Assistant Psychologist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative and conscientious assistant psychologist to join us at The Beacon Centre. This role is located in our CAMHS Inpatient Unit, The Beacon Centre. This General Adolescent Unit sits within our CAMHS Crisis Pathway, which offers services to young people on the edge of crisis or in crisis.

There is a dynamic psychological therapies team who work within a multi-disciplinary team, supporting young people (13-18yrs) with complex needs. The role will be supervised by a qualified Clinical Psychologist and supported by a wider MDT of experienced practitioners. The role involves assessment and evidence-based intervention with young people or parents, under supervision and with the support of colleagues.

Skills in risk and crisis management and work with wider networks is required to support a young person in a holistic way. The role will involve sharing psychological thinking within the team, and using audit and service development skills for the purposes of Quality Improvement. You will support with co-production on the unit in order to improve the experience young people have during their stay. The role includes opportunities for CPD as part of the North London Partnership’s psychological therapies pathway.

Main duties of the job

• To support psychological assessment and care planning with young people in mental health crisis who require a hospital admission.
• To deliver individual and group psychologically informed interventions, either jointly or autonomously, as identified and agreed with supervision.
• To engage young people on the ward, and implement cognitive-behavioural and emotional regulation approaches, aimed at helping service users to improve their well-being and functioning.
• Support with risk assessment and safety planning, with supervision and in conjunction with the wider inpatient team.
• To use skills in service evaluation and audit to evaluate and inform service development within the team.
• To contribute to MDT discussions, formulations, and CPD sessions and to support with teaching where required.
• To be involved in co-production and supporting the feedback of young people to be heard and used to impact service delivery.

We are looking for someone that is:

• Compassionate
• Respectful
• Positive approach
• High level of enthusiasm and motivation.
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
• Ability to be self -reflective whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development, and in supervision

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans, including psychologically informed interventions, under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist
• To assist in the coordination and running of psychological intervention groups.
• To be able to exchange complex information with service users, families, carers, staff and members of the public using sensitivity and empathy and ensuring collaborative working.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically informed thinking to the benefit of staff, clients and their families and carers.
• To attend and contribute to clinical and team meetings.
• To be able to initiate referrals to other health professionals in specialist services and agencies.
• To ensure practice is supported by research and evidence-based practice.
• To work according to the principles of “Trauma Informed Care/Intervention”.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

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.