About this role
Job summary
West London CAMHS is looking for a Highly Specialist Clinical or Counselling Psychologist (Band 8a 1.0 WTE) to join our innovative Crisis Outreach Resource for Autism Team (CORA). CORA works closely with other services to improve the experience of Autistic young people in crisis. The work is varied and includes direct work with young people, family and carers, liaison with Tier 4 and specialist services, consultation and training with community services, and service innovation and design.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, skilled and innovative clinician who can help taking a leading role using a creative and dynamic approach, including maintaining clinical curiosity and engaging in reflective practice as well as advocating for children, young people and families' needs. We hope the successful candidate would support and implement our commitments to staff wellbeing, manageable job plans and giving staff the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge further whilst in role.
Main duties of the job
This role combines clinical work, consultation and training, alongside opportunities for QI / service development. At this time, we are particularly looking for a candidate to lead on the community based offer in the CORA team. The postholder will also have opportunities to provide supervision and support to trainees and junior staff.
The role would be suited to someone who is passionate about delivering a high quality psychology service with young people and families, as well as an interest in supervision, and working with multidisciplinary and multi-agency colleagues on some of the challenges facing mental health services for children and young people.
The post provides excellent opportunities for professional development and you will receive regular supervision and line management from a Principal Clinical Psychologist. You will be joining a welcoming and thoughtful Psychology team who are committed to service improvement, staff well-being, and who value diversity in our workforce.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see our Candidate information pack for a comprehensive job description and person specification for this role.
If you have any enquiries about the post, please do get in touch with Dr Rob Brindley, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and CAMHS Head of Psychology via [email protected]
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training Essential
Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the British Psychological Society, or equivalent if trained overseas. Eligible to work as a Practitioner Psychologist as approved by the Health Care Professions Council. Training in supervision
Desirable
Training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
Experience Essential
Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and their families across a range of care settings, (e.g. outpatient, community, primary care, in patient settings). Experience of working with children, adolescents and their families which will have involved maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. Experience working as a specialist clinical psychologist in CAMHS. Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
Desirable
Experience working with children, adolescents (and their families) with learning disability and/or neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. ASD, ADHD, etc) in a CAMH setting. Experience working with children, adolescents (and their families) with a suspected or diagnosed eating disorder. Experience working with children, adolescents (and their families) who present in crisis and have provided therapeutic input to prevent inpatient admission. Experience of working with other agencies and providing consultation. Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts. Experience of working with children/young people with special educational needs and challenging behaviour or mental health difficulties and their families.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention with children, young people and their families. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups. Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology. Knowledge of legislation in relation to children/families, mental health and children's social care Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC (dependent on grade).
Desirable
Knowledge and skills in specialist psychological assessment and treatment of specific groups e.g. those in crisis, have a suspected or diagnosed eating disorder and/or neurodevelopmental difficulties, or specialist skills in working with children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies. Knowledge of application of therapeutic models to children who have special educational needs.
Other Essential
Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media 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. Commitment to provide support to children, their families/carers and linked professionals and maintain high levels of aspiration for the population referred to the service. Willingness to work flexibly when necessary. Commitment to working flexibly and collaboratively with team colleagues and to support innovative ways of working. To approach clients with empathy and adaptability and to be open to development of new approaches to work with clients.
Desirable
Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name West London NHS Trust
Address Lakeside MHU
London
TW7 6AF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)