Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Job overview

We have developed an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Psychologist in Merton CAMHS.

The Merton Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) service provides out-patient and consultation services to children experiencing a range of mental health and developmental difficulties. We are looking for a passionate psychologist to join our incredibly friendly, experienced and supportive team.

The service also includes a Single Point of Access Service which manages all referrals for children and adolescents in Merton where there are concerns about emotional heath/mental health difficulties. The Merton T3 service and the SPA work in close collaboration to ensure positive child and young person journey

Merton CAMHS Tier 3 is a multidisciplinary team specialising in the provision of thoughtful high-quality assessments and evidence-based treatments for children, young people and their families entering the service with moderate to severe mental health problems and with high risk profiles.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a committed Clinical/Counselling Psychologist who is passionate about working with children and young people with complex presentations, and who is also interested wider service development initiatives.

This role is open to qualified clinical / counselling psychologists with the following:

• Qualification as Clinical Psychologist registered with the HCPC
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Experience of work within a multi-disciplinary team
• The ability to relate and provide accessible services to a diverse community
• The ability to efficiently manage a caseload
• Knowledge and skills in risk management and safeguarding
• The ability to deliver a range of evidence-based interventions including CBT

Applications are invited from clinicians interested in joining this developing service.

If you are interested in this exciting role, please feel able to telephone to discuss this position further:

• Patricia Thornton, Lead Clinical Psychologist for Merton Tier 3 CAMHS 020 35136062 Patricia.Thornton@swlstg.nhs.uk
• Henrietta Dewsnap, Service Manager for Merton CAMHS 020 35136062

Henrietta.Dewsnap@swlstg.nhs.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide specialist assessments of children/ young people and their parents/carers referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and where appropriate, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews in line with CYP IAPT methodology.
• To formulate and implement plans for evidence-based interventions, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, to improve the parent/child relationship.
• To be responsible for implementing a range of psychotherapeutic interventions employed individually and in synthesis, maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses, adjusting and refining formulations or understandings, drawing upon different explanatory models and employing methods of intervention that are based upon evidence of efficacy.
• To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual and the family.
• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans
• To provide specialist mental health advice guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to the care of the young child and their parents/carers
• To contribute to and/or use evidence-based, integrated working tools and processes, to ensure young children and their parents/carers receive holistic and co-ordinated services in response to their mental health needs.
• To undertake risk assessment and risk management for young children and their parents/carers.
• To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of young children and their parents/carers who are under their care.
• To monitor progress during the course of interventions, ensuring that all interventions are fully assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated in conjunction with CYP IAPT minimum dataset standards.
• To maintain accurate and accessible health care records according to Trust policy and Information Governance requirements.
• To demonstrate high level communication skills, both written and verbal, within all agencies.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.