Assistant Psychologist

To support and enhance the professional psychological care of children, young people and their carers across all sectors of social care; providing psychological assessment and interventions under the supervision and direction of a qualified clinical psychologist, working according to the plan agreed with a qualified clinical psychologist and within the overall framework of the Service’s policies and procedures.

To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

The post holder will work on the Goal Based Intervention Project, ADHD pathway, local SEND team and ongoing QIs. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home.

Main duties of the job:

• To undertake direct and indirect structured observations of clients.
• To assist the qualified clinical psychologists by developing resources for use with children, young people and their families.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of qualified clinical psychologists.
• To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups where required.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

Hillingdon CAMHS is based at Minet Clinic, Uxbridge. The team is well established and is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians. We aim to provide an accessible, flexible and responsive local service for patients and professionals working with children in the area using the whole range of therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, systemic and family therapies, psychotherapy, psychoeducation and therapy groups and multi-family work.

The post holder may be required to travel to other parts of the catchment area and / or wider service and trust as necessary, including working within the community (e.g. schools). The service operates Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17:00 with some flexibility to work extended hours to meet service need.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities:

• To assist in the design and implementation of audit and service evaluation projects.
• To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
• To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping, report writing and consultation records in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
• To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
• To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
• To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by their Psychology Manager.
• To contribute to gathering information in order to develop comprehensive formulations with the Clinical Psychologist.

Person specification:

• Essential criteria: An upper second class honours degree or higher in Psychology. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Desirable criteria: Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

• Essential criteria: Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Experience of working within a CAMHS Service.
• Desirable criteria: Experience of work in direct care provision. Experience of working with children who are looked after or on the edge of care with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Experience of working within a Social Services setting.

• Essential criteria: High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive. Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities. An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context. An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
• Desirable criteria: Experience of running groups. Experience of collecting and analysing routine outcome measures. High standard of report writing. Experience using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis.

• Essential Criteria: An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact with people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals. An interest in working with children who are looked after or on the edge of care with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
• Other Essential criteria: Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.