Job Description

The closing date is 4th Sep 2025

Anticipated Interview date(s) 16/09/2025

Job summary

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The Regional Forensic CAMHS team champions trauma informed interventions for young people with a range of needs, often including a combination of mental health, neurodiverse and forensic presentations. Our aim is to help teams understand risk from a psychological perspective, and to assist in changing lives for vulnerable young people.


This work primarily involves support of professional networks around the young person, some direct work with young people and their families/carers, and the provision support to residential placements, and secure settings. The team benefits from a multi-disciplinary approach, including nursing, social work, psychology, and psychiatry; all of whom contribute to care and treatment plans and supporting local services across the region to manage risk.


The post holder will be responsible for the everyday delivery of our Mentalization-Based Therapy research pathway. Working closely with a research assistant psychologist, the postholder will insure the delivery of the research is in-line with Good Clinical Practice standards and adherent to the research protocol. They will responsible for supervising the assistant and reporting to the Principal Investigator/Clinical Lead, and reporting to the National team.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

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The post holder will have the responsibility to work as part of a team undertaking the following tasks


To provide a psychologically informed service to the for the FCAMHS service, across the south west.


To develop and undertake specialist assessments, formulations and interventions with this client group.


To advise on packages of care.


To develop the local engagement with a large-scale RCT MBT trial.


To support the recruitment of participants to be involved in the RCT.


To train in and deliver MBT as part of the RCT therapies delivery team.


To monitor, document and adhere to the research trial protocol, alongside supporting others to do so.


To supervise and oversee the RCT's assistant psychologist.


To provide consultation and supervision to other professionals working with the FCAMHS cohort of young people in other settings.


To provide specialist supervision to other FCAMHS professionals.


To liaise closely with others psychologists and professionals working in specialist services.


To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service

About us

------------


At

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

Flexible working options

to help you balance work and life

NHS pension scheme

for long-term financial security

Generous annual leave allowance

to recharge and relax A strong focus on

career development

to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our

Blue Light Card

, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.


We are proud to foster a

diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce

, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset?

Somerset offers the perfect blend of

idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty

, and

breathtaking coastlines

, with vibrant cities like

Bristol

,

Bath

, and

Exeter

just a short drive away - and only two hours to

London

.


The region is home to excellent

educational facilities

, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all

- the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job description

-------------------


The post holder will work as part of the team in the continued development and delivery of the regional Forensic CAMHS Service for the South West of England.


A large part of the post holder's work will specifically involve the day-to-day oversight of Good Clinical Practice in terms of the services engagement in a National RCT on MBT, alongside monitoring, documenting and reporting on adherence to the research protocol.


The regional Forensic CAMHS team provides a service for young people with complex presentations, including a combination of mental health, neurodevelopmental and forensic needs. The team has links with the Somerset Forensic Liaison Team to support forensic supervision as required, and the National FCAMHS team to ensure alignment with national thinking, best practice and training to drive ongoing development.


This highly specialised service provides comprehensive evidence-based advice, consultation assessment, treatment and training. The post holder will be responsible for delivering these aspects of the service as part of the dedicated regional Forensic CAMHS team across the Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.


For some young people, this work may involve supporting young people and their families/ carers transition out of secure settings. The team operates from a psychologically informed, multi-disciplinary approach with mental health practitioners, psychology, and psychiatry contributing to provide care plans and manage risk.


The post holder will have the responsibility to work as part of a team undertaking the following tasks:


To provide a psychologically informed service to the for the FCAMHS service, across the south west.


To develop and undertake specialist assessments, formulations and interventions with this client group.


To advise on packages of care.


To develop the local engagement with a large-scale RCT MBT trial.


To support the recruitment of participants to be involved in the RCT.


To train in and deliver MBT as part of the RCT therapies delivery team.


To monitor, document and adhere to the research trial protocol, alongside supporting others to do so.


To supervise and oversee the RCT's assistant psychologist.


To provide consultation and supervision to other professionals working with the FCAMHS cohort of young people in other settings.


To provide specialist supervision to other FCAMHS professionals.


To liaise closely with others psychologists and professionals working in specialist services.


To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service


Planning and Organisation


Service development responsibilities


To work with the FCAMHS management team and regarding service priorities and effective implementation of best practice guidelines and propose changes for policy or service development as necessary.


Contribute to strategic planning and proposing changes to service delivery in order to ensure / promote effective service delivery


To develop or co-ordinate provision of specialist services/ care/ care packages or an aspect of the service, as appropriate


Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy


Clinical Responsibilities


To provide comprehensive specialist assessment of children with mental health difficulties, who may also have additional physical, sensory or learning difficulties and/or challenging/forensic behaviour.


To conduct and work with personality and risk assessment, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the care of young people.


Establishing, maintaining and ending purposeful, therapeutic relationships with children, young people and their families. Practice will be creative and underpinned by specialist knowledge of, and skills in evidence based and psychosocial interventions.


Providing time-limited specialize intervention. Identifying appropriate discharge goals and working positively with risk using own professional judgement and team processes.


To be responsible for providing a specialist perspective in the multi-disciplinary assessment of children and in the formulation of appropriate therapeutic intervention plans.


To act as care coordinator, where appropriate, ensuring the provision of a care package appropriate for the client's needs, coordinating the work of others involved with care, arranging client's reviews as required and communicating effectively with the client, his/her family and all others involved in care; and to monitor progress during the course of multidisciplinary interventions.


To undertake risk assessment and risk management for relevant clients and provide advice on risk to the multi-disciplinary team, including understanding and responding to safeguarding issues.


