Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a psychologist to join our community Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (FCAMHS). Consideration will be given to applicants who want to work either full time or part time. The FCAMHS community team base is in Peterborough and there is also a second base in Cambridge. The service is regional covering the East of England region (Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire).
This dynamic service established in 2018, works in partnership with wider agencies to ensure integrated care provision across health, social care, education and youth justice to optimise the outcomes for children/young people who present with high risk and/or concerning behaviours and where mental health and/or neurodevelopmental concerns are suspected. The job will involve a mixture of advice and consultation and direct assessment work.
Main duties of the job
The post holder part will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and will have the support of a Senior Leadership Team that includes a Consultant Psychologist and Consultant Psychiatrist. The postholder will have the opportunity to be part of psychology networks across the Trust and a specialist forensic peer supervision group.
The post holder will provide a specialist psychology service to children/young people and their families/carers. The post holder will provide specialist psychological assessments for children/young people with highly complex presentations and psychological consultation to other professionals involved in their care. The postholder will also be expected to undertake service development projects and research as agreed with the Psychological Therapies Lead and Senior Leadership Team.
About us
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of children who are referred to the service, based on appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of sources, including psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, structured observations and semi-structured interviews, with children/young people, family members/carers and others involved.2. To provide appropriate psychologically informed formulations, consultation and advice based upon analyses of the range of available complex information concerning children/young people who are referred to the service and their particular risks3. To exercise autonomous clinical responsibility on occasion for implementing a range of psychological interventions with children/young people, their families/carers, adjusting, interpreting and reformulating the psychological models as appropriate on the basis of feedback, monitoring and follow up.4. To complete specialist structured risk assessments, drawing on highly specialist knowledge of forensic factors.5. To supervise, on occasion where appropriate, the delivery of psychological interventions as part of multi-disciplinary care planning.6. To communicate highly confidential and personal information obtained through assessment, formulation and interventions, to the child/young person themselves, other involved professionals, their relatives/carers, and referring agents. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, making judgements concerning what information to report and how and when to convey it, in the best interests of the child/young person.7. To be active in risk assessment and complex risk management of children/young people who may be at risk to themselves and/or others, and/or may be vulnerable and at risk of physical, sexual or emotional harm.8. To produce clinical and forensic reports on children/young people, in a timely manner, that convey the complex analysis and recommendations to the relevant audience. 9. To support the safe and effective transitions for children/young people between the community and custodial/welfare secure settings so as to ensure the appropriate services are available and coordinated. 10. To advocate and constructively challenge on behalf of the child/young person and their family/carers in order to ensure they can access the appropriate support and services to meet their needs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of children who are referred to the service, based on appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of sources, including psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, structured observations and semi-structured interviews, with children/young people, family members/carers and others involved.2. To provide appropriate psychologically informed formulations, consultation and advice based upon analyses of the range of available complex information concerning children/young people who are referred to the service and their particular risks3. To exercise autonomous clinical responsibility on occasion for implementing a range of psychological interventions with children/young people, their families/carers, adjusting, interpreting and reformulating the psychological models as appropriate on the basis of feedback, monitoring and follow up.4. To complete specialist structured risk assessments, drawing on highly specialist knowledge of forensic factors.5. To supervise, on occasion where appropriate, the delivery of psychological interventions as part of multi-disciplinary care planning.6. To communicate highly confidential and personal information obtained through assessment, formulation and interventions, to the child/young person themselves, other involved professionals, their relatives/carers, and referring agents. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, making judgements concerning what information to report and how and when to convey it, in the best interests of the child/young person.7. To be active in risk assessment and complex risk management of children/young people who may be at risk to themselves and/or others, and/or may be vulnerable and at risk of physical, sexual or emotional harm.8. To produce clinical and forensic reports on children/young people, in a timely manner, that convey the complex analysis and recommendations to the relevant audience. 9. To support the safe and effective transitions for children/young people between the community and custodial/welfare secure settings so as to ensure the appropriate services are available and coordinated. 10. To advocate and constructively challenge on behalf of the child/young person and their family/carers in order to ensure they can access the appropriate support and services to meet their needs.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate/Doctorate level qualification (or evidence that they will qualify), allowing the post holder to work as a clinical, forensic or counselling psychologist.
- Current HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Experience of forensic risk assessment
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist, highly complex assessment, formulation and treatment of patients with mental health difficulties and their families/carers across settings including community, outpatient and other settings.
- Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
- Experience of completing cognitive assessments
- Must be able to assertively engage with vulnerable people with complex needs and manage uncertainty and risk situations.
- Experience of working with cases where there are significant safeguarding concerns.
- Experience of consulting with health care and other professionals.
Desirable
- Experience of working with 'hard to reach' patient populations.
- Experience of working with children and adolescents.
- Experience of work within a secure setting.
- Working knowledge of legislation and national guidance in relation to the needs of children.
- Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Evidence of wider contribution to the field of psychology e.g. committee membership / publications.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Have skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and management in work with patients and their families.
- Be able to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice.
- To contribute to risk assessments and management plans.
- Be able to positively advocate for patients and professionally represent the underlying issues and needs of the patient group.
- Be able to work flexibly and co-operatively both with various teams and professional groups/agencies.
- Be able to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems including challenging behaviour, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, and two or more distinct psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of clinical caseload management within a team setting.
- Knowledge of the impact of trauma and neglect.
- Evidence- based practice relevant to the role.
- Knowledge of risk assessment and risk management.
- Good knowledge of clinical governance.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of professional systems involved in working with adolescents both in health and criminal justice settings
- Knowledge of relevant mental health, criminal justice and welfare legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the patient group and their care.
Physical Requirements
Essential
- The ability to travel independently across the East of England region.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate/Doctorate level qualification (or evidence that they will qualify), allowing the post holder to work as a clinical, forensic or counselling psychologist.
- Current HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Experience of forensic risk assessment
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist, highly complex assessment, formulation and treatment of patients with mental health difficulties and their families/carers across settings including community, outpatient and other settings.
- Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
- Experience of completing cognitive assessments
- Must be able to assertively engage with vulnerable people with complex needs and manage uncertainty and risk situations.
- Experience of working with cases where there are significant safeguarding concerns.
- Experience of consulting with health care and other professionals.
Desirable
- Experience of working with 'hard to reach' patient populations.
- Experience of working with children and adolescents.
- Experience of work within a secure setting.
- Working knowledge of legislation and national guidance in relation to the needs of children.
- Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Evidence of wider contribution to the field of psychology e.g. committee membership / publications.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Have skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and management in work with patients and their families.
- Be able to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice.
- To contribute to risk assessments and management plans.
- Be able to positively advocate for patients and professionally represent the underlying issues and needs of the patient group.
- Be able to work flexibly and co-operatively both with various teams and professional groups/agencies.
- Be able to cope with stressful interpersonal situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems including challenging behaviour, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, and two or more distinct psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of clinical caseload management within a team setting.
- Knowledge of the impact of trauma and neglect.
- Evidence- based practice relevant to the role.
- Knowledge of risk assessment and risk management.
- Good knowledge of clinical governance.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of professional systems involved in working with adolescents both in health and criminal justice settings
- Knowledge of relevant mental health, criminal justice and welfare legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the patient group and their care.
Physical Requirements
Essential
- The ability to travel independently across the East of England region.
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.
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).
Additional information
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).
