Child and Adolescent Psychologist

Position Overview

We are looking for a dedicated and skilled Child and Adolescent Psychologist to deliver specialized psychological services for youth within our multidisciplinary team.

This role is situated within a comprehensive team that focuses on assessment and therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents aged 0-18 years, along with their families, who are facing significant mental health challenges. The position offers a blend of short-term and long-term therapeutic engagements, as well as opportunities for consultation with team members and external partners. Additionally, the successful candidate will have the chance to mentor junior staff and lead initiatives aimed at enhancing service quality. The role also involves utilizing research capabilities for audits, policy formulation, and service enhancement within the community served.

Main Responsibilities

Service Overview

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is part of the Oxleas Children and Young Person Directorate. Our organization provides a range of mental health, learning disability, and community services across various boroughs. We have a strong track record of high-quality service delivery, as evidenced by positive feedback from both patients and staff, all within a solid clinical governance framework.

The CAMHS comprises several specialized teams, including:

• Adolescent Team, which includes Early Intervention in Psychosis
• Generic Team
• Looked After and Adopted Children Team
• Neurodevelopmental and Learning Disabilities Team

Our service operates during standard business hours and employs a hybrid model that includes virtual, telephone, and in-person consultations.

Psychology Team Dynamics

The selected candidate will join a larger psychology team within CAMHS, which offers robust support, supervision, and opportunities for ongoing professional development. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is linked to personal growth reviews and is funded by the Psychological Therapies Department.

This position encompasses a diverse range of responsibilities, including clinical practice, educational activities, supervision, and service innovation.

About Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide array of healthcare services in both community and secure environments. Our offerings include community health services, mental health care, and support for individuals with learning disabilities. Our multidisciplinary teams cater to individuals of all ages, collaborating closely with various sectors, including local councils and the voluntary sector.

Our mission is to enhance lives by delivering the highest quality care to our patients and their families, guided by our core values:

• We are Compassionate
• We are Just
• We are Attentive
• We are Supportive

Job Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of this role is to provide a clinical psychology service to clients within the CAMHS Generic Team, focusing on specialized psychological assessment and intervention.

Key duties include:

• Offering expert advice and consultation regarding clients' psychological care to colleagues and non-professional caregivers.
• Providing supervision to clinical psychologists, psychological therapists, and trainees.
• Working independently within established professional guidelines, adhering to principles consistent with CYP-IAPT, and contributing to the overall service delivery.
• Employing research skills for audits, policy development, and service improvement initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Desirable Qualifications:

• Training in research methodologies and/or other applied psychology fields.

Experience and Skills

Essential:

• Experience in psychological assessment and treatment across various care settings.
• Knowledge of child protection laws and procedures related to children in need and looked-after children.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential:

• Proficiency in complex psychological assessment, intervention, and management techniques.

Desirable:

• Experience in providing consultation to both professional and non-professional groups.
• Evidence of supervisory skills and experience.