Assistant Psychologist

Job Overview

This position is designed to support and enhance psychological care for children, young people, and their caregivers across social care settings. The role involves providing psychological assessments and interventions under the guidance of a qualified clinical psychologist, following agreed care plans within the service's policies and procedures. Key responsibilities include clinical administration, audit conduction, data collection, research, teaching, and project contributions.

The role specifically contributes to projects like the Goal Based Intervention Project, ADHD pathway, local SEND team, and ongoing quality improvements. The organization emphasizes first-class, patient-focused, safe, and effective care delivered in hospitals, community clinics, or patients' homes.

Main Responsibilities

• Conduct both direct and indirect structured observations of clients.
• Develop therapeutic resources for children, young people, and families in collaboration with qualified clinical psychologists.
• Assist in formulating and implementing care plans for psychological treatment and management under supervision.
• Help coordinate and facilitate therapeutic group sessions as needed.
• Support the development of psychologically informed frameworks benefiting clients across all care settings.
• Participate and contribute actively in multidisciplinary team meetings.

Additional Duties

• Involvement in research and service evaluation by designing audits, collecting and analyzing data, and producing reports using IT and statistical tools.
• Perform literature searches to support evidence-based practices in collaboration with clinical psychologists and team members.
• Maintain exemplary clinical record-keeping and report writing in line with professional and Trust standards.
• Prepare test materials and visual aids as necessary.
• Undertake administrative tasks and other similar duties assigned by the Psychology Manager.
• Support formulation development with clinical psychologists by gathering relevant client information.

Work Environment and Schedule

The Kensington and Chelsea CAMHS is a well-established multidisciplinary team offering diverse therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, systemic and family therapies, psychotherapy, psychoeducation, therapy groups, and multi-family work. Their clinic operates from 8am to 5pm, with standard working hours being 9am to 5pm. Flexible working arrangements and compressed hours are considered, with an expectation that clinicians spend at least 60% of their working time in the clinic. Opportunities for home working exist.

Qualifications and Experience

• Essential:
  • Upper second-class honours degree or higher in Psychology.
  • Eligibility for graduate membership with the British Psychological Society.
  • Experience working with individuals with mental health difficulties or disabilities.
  • Experience in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
• Desirable:
  • Postgraduate training in relevant professional psychology fields, mental health practice, or research design and analysis.
  • Experience providing direct care.
  • Work with children in care or on the edge of care facing mental health challenges or disabilities.
  • Experience working within Social Services settings.

Skills and Personal Attributes

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of conveying sensitive information effectively in highly emotive environments.
• Ability to handle psychological resistance when communicating with patients, caregivers, and colleagues.
• Understanding of mental health needs and challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.
• Capability to apply psychological knowledge in a health care setting.
• Familiarity with group facilitation and routine outcome measure collection and analysis is advantageous.
• Proficiency in report writing and use of computers for data management and analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with diverse professional disciplines.
• Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently with regular supervision and management.