Job summary
PALMS (Positive behaviour, Autism, Learning disability, Mental health Service) is evolving and we want to welcome additional clinicians to be part of our vibrant and multidisciplinary team which includes Clinical Psychologists, Positive Behaviour Analysts, Systemic Therapists, Learning Disability Nurses, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Practitioners, Speech and Language Therapists and Outreach Workers.With the continued evolution of PALMS we are seeking to appoint Assistant Psychologists to join our team of Assistant Psychologists, who is a motivated and forward thinking, who can work flexibly and is committed to supporting CYP and their families across Hertfordshire and the full PALMS' team.The PALMS team is friendly, cohesive and proactive. We value feedback and empower all team members to contribute to the continuous development of the service and welcome innovation and change.
Previous applicants need not apply. Due to high demand for this role, we may close applications early.
*Proposed interview date: 11-July-2025*
Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate will be:o Passionate about and have a desire to contribute to change in a vibrant NHS teamo Dedicated to supporting CYP with autism and/or learning disability and their families.o Collaborative in their approach to work with families, networks, and others serviceso Able to work both in a team environment and autonomouslyo Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings where there is a highly emotive atmosphere.o Flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure
About us
PALMS works across Hertfordshire providing a specialist multi-disciplinary approach. PALMS is a CAMHS commissioned service which offers individually tailored support for children and young people (CYP), aged 0-18 who have a global learning disability and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder, helping families to manage challenging behaviour, toileting, feeding and sleeping concerns which have not benefitted from community interventions and/or to support mental health needs which cannot be met with reasonable adjustment by other CYPMH Services. Interventions include workshops, intervention groups, individual therapy, parent as therapist sessions, and a family clinic.
PALMS aims to keep children and young people with their families thereby improving outcomes for all family members. PALMS predominantly applies narrative, systemic, positive behaviour, and bio-psycho social models adhering to the STOMP / STAMP and Transforming Care Agendas.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PALMS principally deliver a flexible service according to need and personal circumstances, in a planned way. For example, for a full-time worker this equates to flexibly working 37.5 across the working week. PALMS are open to flexible working and therefore part time / job share would be considered, working a minimum of 0.6 WTE.We are committed to supporting flexible working options for staff, wherever possible, and welcome discussions on flexible working patterns to support our staff to maintain a healthy work life balance.We can offer you: Regular clinical and professional supervision including opportunities to meet as a team including peer reflection and Intervision Regular appraisal, personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development. This includes specific support with regards to fulfilling the PALMS role. Opportunities to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team and learn from other evidence based frameworks and approaches. Opportunities to provide clinical supervision and line management to other members of the PALMS team as appropriate. Opportunities to connect with local and national networks Involvement in providing training.Interviews will be run either in person at one of our bases or using Microsoft Teams, full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
Closing Date: 30th June 2025 - Due to high demand for this role, we may close applications early
Interview Date: 11th July 2025
Job description
Job responsibilities
PALMS principally deliver a flexible service according to need and personal circumstances, in a planned way. For example, for a full-time worker this equates to flexibly working 37.5 across the working week. PALMS are open to flexible working and therefore part time / job share would be considered, working a minimum of 0.6 WTE.We are committed to supporting flexible working options for staff, wherever possible, and welcome discussions on flexible working patterns to support our staff to maintain a healthy work life balance.We can offer you: Regular clinical and professional supervision including opportunities to meet as a team including peer reflection and Intervision Regular appraisal, personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development. This includes specific support with regards to fulfilling the PALMS role. Opportunities to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team and learn from other evidence based frameworks and approaches. Opportunities to provide clinical supervision and line management to other members of the PALMS team as appropriate. Opportunities to connect with local and national networks Involvement in providing training.Interviews will be run either in person at one of our bases or using Microsoft Teams, full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
Closing Date: 30th June 2025 - Due to high demand for this role, we may close applications early
Interview Date: 11th July 2025
Person Specification
Training And Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive, abusive or hostile.
- High standard of report writing
- Practical computing skills including the use of databases and spreadsheets.
- Experience of working with individual's who are non-verbal or who have significant communication difficulties.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the PALMS population.
Other
Essential
- Willingness to uphold the Trust Values
- staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
- Eligible to live and work in the UK
Experience
Essential
- Experience as an Assistant Psychologist or Honorary Assistant Psychologist or equivalent experience for example Youth Support Worker, Teaching Assistant
Desirable
- Experience as an Assistant Psychologist or Honorary Assistant Psychologist in a child and/or learning disability context
- Experience of working with people with a learning disability and/or Autistism Spectrum Disorder.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience of undertaking clinical audit.
Personal Qualities with the ability to:
Essential
- undertake post duties.
- interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- interact with children who have a learning disability and or an Autism spectrum disorder and their families.
- work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- concentrate for prolonged periods on occasions.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in professional psychology
- An interest in working with children who have a learning disability and or an Autism spectrum disorder and their families
- Ability to work with children & young people where behaviour is challenging
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and boundaries
Person Specification
Training And Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive, abusive or hostile.
- High standard of report writing
- Practical computing skills including the use of databases and spreadsheets.
- Experience of working with individual's who are non-verbal or who have significant communication difficulties.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the PALMS population.
Other
Essential
- Willingness to uphold the Trust Values
- staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
- Eligible to live and work in the UK
Experience
Essential
- Experience as an Assistant Psychologist or Honorary Assistant Psychologist or equivalent experience for example Youth Support Worker, Teaching Assistant
Desirable
- Experience as an Assistant Psychologist or Honorary Assistant Psychologist in a child and/or learning disability context
- Experience of working with people with a learning disability and/or Autistism Spectrum Disorder.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience of undertaking clinical audit.
Personal Qualities with the ability to:
Essential
- undertake post duties.
- interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- interact with children who have a learning disability and or an Autism spectrum disorder and their families.
- work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- concentrate for prolonged periods on occasions.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in professional psychology
- An interest in working with children who have a learning disability and or an Autism spectrum disorder and their families
- Ability to work with children & young people where behaviour is challenging
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and boundaries
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).
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).
