Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Band 8a Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

The closing date is 04 July 2025

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced, strongly psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist to join us in our well-functioning and supportive, multi-disciplinary CAMHS team. We are primarily a neurodevelopmental service offering diagnostic assessments and therapeutic treatments. There are also some opportunities for paediatric liaison work. We are located within the Royal Free hospital between Belsize Park tube and Hampstead Heath train stations.

Main duties of the job

To provide child psychotherapy services to the Royal Free CAMHS neuro-developmental service. This will comprise providing specialist diagnostic and psychotherapeutic assessment, treatment, advice and consultation on patients' psychological care, working autonomously within professional guidelines and within the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures. Additionally, there are opportunities for some paediatric liaison work, particularly to provide a support service for parents and staff on the neonatal unit. Also, to provide clinical supervision, consultation and training to staff in the Paediatric Division to promote reflective practice and staff wellbeing. The post holder will manage Anna Freud Centre MSc student placements within the Child Psychotherapy team.

About us

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

Details

Date posted

23 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum (pro-rata) inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7239587

Job locations

Royal Free hospital

Pond Street

London

NW3 2QG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

Person Specification

Professional registration, training and skills.

Essential

  • Postgraduate training (doctoral equivalent) in clinical child psychotherapy at a training school accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapy or Association of Child Psychotherapists' Statement of Equivalence and ACP Registration.
  • High level of expertise and competence in the practice of psychoanalytic Child Psychotherapy
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of children, adolescents and their parents across the whole age range and presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity and complexity.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to infants, children and adolescents including child protection procedures and policies. Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education structures.
  • Highly developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, complex, clinically sensitive information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
  • Ability to form good working relationships to work with others in a multidisciplinary setting.

Desirable

  • Experience of managing and supervising clinical and research placements for Masters' students
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups, including staff debriefing sessions
  • Experience of working with patients with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Availability

Essential

  • To be available to attend weekly MDT meeting on Tuesday mornings and the Child Psychotherapy team meeting on Thursdays 1-2pm. To be available to work on Mondays or Fridays

Theoretical and clinical orientation

Essential

  • Psychoanalytic orientation.

Desirable

  • Ability to articulate clearly the role of Child Psychotherapy in multi-professional services, based on a good understanding of NHS and national professional policies.
Person Specification

Professional registration, training and skills.

Essential

  • Postgraduate training (doctoral equivalent) in clinical child psychotherapy at a training school accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapy or Association of Child Psychotherapists' Statement of Equivalence and ACP Registration.
  • High level of expertise and competence in the practice of psychoanalytic Child Psychotherapy
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of children, adolescents and their parents across the whole age range and presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity and complexity.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to infants, children and adolescents including child protection procedures and policies. Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education structures.
  • Highly developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, complex, clinically sensitive information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
  • Ability to form good working relationships to work with others in a multidisciplinary setting.

Desirable

  • Experience of managing and supervising clinical and research placements for Masters' students
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups, including staff debriefing sessions
  • Experience of working with patients with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Availability

Essential

  • To be available to attend weekly MDT meeting on Tuesday mornings and the Child Psychotherapy team meeting on Thursdays 1-2pm. To be available to work on Mondays or Fridays

Theoretical and clinical orientation

Essential

  • Psychoanalytic orientation.

Desirable

  • Ability to articulate clearly the role of Child Psychotherapy in multi-professional services, based on a good understanding of NHS and national professional 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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free hospital

Pond Street

London

NW3 2QG


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free hospital

Pond Street

London

NW3 2QG


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

Alison Cantle

acantle@nhs.net

07944605405

Details

Date posted

23 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum (pro-rata) inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7239587

Job locations

Royal Free hospital

Pond Street

London

NW3 2QG


Supporting documents

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