Clinical Psychologist

Job responsibilities

(Please see attached job description for full details of post)

The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency system with the following key roles;

To ensure the systematic provision of a high quality psychology service to service users and carers receiving services from the Youth Offending Team and the CAMHS Service

To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within this service/team, and to ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of all other which the post holder has designated professional responsibility.

The role requires the provision of internal psychological consultancy to non-psychologists on psychological risk factors related to mental health issues, neurodevelopmental disorders and forensic behaviour.

The post holder will support the management team of the Youth Offending Service and the CAMHS Service in the implementation of a high quality youth offending service and advise on mental health, neuro and risk related matters.

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A key element of the role will be to implement psychological models of assessment, formulation and treatment in relation to the YOS population as well as the provision of clinical supervision to others (Psychologists and non-Psychologists) and the mainstream CAMHS Service.

To provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy in addition to offering advice, consultation and supervision on clients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to carers.

You will be required to work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.

To use research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service.

To provide support and guidance to psychology staff and students in the team.

To undertake a personal development programme and develop and encourage a research culture within the clinical team.

To develop and provide psychological teaching relevant to Youth offending Team and the CAMHS Service.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities of the Post

The post holder to provide specialist clinical psychology assessments in respect of the CAMHS Youth Offending Pathway (YOT) the wider CAMHS pathway and supporting Youth Offending Team (PCC).The specialist assessment will be based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of 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 Children (if age appropriate), family members and others involved in their care including nurseries and other agencies.

They will be responsible for providing highly specialist psychological interventions to children, young people and families who present with complex needs such as developmental trauma, a range of psychological difficulties and developmental disorders. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of children and young people and families, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the presenting difficulties , and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of settings.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of children young people and families ensuring appropriate assessment, formulation and intervention; communicating with the referral agents and others involved with the clients care on a regular basis

To participate in CAMHS YOT pathway in supporting the screening of request for involvement and effective management of waiting list. To attend relevant psychology meetings in Livewell CIC as well Youth Offending Team (PCC) as required to fulfil the role.

To provide expertise, advice and support to facilitate the effective and appropriate provision of psychological care by all members of the YOT/ CAMHS treatment pathway.

Facilitate reflective practice and debriefing as required, in working with complex and challenging cases.

Assessment

To conduct specialist psychological assessment with children and young people who have complex presentations. Gathering, interpreting and integrating data from a variety of sources including medical, social care, education and family and carer reports along with psychometrics and a range of psychological tools and observational methods with the individual, carers and others involved in their care.

Formulation

To formulate plans for the formal psychological treatment and / or management of an individuals difficulties across a range of care settings based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients presentation. Drawing upon and selecting the most appropriate psychological model from an in-depth knowledge of a range of theoretical positions and evidence of efficacy.

To be able to identify and manage the need for more complex re-formulation of the clients difficulties and to promote a realistic treatment plan.

Intervention

In addition to work with the child or young person and families, interventions will often be targeted at carers, staff groups or services and organisational systems supporting the child or young person

The post holder is to take a specialist and senior clinical role in the organisation, delivery, adaptation, development, management and evaluation of psychological therapies for children and young people who are in care aiming at preventing or reducing highly complex and persistent psychological / mental health difficulties. In doing so to:

Draw upon an in-depth knowledge of a range of psychological models, theories, interventions and their evidence base.

Maintain a number of provisional hypotheses.

monitor efficacy and outcome and alter the intervention accordingly.

Intervene with parents, carers, professional staff and organisations supporting the child.

To, where appropriate, act as Lead Professional ensuring the provision of a care package appropriate to the familys needs. When appropriate coordinating the work of others involved with the young children and families psychological care.

To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups, if the service model has capacity for this.

Clinical Risk Assessment

To undertake risk assessments and management for young people under the clinical care within YOT and CAMHS. To advise colleagues and other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. To make recommendations / decisions about future care pathways, placements, safeguarding and in line with Livewell Southwest and inter-agency policies and procedures with the aim of overall risk reduction. Wherever possible, agree a risk management plan in collaboration with partner agencies.

Communication

To demonstrate self-awareness and empathy in all communications.

