Principal Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

hours per week.

An excitingopportunity has arisen within the Plymouth CAMHS Eating Disorder Pathway (EDP).We are looking for a dynamic and progressive thinking ClinicalPsychologist to be responsible for assessing, formulating and providingtargeted intervention for children and young people (CYP), when eating disorder is theprimary concern with additional difficulties relating to complex emotional,psychological, social and behaviours that challenge. Systemic work is paramount,and the role will involve supporting families and carers as well as providingand seeking consultation with the wider network of help available to the youngpeople.

Our aim is toimprove Children, Young People and Families (CYPFS) mental health through the effective delivery of regularlyreviewable psychological interventions using the Anna Freud iThrive frameworkto inform and provide safe, effective, cost efficient, timely and accessibleservices that are in accordance with national and local priorities andresponsive to the needs and views of local CYPFS.

Thepost of CAMHS Principal Clinical Psychologist within the EatingDisorder Pathway (EDP) will be an integral role within the specialist CAMHSEDP. The Team offers a dedicated service for CYPFS referred with an Eating Disorder in line withthe Maudsley Model FT-AN, FT-BN and NICE Guidelines.

Further enquiries:

Tom Hunter - - Clinical Pathway Manager

Selina Horsham - -Principal Clinical Psychologist

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention working as part of the CAMHS EDP MDT.

The post holder provide advice and consultation on psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues, and other, non-professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines, and the overall framework of the team and Livewell Southwest policies and procedures.

The post holder will care coordinate cases, formulate care plans collaboratively with CYPFS and use resources creatively to provide therapy for CYPFS; uniquely tailoring therapeutic interventions to meet their needs. They will ensure families receive interventions according to NICE guidance and local pathways of care.

Risk assessments on children and young people in their care will be initially conducted and routinely reviewed with any changes or new risks identified and how these will be addressed are updated on the electronic system.

Take a lead with team safeguarding supervision and processes, this will include undertaking Livewell Southwest's safeguarding supervision training.

The post holder will contribute to the CAMHS EDP and will be accountable to the Clinical Pathway Manager &Eating Disorders and Family Therapy Lead.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise providing integrated health & social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon & Cornwall. With teams in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, health & wellbeing hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we always value being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. Transforming services to make them sustainable, ensuring that we value, support & empower each other.

We are committed to involving the people we care for, families & carers in everything that we do, working towards co-production where we can. Helping us to deliver the right care for people, in the right place & at the right time. By putting people at the centre of what we do, we ensure to support people to lead, healthy independent lives & be the very best at helping people to live well.

Valuing our employees making an investment in their development a priority. We offer:

Protected CPD time for registered staff

Various development pathways and ongoing regular training packages for all staff

Leadership & mentoring programmes

Access & funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course & Scholarship Into Nurse Training

A Robust Preceptorship

A bespoke induction programme

Existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme can continue their membership when they join the organisation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

a)To provide highly specialist psychologicalassessment and intervention for youngpeople, children and families/carers experiencing moderate, severe andcomplex mental health/psychological problems based upon the appropriate use,interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sourcesincluding psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures,rating scales, direct and indirect observation and semi-structured interviewswith service users, their family and/or carers.

b)To formulate and implement plans for the formalpsychological intervention and/or management of mental health/psychological and/orbehaviours that challenge based upon an appropriate conceptual framework andexercising expert clinical judgement based on the highest standards of evidence-basedpractice across a full range of care settings.

c)To manage an autonomous caseload of children andyoung people who are experiencing highly complex and persistent mental healthdifficulties including exposure to domestic violence and other trauma.

d)To establish rapport and build effectiveworking relationships with service users and all those involved in theirpsychological, emotional, and behavioural well-being.

e)To evaluate and make decisions about treatmentoptions based on psychological formulation, taking into account theoretical andtherapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical anddevelopmental processes.

f)To work jointly with other team members withinthe eating disorder pathway and professionals in delivering the mostappropriate clinical service to youngpeople, children, and families/carers.

g)To contribute to the development and maintenance ofthe highest professional standards of practice, through active participation ininternal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultationwith the Clinical Pathway Manager.

h)To follow appropriate local Safeguarding Adultsand Children policies in all clinical work, including close liaison with allrelevant agencies.

i)To participate in regular review and ongoingdiscussion of cases in treatment with other members of the multi-disciplinaryteam and where appropriate, co-ordinate and organise network meetings with professionalmembers of other agencies.

j)Takea lead with team safeguarding supervision and processes, this will includeundertaking safeguarding supervision training.

k)To provide highlyspecialist advice, guidance, and consultation to external agencies to assisttheir understanding and analysis of the child / young person and familyscomplex needs, to assist in developing appropriate care pathways.

l) To provide specialist risk assessment of, andintervention to, young people and children who maypresent in local acute settings in line with agreed procedures.

m)To liaise and consult with the widerprofessional network in the care of service users, offering consultation andsupervision where necessary.

n)To exercise autonomous professionalresponsibility for the assessment, treatment, and discharge of children and young people whose problemsare managed by psychological interventions and to autonomously manage acaseload of clients.

o)To contribute directly and indirectly to apsychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of allservice users, the settings in which they present, and agencies involved in thepsychological, emotional, and behavioural well-being.

o)

p)To communicate in a skilled and sensitivemanner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plansof children and youngpeople undertheir care and to effectively evaluate progress.

q)To participate in the multi-disciplinaryassessment and treatment of children and youngpeople.

r)To provide a leadership role workingalongside the eating disorder multidisciplinary team.

s)To take a lead role in supportinginterventions for ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive FoodIntake Disorder)).

t)To participate and lead in the development ofspecialist services both within CAMHS and externally with other agencies.

