
  • A passion for Achieving for Children's vision, mission and values to support children and young people to live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives

Qualifications

  • Educated to a degree level in Psychology (2.1 or better)

Assistant Psychologist employer: Achieving For Children

Achieving for Children is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and innovative work environment within the Emotional Health Service. As a Community Interest Company, we prioritise the wellbeing of our workforce while providing ample opportunities for professional development in a newly established service focused on improving the mental health of children and families. Our collaborative culture fosters growth and creativity, making it an ideal place for passionate individuals dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community.
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Contact Detail:

Achieving For Children Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Assistant Psychologist

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the mental health field, especially those working with children and neurodivergence. Attend workshops or webinars related to child psychology to make connections and learn more about the industry.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by practising common questions specific to the role of an Assistant Psychologist. Think about your experiences with children and how you can demonstrate your passion for improving their mental health.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your work with children, any relevant projects, and your understanding of autism and ADHD. This will give you an edge and show your commitment to the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our dynamic team at Achieving for Children.

We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Psychologist

Knowledge of Autism and ADHD
Experience in CAMHS or child mental health services
Assessment tools and frameworks
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
High-level verbal communication skills
High-level written communication skills
Understanding of legislation and statutory frameworks
Child development knowledge
Safeguarding knowledge
IT skills including database and spreadsheet use
Ability to work in partnership
Focus on quality and innovation
Championing inclusion and valuing diversity
Determination and personal drive

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for improving the mental health of children and young people shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in their lives!

Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have with neurodivergent children or in CAMHS. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission, so don’t hold back on those details!

Be Clear and Concise: Use clear and straightforward language in your application. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the point, showcasing your communication skills effectively.

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.

How to prepare for a job interview at Achieving For Children

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of neurodivergence, especially Autism and ADHD. Familiarise yourself with the latest assessment tools and frameworks, as well as relevant legislation and child development theories. This will show that you're not just passionate but also well-informed.

✨Showcase Your Experience

Be ready to discuss your previous experience working with children and young people in mental health settings. Prepare specific examples of how you've supported families or facilitated group work. This will help demonstrate your practical skills and understanding of the role.

✨Communicate Effectively

Since high-level verbal and written communication skills are crucial for this role, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you can adapt your communication style to different audiences, whether it's parents, children, or colleagues. This will highlight your versatility.

✨Emphasise Your Passion

Let your enthusiasm for improving children's mental health shine through. Share why you’re drawn to Achieving for Children’s mission and values. Showing genuine passion can set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate that you’re a great fit for their team.

Assistant Psychologist
Achieving For Children
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