Job summaryAn exciting opportunity is available for an Assistant Psychologist to join the HPFT Children and Young People’s Mental Heath Services (CYPMHS) Crisis, Assessment and Treatment Team (C-CATT), offering support Countywide across Hertfordshire.
The core functions of C-CATT are to undertake bio-psychosocial assessments, safety and care planning, referral/request for risk support from other mental health teams/services.
Main duties of the jobThe post holder will be responsible for maintaining the service database, entering data, generating reports on service targets, and conducting audits and evaluations in accordance with national guidelines for monitoring service delivery and clinical progress, all under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
The role requires skills in jointly assessing, planning, organising, reviewing and assisting in delivering evidence-based interventions to provide crisis support, as agreed with supervising clinician(s).
Regular clinical supervision will be provided. Applicants should have a recognised undergraduate degree in Psychology and be eligible for Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society. Experience delivering group-based interventions or working with adolescents with complex mental health needs is desirable.
About usHertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is a leading organisation with ambitious goals. As one of only five mental health trusts to receive an overall ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission, we strive to be the top provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our team of over 4,000 staff delivers health and social care to more than 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health, and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, both in the community and in inpatient settings. We also offer nationally commissioned specialist services, including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, and medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide has a positive impact on our service users, their families, and carers. Our work is guided by choice, independence, and equality, with our Trust values at the heart of everything we do:
Our Trust values are: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
These values shape who we are and how we work.
Job responsibilities- To assist care planning and delivery for those children & young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis and are under the care of the CYPMHS Crisis, Assessment and Treatment Team (C-CATT). In particular, this would include ensuring CYP-IAPT principles and practice are implemented (80% of job plan) and the delivery of psychological interventions and other clinical tasks under the supervision of a qualified practitioner (20% of job plan).
- The post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary C-CAT Team, assisting in the provision of a high-quality service to children and young people (CYP) experiencing mental health difficulties and supporting their caregivers.
- This work will be in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards.
- The post holder may be asked to support across Enhanced Specialist Pathway, which C-CATT sits within, alongside other Specialist Teams.
- The post holder will utilise their skills and knowledge to assist in ensuring CYP-IAPT processes are in place including outcomes measure use, jointly undertaking assessments (where appropriate), identifying desired outcomes and where appropriate carrying out intervention.
Person SpecificationTraining/qualifications- Upper second class honours degree in psychology, or other higher degree in psychology, or equivalent undergraduate qualification.
Desirable- Masters level training in relevant Psychological or Mental Health area.
- Post-graduate training in relevant mental-health / psychological / recovery discipline.
Experience- Experience of working with children/young people
- Experience in psychological interventions - DBT, CBT or interpersonal therapy interventions or other evidence based approaches.
- Knowledge of legislation related to children and/or adolescents mental health and social care e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Care Programme Approach, Child Protection and Safeguarding of Vulnerable Children etc.
Desirable- At least two years’ experience of work with children and/or adolescents with moderate to severe mental health problems
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.
- Knowledge and understanding of CYP-IAPT
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently
- Ability to manage distressing and challenging situations.
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
Knowledge and Skill- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to children and/or adolescents, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Excellent report writing skills and excellent documentation of duties performed.
Desirable- Competence using IT and media equipment
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of children and/or adolescents with learning disability, or other disabilities.
Other- Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
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. 