To provide comprehensive psychological reports.

Communicate complex and sensitive information concerning the psychological assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients in a highly skilled and sensitive manner. This can involve explaining psychological assessments, formulation, management strategies, theory and models. This information will frequently be communicated in emotive and on occasion, contentious circumstances. It will be communicated in face to face situations, in meetings and in written reports.

This material will be communicated to:

Children and young people who may be distressed and have compromised understanding.

Parents, carers, families and staff teams.

Professionals across health and other agencies.

Senior managers across agencies.

Develop effective working relationships and communication on a day to day basis with a wide range of staff and professional colleagues across health and partner agencies.

Coordinate, when required chair, participate in and record multi-agency professionals meetings.

Consultancy and training

Consultation and training will be delivered within the requirement of the role. The post holder will provide specialist psychological expertise, training, teaching and consultancy to promote the well-being of children and young people and families. This will be delivered to families and carers and the wide range of experienced professionals from health and partner agencies. It will include presenting data, research and psychological theory. The post holder will be required on a frequent basis to provide consultation to other professionals being able to quickly grasp the concern and, based upon expertise and theoretical knowledge, provide or advise upon a psychological perspective.

The role requires an ability to develop, evaluate and review consultancy and training interventions, ensuring the interventions are effective and appropriate.

Experience

Essential

• Experience
• Clinical experience as a Clinical Psychologist working with children and young people with complex mental health concerns.
• Ability to work professionally and co-operatively in multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of delivering training and consultation.
• Experience of working with multi-agencies in safeguarding systems.
• Care Coordination or equivalent with people with complex Psychological needs.
• Successfully completed supervision of doctoral students both mandatory and elective
• Contribution to service evaluations or research.
• Experience of working with children and young people in Care.
• Experience of working with foster carers.
• Experience of training and supervising psychology assistants, trainee psychologists and undergraduate students.
• Broad range of post-qualification experience, preferably working at a highly specialist level in an autonomous capacity.
• Successfully completed supervision of doctoral students both mandatory and elective
• Contribution to service evaluations or research.

Desirable

• Successfully completed supervision of doctoral students both mandatory and elective
• Contribution to service evaluations or research.
• Experience of working with children and young people in Care.
• Experience of working with foster carers.
• Experience of training and supervising psychology assistants, trainee psychologists and undergraduate students.
• Broad range of post-qualification experience, preferably working at a highly specialist level in an autonomous capacity.

Skills

Essential

• Complex psychological assessment/case planning/intervention and evaluation skills
• Skills in specific therapeutic approaches, pertinent to Children in Care e.g. models of working with people who have experienced developmental trauma, attachment difficulties, additional neuro-developmental/language disorders
• Clinical formulation and diagnoses skills
• Training skills at all levels
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage and tolerate distressing emotional environments for sustained periods of time.

Desirable

• Can deliver a full highly specialist clinical psychology service
• Can lead in a clinical area
• Ability to represent psychology within a multidisciplinary team and/or the organisation.
• Skills in working systemically with the child/young person their family and the professional system.
• Excellent computer and IT skills.

Circumstance

Essential

• Ability to travel across Plymouth
• Ability to work flexibly (hours of work and duties) both as an individual and with other colleagues in Livewell Southwest and with partner agencies.
• Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments where required.

Desirable

• The post holder will need to travel and attend to service users based across Plymouth and other geographical areas. Full and valid driving licence and access to a car for work purposes is required. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act will be taken into account for the successful applicant.

Knowledge

Essential

• Competence in appropriate psychological models of assessment, formulation and intervention for children and young people.
• Ability to use test equipment and carry out psychometric assessment
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and documentation pertaining to children

Desirable

• Advanced supervision knowledge
• Specialist knowledge in one or more areas in clinical psychology e.g. psychometrics, psychological intervention
• Systems approaches
• Consultation
• Computer literate and knowledge of statistical packages

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Post Graduate
• Qualification in Clinical Psychology
• Professional registration with relevant body. (BPS, HPC)

Desirable

• Chartered Status
• Post qualification training in an aspect of clinical psychology assessment or intervention

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).