To consult with, and provide specialist mental health and psychological guidance to families, school staff and other relevant professionals directly involved with the care of the young people.


To communicate verbally and in writing highly complex and sensitive information in a manner appropriate to a range of settings and audiences, including complex, highly emotive situations and people with impaired communication capacities.


To promote equality of outcome for clients that reflect their mental health needs and those of ethnicity, gender, culture physical health and age.


To promote social inclusion and physical and mental well-being using evidence based practice. This is underpinned by the principles of hope and recovery, health promotion and relapse prevention.


To independently manage a clinical caseload of clients with complex mental health needs, taking on the role of case coordinator.


To make accurate observations and recordings, using Rio (electronic patient recording system).


To exercise independent clinical professional judgement in complex clinical cases and difficult clinical situations, referring to team members when necessary.


To monitor, evaluate and record progress during the course of intervention, assessing and re-evaluating as necessary, within the framework of the Care Programme Approach (CPA) including outcome measures.


To have an increased awareness of, and be supportive to others of complex interactions that may include communicating issues regarding capacity.


To work collaboratively within the National Forensic team and services and undertake a range of procedures and practices underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant practice.


To be responsible for maintaining and influencing professional standards in relation to government policy, frameworks and Trust directives.


To manage their own diary, balancing competing priorities and demands


To follow safeguarding protocols and processes as part of their daily practice.


Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility


Clinical Governance


To promote the use of effective psychological interventions in the service.


To participate in and promote clinical audit within FCAMHS, alongside discussion with the clinical lead.


To liaise with other disciplines and agencies, as appropriate, to ensure best practice is shared.


To liaise with other disciplines & agencies to ensure that best practice is shared.


Research & Development


To develop the local engagement with a large-scale RCT therapies trial (MBT).


To support the recruitment of participants to be involved in the RCT.


To train in and deliver MBT as part of the RCT therapies delivery team.


To monitor, document and adhere to the research trial protocol, alongside supporting others to do so.


To supervise and oversee the RCT's assistant psychologist.


To regularly participate in relevant areas of research & evaluation and undertake service evaluation as agreed with the FCAMHS clinical lead - and / or supervise the research of others.


To encourage a culture of evidence based practice in all parts of the service.


Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management


Clinical Supervision, Teaching & Training


To provide specialist clinical supervision to less experienced clinical psychologists, trainees in psychology and other professionals, as appropriate.


Responsibility for organising and undertaking teaching and training in relevant psychological skills as agreed with both professional and operational managers.


To develop a personal professional development plan in collaboration with the clinical lead for FCAMHS, to be updated annually, and to participate in annual review process. To fully observe the BPS (2021) Code of Ethics and Conduct and DCP (1995) professional practice guidelines


To participate in FCAMHS business and professional meetings, and psychology meetings as appropriate, and in discussion with the FCAMHS clinical lead.


To maintain and further develop high standards of clinical psychology practice through co-operative work with other clinical psychologists through audit and supervision.


To be aware of, adhere to Trust and FCAMHS and psychology team policies and procedures.


To receive regular clinical and management supervision in an agreed and appropriate format, as provided by FCAMHS and the wider psychology team.


To keep abreast of developments in the practice of clinical psychology, as agreed with the FCAMHS clinical lead and the psychology service.


Any Other Specific Tasks Required


To undertake any other duties at a comparable level of responsibility as may be allocated or deemed appropriate by your line manager

Person specification

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Qualifications

#

Essential

Doctoral Clinical Psychology qualification or equivalent as accredited by the BPS Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council



#

Desirable

Relevant specialist CPD qualification (Diploma/ Masters etc.). Clinical supervision training

Experience

#

Essential

Ability to communicate highly complex condition related information including to those who may be distressed or hostile. Experience of working across service settings and agencies. Teaching/training with psychology staff and other professions. Clinical Supervision experience. Care co-ordination or equivalent role. Experience of Service Development/Project Work



#

Desirable

Consultancy work in multi-professional setting. Experience in forensic services, secure care, or with Looked After Children. Experience in learning disabilities and/or neurodevelopmental conditions. Service development/ project work. R&D work in specialist area. Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals/books.

Additional Criteria

#

Essential

Specialist post qualification experience in CAMHS Ability to communicate highly complex condition related information including to those who may be distressed or hostile. Clinical and audit work within specialist area. Highly developed In-depth knowledge of specialist therapeutic interventions with the client group, including at least two subspecialty areas, underpinned by comprehensive theoretical knowledge Advanced psychological/ neuropsychological assessment and formulation skills Doctorate level knowledge of research design and data analysis Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice and professional management, including complex child protection issues Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HCPC Knowledge of the role & functions of other agencies & departments Effective communication with colleagues at all levels within the organisation and external organisations Ability to sit for long periods in front of a VDU and physical dexterity for keyboard use Advanced use of judgement and analytical skills in interpreting overall health service policy and strategy in order to establish goals and standards Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients Own transport available for work purposes Full UK driving licence

#

Desirable

Knowledge of trauma informed approaches to working with complex young people. Understanding of Health Services Management and Policy. Experience of chairing/facilitating multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings.

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.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

For help with your application, contact:

James Randall


james.randall@somersetft.nhs.uk


07920843485

Pay scheme

Agenda for Change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

55690.00 to 62682.00 Yearly

Contract

Fixed Term

Duration

21 Month(s)

Working pattern

Full-Time

Reference number

184-OL-GR-2967

Job locations

The Horizon Centre

Bathpool

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 8BY