Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Psychologist with in the Lewisham CAMHS Horizon team. The successful candidate will need to develop and co-ordinate the systematic provision of a psychological therapy service to provide highly specialist clinical input. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
Successful applicants will be joining an exciting psychological team. There will be many opportunities for learning, supervision, development and integrative working with young people with moderate to severe mental health problems.
As a service we are proud of our commitment to staff wellbeing and supporting staff in their aspirations. We have career pathways available, where you will be able to develop your skills and build on your experience to progress into other roles across different specialties.We have recognised the need for continuous learning and development of anti racist practice as clinicians and a service.
The needs of young people and families are at the centre of thinking about the service, and you will work together with service users and colleagues to ensure that the service best meets the needs of its population.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will also need to provide clinical supervision andconsultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in CAMHS.
Ensuring that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support other psychologicalpractitioners.
To promote service evaluation, audit, research and policy development. To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles andpolicies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpretingpolicies within defined parameters.
To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decidehow they are best achieved.
To support the coordination of staff support within their area, working closely with Corporate Psychology andPsychotherapy to support colleagues and ensure all staff in SLaM haveaccess to evidence based support. To participate, as a recipient, in staffsupport work when appropriate.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has the largest child and adolescent mental health service in the country and are national leaders. It is made up of five clinical units: National & Specialist, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth and Croydon.
Lewisham has a very high level of social need and mental illness in adults. Children aged 0-19 years number 64,000. Nearly 8% live in single parent households and up to 30% of households are without a wage earner. Children from black and ethnic minority groups represent 37% of 0-14 year olds. The number of looked after children is approximately 480. 20% of children are currently experiencing 3 or more psychosocial difficulties, and 46% of children live in families with three or more risk factors.
Lewisham CAMHS provides a multidisciplinary diagnostic, assessment, treatment, advisory and consultative service for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural disorders at high risk or those with more severe and persistent problems suggestive of psychiatric disorder. The service has five Specialist Multidisciplinary Teams: Horizon (Generic), Neuro Developmental Team (for neurodevelopmental problems including ASD), Symbol (for Looked After and Adopted CYP); LYPS (severe and enduring mental health problems), ARTs (for young offenders), Paediatric Liaison Service (for children with psychological problems associated with chronic health conditions) and CWP(mild to moderate depression, anxiety or behavioural problems.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in NHS CAMHS. (A/I)
Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Child and Adolescent mental health. (A/I)
Experience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
Experience of carrying out post-qualification research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)
Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area. (A/I)
Experience of providing teaching and training to psychological practitioners or other professional groups. (A/I)
Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework. (A/I)
Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for children and adolescents (A/I/R)
Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and its therapeutic application.
Associated awareness of assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I/R)
To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I/R)
To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline (A/I/R)
Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care. (A/I/R)
Doctoral/MSc level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for Children and Adolescents (A/I/R)
Job description
Job responsibilities
To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in NHS CAMHS. (A/I)
Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Child and Adolescent mental health. (A/I)
Experience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
Experience of carrying out post-qualification research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)
Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area. (A/I)
Experience of providing teaching and training to psychological practitioners or other professional groups. (A/I)
Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework. (A/I)
Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for children and adolescents (A/I/R)
Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and its therapeutic application.
Associated awareness of assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I/R)
To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I/R)
To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline (A/I/R)
Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care. (A/I/R)
Doctoral/MSc level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. (A/I/R)
Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for Children and Adolescents (A/I/R)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
- Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline e.g. HCPC/UKCP/ACP/BABCP/(A/I)
- Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or accredited to supervised qualified psychological practitioners in relevant discipline.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body
Desirable
- Post Graduate training in neurodevelopmental conditions
- Post Graduate training in specific mental health conditions and therapeutic interventions
- ADOS training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Child and Adolescent mental health. (
- Experience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training
- Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area.
- Experience of providing teaching and training to psychological practitioners or other professional groups
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework
Desirable
- Experience of working in an interagency capacity with children and adolescents.
- Experience of group work with parents, children and adolescents.
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for children and adolescents
- Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and it's therapeutic application.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities
- Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for Children and Adolescents
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
- Administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
- Consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups and sensitively managing, a number of people's needs simultaneously within the context of therapeutic work/consultation
- Advanced skills in working with a number of clients and systems together, managing the highly complex emotional relationships within and ts of the systems in ways, which maximise the potential for therapeutic outcomes
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
Desirable
- Skills in service development and leadership
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
- Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline e.g. HCPC/UKCP/ACP/BABCP/(A/I)
- Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or accredited to supervised qualified psychological practitioners in relevant discipline.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body
Desirable
- Post Graduate training in neurodevelopmental conditions
- Post Graduate training in specific mental health conditions and therapeutic interventions
- ADOS training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Child and Adolescent mental health. (
- Experience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training
- Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area.
- Experience of providing teaching and training to psychological practitioners or other professional groups
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework
Desirable
- Experience of working in an interagency capacity with children and adolescents.
- Experience of group work with parents, children and adolescents.
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for children and adolescents
- Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and it's therapeutic application.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities
- Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for Children and Adolescents
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
- Administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
- Consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups and sensitively managing, a number of people's needs simultaneously within the context of therapeutic work/consultation
- Advanced skills in working with a number of clients and systems together, managing the highly complex emotional relationships within and ts of the systems in ways, which maximise the potential for therapeutic outcomes
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
Desirable
- Skills in service development and leadership
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
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).
