Assistant Psychologist

Job overview

The Assistant Psychologist will work primarily within the Community Eating Difficulties Service (CEDS), while also providing psychological support to the ARFID pathway.

A key part of the role will be to contribute to multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultations, bringing a psychological perspective to discussions about children and young people presenting with eating difficulties. The Assistant Psychologist will work alongside the wider MDT to support psychologically informed assessment, formulation and care planning, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.

Within the ARFID pathway, the Assistant Psychologist will have a specific role in developing and delivering an 8-week parent and carer workshop programme. The workshop will provide parents and carers with psychological understanding, psychoeducation and practical strategies to support children and young people experiencing ARFID.

Main duties of the job

• Attend and actively contribute to CEDS multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
• Provide psychological perspectives during MDT consultations regarding children and young people with eating difficulties.
• Support the MDT to consider psychological, behavioural, emotional and relational factors that may be contributing to or maintaining difficulties.
• Assist with psychological assessment as appropriate and within the scope of the Assistant Psychologist role.
• Support the collection of information from young people, parents/carers and professionals.
• Contribute to psychological formulations under supervision.
• Support the delivery of agreed psychological interventions and psychoeducation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Work primarily within CEDS and contribute to the wider psychological provision of the service.
• Attend and contribute to MDT meetings and consultations.
• Provide psychological perspectives to support formulation and care planning.
• Work collaboratively with psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, dietitians, therapists and other members of the MDT.
• Support the assessment and understanding of psychological factors associated with eating difficulties.
• Contribute to the ARFID pathway through psychologically informed support.
• Develop and deliver an 8-week ARFID parent and carer workshop.
• Provide psychoeducation about ARFID, including understanding the presentation, maintaining factors, anxiety, sensory sensitivities and difficulties around eating.
• Support parents and carers to develop practical strategies to help their child or young person.
• Provide a supportive space for parents and carers to share experiences and learn from one another.
• Gather feedback and outcome information to evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop.
• Contribute to service development, audit and quality improvement.
• Maintain appropriate clinical records and documentation.
• Work within the Assistant Psychologist role, with regular supervision from a qualified psychologist.

Applicant requirements

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.