Teaching,Training, Consultation and Supervision

a)To receive regular professional supervisionfrom a Senior HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologist and where appropriate,other Senior Clinicians.

b)To continue to access continuing professionaldevelopment opportunities in line with agreed targets and agreed personaldevelopment plan up to one session per week (pro rata).

c)To assist in providing supervision to HCPCregistered Clinical Psychologists, doctoral level Clinical Psychology trainees,trainees from other disciplines as appropriate, and assistant/graduatepsychologists; to ensure that they acquire the necessary skills, competencies,and experience to contribute effectively to good mental health care of childrenand young people; and tocontribute to the assessment and evaluation of such competencies.

d)To contribute to advice, consultation, teaching,and training of professionals from all agencies concerned with thepsychological, emotional, and behavioural well-being of service users incommunity and in-patient settings as appropriate.

Research, Audit and Evaluation

a)To use doctoral level research skills for auditand evaluation in relation to relevant aspects of the Service.

b)To contribute to research in the service area.

c)To utilise theory, evidence-based literatureand research to support evidence-based practice of self and others.

d)To provide advice on research projects to otherstaff within the service around appropriate methodology, statistical analysis,etc.

e)To undertake project management as required toaid service development.

f)To follow appropriate ethical and professionalstandards and research governance procedures when conducting relevant research,audit, and evaluation.

General

a)To maintain HCPC professional registration andto maintain the highest professional standards of practice, throughprofessional self-governance in accordance with the relevant professional codesof practice and Trust policies and procedures, and active participation ininternal and external CPD training in consultation with the post-holdersprofessional and service managers(s).

b)To adhere to the administrative and auditprotocols of the service. To develop and maintain audit protocols for the service.

c)To regularly attend and participate in teammeetings, away-days and other professional meetings that are appropriate to therole. To attend local and regional groups agreed to be appropriate for therole.

d)To contribute to the development andarticulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuingto develop the skills of reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner,taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal, and maintainingan active engagement with current developments in the fields of clinicalpsychology and related disciplines.

e)To maintain the highest standards of clinicalrecord keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writingand the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance withprofessional codes of practice of the HCPC, British Psychological Society andTrust policies and procedures.

f)To maintain up to date knowledge oflegislation, national and local policies, and issues in relation to serviceusers with mental health issues.

g)The post holder will be required to workflexibly in terms of base and in hours of clinical.

Please refer to full Job description attached for further details

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological formulation, assessment, intervention, and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate and adapt effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to CYP, their families, carers, and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and nonprofessional groups. Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology as practiced within the field of clinical psychology. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the patient group and mental health. Knowledge of clinical caseload management within a team setting . Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC. High-level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one evidence-based psychological therapies for the treatment of eating disorders ( CBT-ED, FT-AN, MANTRA etc.).

Desirable

Working with people in Crisis Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups. Knowledge of the theory and practice

Qualifications

Essential

Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice. Current registration with the HCPC as a Clinical Psychologist . Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.

Desirable

Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology

Experience

Essential

Post qualification experience of working at a specialist level with patients with complex needs. Experience of clinical supervision of trainee or assistant psychologists or other psychologists. Experience of supervision of MDT staff. Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups. Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care. Experience of supervision of MDT staff. Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for patients psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan. Experience of delivering teaching and training. Show respect and treat people with dignity. Be able to give unwelcome news sensitively. Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse, and the threat of physical abuse.

Desirable

Experience of groupwork Working as a qualified clinical psychologist within child & adolescent eating disorders or equivalent. Demonstrable experience working with eating disorder patients and families across the lifespan. Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts. Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups, across the life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, inpatient, and residential care settings . Further specialist training/experience in an evidence-based treatment for eating disorders

Personal Qualities

Essential

Ability to work as part of a team and autonomously. Ability to embrace change and have capacity to thrive in demanding situations. Ability to communicate/listen formally and informally, verbally and in writing. Highly reflective, confident, and articulate. High reflective capacity on own practice and committed to life-long learning and within supervision. Flexible and resourceful in coping under pressure and with conflicting demands. Excellent time management skills A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Desirable

Willingness to work flexibly. Sensitivity to working within a multicultural framework. An awareness of own strengths and limitations

Contractual Requirements or Other Requirements

Essential

Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. Car owner / driver. Ability to travel between bases and within the community as required for the post

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