Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guidethat sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post.As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Registration/Accreditation

Essential

• You must hold full membership with the Association of Child Psychotherapists (or eligibility if imminently qualifying)

Qualifications

Essential

• You must have a recognised qualification as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist as recognised by the Association of Child Psychotherapists

Desirable

• Additional post-graduate training in psychological therapies and interventions

Experience

Essential

• Experience of work with patient groups presenting high levels of complexity, in a CAMHS setting
• Experience in psychoanalytic psychotherapy assessment and therapeutic work with children, young people and families, parents/carers with a full range of presenting problems
• Experience of providing time-limited psychotherapy
• Experience of representing clinical child psychotherapy within the context of multidisciplinary and/or multiagency treatment
• Working knowledge of professional systems involved in work with children and young people, including in relation to the statutory frameworks around child protection
• Proven experience of working effectively with people with mental health difficulties, including autonomous management of a complex caseload which frequently deals with distressing and emotional circumstances
• Experience of working with hard to reach diverse community groups and individuals with emerging complex needs, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities and safeguarding
• Experience of assessing and managing risk: including safeguarding
• Experience of developing and providing evidenced based assessments, formulations, and care plans and effective use of ROMS
• Experience of liaison and working with a range of other relevant agencies and professionals, including managing difficult conversations and differences of opinion
• Experience of mentoring and supervision of others, including supporting the mental health and wellbeing of junior staff and trainees
• Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures

Desirable

• Experience of audit. Experience of research. Experience of helping the development of service provision. Experience of consulting with other professionals in Health Education and/or Social Services

Knowledge, Skills & Ability

Essential

• Post-graduate level (or equivalent) knowledge of child and adolescent psychotherapy, including highly developed knowledge of psychoanalytical theories and models of development, psychopathology, family and institutional dynamics
• Up to date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation
• Advanced knowledge and skills in delivery of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice
• Skills in the use of psychoanalytical methods of assessment, intervention and management in work with children and families
• The ability to assess, formulate and manage care appropriately, ensuring discharge is timely
• The ability to select, use and interpret assessment tools and outcome measures / ROMs effectively and in collaboration with the child, young person, and family
• Ability to integrate psychological theories and outcome data with clinical practice and service provision
• Ability to plan, implement and evaluate appropriate therapeutic interventions with children across the age range and their parents/carers
• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information and overcome barriers to acceptance with children, parents and professionals
• To be able to function as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other agencies i.e., education, GP's, maintaining positive working relationships
• The ability to work with people from a range of different backgrounds, cultures and or different ages
• To be able to provide feedback and constructive guidance to junior members of the team and trainees to facilitate their personal and professional development
• The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
• To have the ability to manage own caseload and act as lead practitioner
• The ability to follow policy and make proposals for change
• The ability to work independently with the support of clinical and management supervision
• The ability to cope with stressful situations including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the case of highly emotive and distressing problems
• The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic

Desirable

• Experience of delivering training, Experience of audit and research, Advanced IT skills and Experience of supervising junior staff

Personal Attributes & Work Related Circumstances

Essential

• A commitment to undertake further relevant training and self-directed study
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
• A commitment to the inclusion of young people's, parent/carer views in service delivery, development and design
• Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance and the ongoing development of the service
• Ability to travel across the MFT footprint
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies

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).