Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists

We are seeking energetic & flexible clinicians to undertake a range of clinical work with 12‑24 year olds, parents & carers. This includes brief, medium & long‑term psychotherapy with adolescents & young adults. Parent work may include training in & delivering Open Door's parent work model. Applicants must have experience of working with adolescents, parents & carers in a multi‑disciplinary CAMHS team and must be accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapists. We will consider those approaching the end of training with relevant experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

• To have successfully completed, or approaching the end of, a postgraduate training in Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapists.
• To maintain eligibility for registration as a full member of the ACP.
• Training in other therapeutic modalities.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience working as a Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist in a multi‑disciplinary child and adolescent mental health service, including in a training post, with substantial experience with relevant client age group.
• Experience in the process of assessment of risk and clinical need.
• Experience of time‑limited and longer‑term clinical work.
• Experience of working with parents and carers.
• Knowledge of other therapeutic modalities.
• Experience of working with neurodivergent service users.
• Experience of liaison with other therapeutic modalities towards improving interdisciplinary understanding and networking – to improve patient options for treatment.
• Knowledge of areas of service administration.
• Knowledge of methodology associated with the use of outcome measures, service user evaluations.
• Interest and/or experience in service development.
• Knowledge and interest in understanding barriers faced, and improving access for young people to psychotherapy and mental health services.
• Experience of / interest in coproduction.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Ability to make complex autonomous judgements based on theoretical, technical and clinical knowledge and experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively in highly emotive situations: overcoming barriers to understanding and analysing complex and conflicting opinions/emotions.
• Capacity to approach clinical work with flexibility and creativity.
• Ability to organise and schedule a range of complex multi‑professional activities such as consultations with clinical teams, clinical seminar groups, educational and training courses, group supervision sessions.
• Ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Experience in autonomous management of personal work patterns and caseload – this includes experience in scheduling and maintaining a pattern of complex clinical and non‑clinical work.
• Good literary and report writing skills.
• Aware of the limitations and parameters of the treatment potential of psychotherapy.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Self‑motivated.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Adaptability.
• Trustworthy.
• Mental effort: capacity for frequent, intense mental concentration.
• Emotional effort: capacity to frequently work with highly emotional circumstances and levels of distress.
• Working conditions: capacity to work in a mental health setting with occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions such as verbal aggression.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Awareness of the appropriate ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of the profession.
• Ability to work as an autonomous clinical specialist whilst also maintaining close links with other clinicians and colleagues.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Willingness to work from a number of locations and using different platforms (e.g., phone, video, text).