Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

The post-holder will provide psychological assessment and therapy interventions to children and young people with severe and enduring mental health disorders including but not exclusively C&YP with complex trauma, learning disabilities and LD-autism.

The post-holder will work within and contribute to further development of the therapeutic service model and take a lead for psychological therapies across Nestling Care homes.

The post-holder will provide specialist support, guidance and consultation on clients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers.

The post-holder will work closely within a multi-disciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

To provide highly complex specialist psychological assessments of young people living in Nestlings Care homes, undertaking the appropriate use, interpretation, and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with young people/adults, family members and others involved in the YPs care.

To formulate and implement treatment plans for psychological therapy and/or management of the young persons mental health based upon a comprehensive conceptualisation of the presenting difficulties, employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy whilst maintaining a flexible approach in considering what will best meet the individuals needs.

Be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for young people and their families/carers, and in synthesis, modifying and refining psychological formulations in light of new information drawing upon a range of explanatory theoretical backgrounds/models and upholding a number of provisional hypotheses.

Manage own caseload, exercising autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment and treatment and discharge from psychology of YP whose difficulties are managed within a psychological framework; regular communication with staff teams and others involved in the young persons care.

About us

Who are we:

Nestlings Care Ltd is an independent care provider for Children and Young Adults registered with CQC and Ofsted who provide highly specialist residential placement for young people with challenging behaviours due to mental health diagnoses. Our aim is to take young people from various restrictive settings for example hospitals, secure childrens homes, to a homely environment to offer them a chance of living in the community with robust monitoring, risk management and comprehensive treatment plans. You will be supported by a highly experienced multi-disciplinary Mental Health team. Currently we have several homes across the North West of England and we have achieved positive outcomes with a number of young people.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Nestlings Care LTD is a growing organisation with 10 years experience in providing comprehensive residential and mental health care to children and young people. With 8 homes and growing we are looking for a Clinical Psychologist to join our growing team and continue to provide exemplary care to our service users. They will be workig under direct supervision from our lead Clinical Psychologist.

The post-holder will provide psychological assessment and therapy interventions to children and young people with severe and enduring mental health disorders including but not exclusively C&YP with complex trauma, learning disabilities and LD-autism.

The post-holder will work within and contribute to further development of the therapeutic service model and take a lead for psychological therapies across Nestling Care homes.

The post-holder will provide specialist support, guidance and consultation on clients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers.

The post-holder will work closely within a multi-disciplinary team.

The post-holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service policies and procedures. The post-holder will utilise research skills for audit, teaching, policy and service development.

JOB ROLE

1. To provide highly complex specialist psychological assessments of children, young people/young adults living in Nestlings Care homes, undertaking the appropriate use, interpretation, and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with young people/adults, family members and others involved in the C&YPs care.

2. To formulate and implement treatment plans for psychological therapy and/or management of the young persons mental health based upon a comprehensive conceptualisation of the presenting difficulties, employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy whilst maintaining a flexible approach in considering what will best meet the individuals needs. The post holder will work across Nestlings Care home sites.

3. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for children, young people and their families/carers and groups, within and across teams in Nestlings Care homes and in synthesis, modifying and refining psychological formulations in light of new information drawing upon a range of explanatory theoretical backgrounds/models and upholding a number of provisional hypotheses.

4. To evaluate and make decisions about therapy interventions options taking into account both theoretical models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have affected the young person, family or group.

5. To manage own caseload, exercising autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment and treatment and discharge from psychology of C&YP whose difficulties are managed within a psychological framework; regular communication with staff teams and others involved in the child/young persons care.

6. To provide highly specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to the young people, family and carers formulations, diagnosis and therapy intervention plans.

7. To contribute directly and indirectly to a trauma-informed psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all C&YP within the service, across all settings and agencies providing services to young people and their families.

8. To undertake initial psychology risk assessments for young people and to provide advice and guidance to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. To develop risk formulations and ensure these are shared with appropriate professionals.

9. To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner both orally and in writing, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of young people and families under their care and to monitor progress during the course of multi-disciplinary care.

10. To demonstrate awareness of potential communication difficulties and/or cultural considerations and, where appropriate, adapt professional practice accordingly, involving identification of, and effective liaison with, appropriate support services ( advocacy, family support, translators).

The post-holder will provide direct supervision to trainees and assistants.

The post-holder will be registered with the HCPC.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

BSc or MSc in Psychology or relevant qualification

Experience

Essential

Experience working within CAMHS

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