Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and creative Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Emotional and Behavioural (E&B) Team at Newham CAMHS. The successful candidate will be part of a creative and supportive multi-disciplinary team. Members of the team have interests in a variety of areas, including systemic practice, psychodynamic approaches, Under 5s work, mind body approaches, narrative therapy, EMDR and CBT. The Emotional & Behavioural Team provides assessment and intervention. Groups will also form part of the job plan. The post holder will form part of the duty rota at Newham CAMHS. Newham CAMHS is a large and vibrant child and adolescent mental health service with a reputation for innovation and flexibility in meeting the complex mental health support needs of Newham's children, young people and families. It is centrally located on one site in Plaistow, Newham, and provides an extensive and growing range of services including multi-disciplinary specialist teams such as the Emotional & Behavioural Teams, Adolescent Mental Health Team and Neurodevelopmental Team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will: - provide highly specialist CAMHS assessment, therapy assessment, treatment and consultation to client systems, including children, young people, their families, carers and professional networks. This requires skills in assessing complex client systems, appropriate formulation, engagement and interventions. - manage, plan and prioritise own clinical caseload and to exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment and treatment including management of risks. This is done independently within appropriate clinical/professional guidelines. - work collaboratively with CAMHS colleagues to develop and improve the work of the service. - develop and support the mental health work of other staff groups in designated partner agencies through teaching, training and consultation. - Formulate and undertake clinical audit and research activities as required. - Participate in CPD and other developmental activities, keeping up to date with relevant mental health research and national guidance (DoH, NICE etc). - Follow broadly defined policies and pursue agreed objectives but exercise considerable freedom in deciding on how best to implement or achieve them

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Relationships:

• Children, young people and their families
• Senior Leadership Team, CAMHS
• Clinical Team Lead
• CAMHS Senior Management Group
• Multidisciplinary colleagues in CAMHS
• Other professionals working with children and young people in social services, health, education, youth justice system and the voluntary sector
• Trust corporate departments including Human Resources, Training and Development, IM&T etc

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Person specification:

Other

Essential

• Commitment to equal opportunities Self-motivated, assertive and flexible Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to “hold” the stress of others
• Proven qualities in sustaining the mental, emotional and physical demands of specialized therapeutic work with disturbed and distressed children, adolescents and their families/carer networks. Working to local and national protocol and guidelines
• Freedom to act: Physical effort: Confined sitting position (therapy); travelling within community; fine motor skills re injections Mental effort: writing reports; planning teaching; concentrating for therapy sessions /clinical supervision; managing psychiatric emergencies; precise accuracy when administering medication (for nurses). Emotional effort: Dealing with families in breakdown; experiencing trauma and abuse; occasional patient complaints; conveying of unwelcome news

Desirable

• Working conditions: Occasional verbal and physical abuse; unpredictable clinical scenarios e.g. emergency home visits; travel in community all weathers.
• Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic professional journals and/or books

Experience

Essential

• Experience in relevant profession Experience in delivering specialist level mental health interventions in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS)
• Experience of working with children and young people with a wide range of complex mental health needs
• Experience with working with children and young people and their families in a therapeutic context
• Experience of working with complex networks Experience of care planning
• Experience of offering consultation to multi agency colleagues, for example schools/social care Experience of teaching and training
• Experience of working in a multi-ethnic community and of working with interpreters Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi- agency way
• Experience in crisis work Experience of risk assessment and risk management

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Evidence of highly specialist clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS Highly specialist skills in applying theory to work with individuals, couples, families, groups and organisations Specialist clinical skills within specific therapeutic modalities
• Specialist skills in providing consultations in the multi-agency context Able to manage own time and caseload Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries, liaising effectively with other agencies and professionals
• Competent IT and keyboard skills, including Excel Presentation/teaching skills
• Knowledge of research methodology consistent with and relevant to CAMHS practice Evidence of continuing Professional Development as required by Professional Body
• Knowledge of and skill in using a wide variety of CAMH theories and interventions and the ability to use these appropriately in relation to client need and work setting
• Sufficient knowledge of other modalities to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work with clients A high degree of self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback
• Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of CAMHS Specific knowledge of pertinent issues for CAMHS
• Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice with this client group.
• Knowledge, understanding and experience with diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and families with a high level of deprivation A working knowledge of Child Protection Guidelines

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• Clinical Psychology Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS. Registration with BPS and/or HCPC. Counselling Psychology Postgraduate Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent) as accredited by the BPS. Registration with BPS and/or HCPC.

Desirable

• Qualifications/ training in specialist skills e.g. systemic therapies, neuropsychology, CBT, evidence based parent training programs, group work