Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to join Islington CAMHS. We offer multidisciplinary community-based and hospital-based care for children and young people in North Central London. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and committed psychology graduate who has relevant experience and interest in working with children, young people and families who have mental health or emotional wellbeing difficulties. This permanent post will be based across two Whittington CAMHS services, the South Hub and the Paediatric Mental Health Team (PMHT).
Main duties of the job
The post holder will have many opportunities for direct clinical work, and will join the senior clinicians in the teams, supporting them in assessing, planning, and providing care and treatment to individual cases and their families. The candidate will be an active member of the MDT, supporting the whole team approach in the assessment and management of clinical caseloads. There will be opportunities for 1:1 interventions, family, and group work; using a range of therapeutic models. The post holder will also be involved in outcome monitoring and service evaluation.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff.
We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.
The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences.
We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Work
Under clinical supervision and with support from the MDT:
- to hold a small caseload and assist in the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions, both individually and in group settings
- to conduct structured assessments using psychometric tools, direct observations, and interviews with infants, children, young people, and their families
- to deliver annual reviews of childrens mental health as part of their diabetes care
- to conduct school observations
- to contribute to the formulation and implementation of care plans, ensuring they are evidence-based and patient-centred
- to record and maintain accurate clinical notes in accordance with NHS and professional guidelines
- to provide psychoeducation and emotional support to children, young people, and their families
- to provide psychoeducation consultation to internal and external professionals working with children, young people and their families
- to utilise clinical supervision and line management supervision effectively and appropriately
- to liaise with wider professional networks including paediatricians, childrens social care, education, charities etc.
- to complete appropriate, effective and timely referrals and creative signposting into the community
- to constructively outcome clinical work, and support other clinicians in doing so, by scoring routine outcome measures, analysis and preparation of reports
- to join qualified clinicians in facilitating reflective practices
- to write clinically thorough notes, letters and reports to support the emotional, social, health wellbeing of infants, children, young people and their families
- to attend and contribute to weekly MDT meetings, including supporting with actions and minutes
- To support the development and maintenance of a directory of services in Islington and raise awareness of these services to the South Hub/PMHT to help with signposting young people and families to appropriate support whilst waiting for appointments or after their treatment has ended
Research and Service Development
- to support the collection, analysis, and reporting of outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
- to contribute to audits, service evaluations, and research projects to inform evidence-based practices within the service
- to keep up to date with relevant research and developments in paediatric mental health and psychology
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Work
Under clinical supervision and with support from the MDT:
- to hold a small caseload and assist in the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions, both individually and in group settings
- to conduct structured assessments using psychometric tools, direct observations, and interviews with infants, children, young people, and their families
- to deliver annual reviews of childrens mental health as part of their diabetes care
- to conduct school observations
- to contribute to the formulation and implementation of care plans, ensuring they are evidence-based and patient-centred
- to record and maintain accurate clinical notes in accordance with NHS and professional guidelines
- to provide psychoeducation and emotional support to children, young people, and their families
- to provide psychoeducation consultation to internal and external professionals working with children, young people and their families
- to utilise clinical supervision and line management supervision effectively and appropriately
- to liaise with wider professional networks including paediatricians, childrens social care, education, charities etc.
- to complete appropriate, effective and timely referrals and creative signposting into the community
- to constructively outcome clinical work, and support other clinicians in doing so, by scoring routine outcome measures, analysis and preparation of reports
- to join qualified clinicians in facilitating reflective practices
- to write clinically thorough notes, letters and reports to support the emotional, social, health wellbeing of infants, children, young people and their families
- to attend and contribute to weekly MDT meetings, including supporting with actions and minutes
- To support the development and maintenance of a directory of services in Islington and raise awareness of these services to the South Hub/PMHT to help with signposting young people and families to appropriate support whilst waiting for appointments or after their treatment has ended
Research and Service Development
- to support the collection, analysis, and reporting of outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
- to contribute to audits, service evaluations, and research projects to inform evidence-based practices within the service
- to keep up to date with relevant research and developments in paediatric mental health and psychology
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- An honours degree in Psychology and eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Experience
Essential
- Experience working with children and young people with emotional, behavioural, or developmental difficulties
- Experience using psychological assessments or interventions in a clinical, research, or educational setting
Desirable
- Experience working in an NHS setting
- Experience contributing to research or service development projects
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with children, families, and professionals
- Ability to analyse and interpret psychological data
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills
- Proficiency in IT systems for data entry, reporting, and communication
Desirable
- Familiarity with psychometric tools and their administration
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of child development and common mental health difficulties in paediatric populations
- Awareness of safeguarding procedures and relevant NHS policies
Desirable
- Knowledge of psychological theories and frameworks relevant to paediatric mental health
Attributes
Essential
- A compassionate, empathetic approach to working with children and families
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- An honours degree in Psychology and eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Experience
Essential
- Experience working with children and young people with emotional, behavioural, or developmental difficulties
- Experience using psychological assessments or interventions in a clinical, research, or educational setting
Desirable
- Experience working in an NHS setting
- Experience contributing to research or service development projects
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with children, families, and professionals
- Ability to analyse and interpret psychological data
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills
- Proficiency in IT systems for data entry, reporting, and communication
Desirable
- Familiarity with psychometric tools and their administration
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of child development and common mental health difficulties in paediatric populations
- Awareness of safeguarding procedures and relevant NHS policies
Desirable
- Knowledge of psychological theories and frameworks relevant to paediatric mental health
Attributes
Essential
- A compassionate, empathetic approach to working with children and families
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice
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.
