Research Clinical Psychologist

London (Greater) (GB)
Grade Clinical Psychologist 1, starting salary £40,522 to £44,238 per annum plus £2,623 London Weigh
16 Jul 2021
08 Aug 2021
027225
Social Sciences, Psychology
Academic Posts
Fixed Term
Full Time

Job description

This exciting clinical academic opportunity offers the postholder the chance to make a crucial difference to children’s mental health and parenting through conducting research that links parenting and development theory directly to clinical practice.  

 

The Unit’s research expertise includes conducting outcome trials, feasiblity studies, quantitative and qualitative methods.  The Unit works at the cutting edge of integrating parenting and developmental theory, with effective, high quality interventions and the capability to test and evaluate these in the UK and internationally.  The Unit has close academic and service relationships with colleagues in China, Australia, Portugal and Chile.

 

The CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) Research Unit leads the research and evaluation of a range of evidence based parenting programmes, including Empowering Parent Empowering Communties (Day et al., 2012, 2020), Family Partnership Model (Day, Ellis  & Harris, 2014) and Helping Families Programme (Day et al., 2019. 

 

These programmes span the developmental period from birth to adolescence  and are designed to provide preventative, early and specialist interventions for parents, children and families with a range of needs including parents with significant mental health difficuties, children with behavioural difficulties, children affected by ASD, ADHD and parents at risk of relational conflict. 

 

• Based in the CAMHS Research Unit, Department of Psychology, the postholder will have day-to day responsibility for leading a team of researcher workers undertaking a portfolio of research studies and evaluation projects that advance understanding of parenting concepts and theory, parenting intervention effectiveness, quality, fidelity and implementation including the national and international evaluation of Empowering Parents Empowering Communities.

• The postholder will also work closely with academic and clinical staff to develop, feasiblity test and evaulate innovative parenting intervention methods including high-risk populations such as parents with mental health difficulties, socially excluded parents from disadvantaged neighbourhoods and Black and Minoritised communities, and new formats using digital and online delivery.  

• The post holder will one day per week provide a highly specialist psychology service within the NHS parenting services provided by the Centre for Parent and Child Support/Empowering Parents Empowering Communities/Helping Families Teams within the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust National and Specialist CAMHS.   

 

Mangement and responsiblity

• The Postholder is responsible to Dr Crispin Day, Head, CAMHS Research Unit, KCL/Head , Centre for Parent and Child Support, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. 

• The postholder will be responsible for and supervise the Unit’s research workers and students, as appropriate. 

 

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 2 years 

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

 

Key responsibilities

Research  

• Contribute fully to developing and enhancing the research profile of the Department, School, College and King’s Health Partners (CAMHS CAG), including building a track record of high-quality research studies and publications.

• Based in the CAMHS Research Unit, Department of Psychology, the postholder will have day-to day responsibility for leading a team of researcher workers undertaking a portfolio of research studies and evaluation projects that advance understanding of parenting concepts and theory, parenting intervention effectiveness, quality, fidelity and implementation, including the national and international evaluation of Empowering Parents Empowering Communities.

• The postholder will also work closely with academic and clinical staff to to produce successful funding applications to feasiblity test and evaulate innovative parenting intervention methods including high-risk populations such as parents with mental health difficulties, socially excluded parents from disadvantaged neighbourhoods and Black and Minoritised communities, and new formats using digital and online delivery. 

• The post holder will contribute to teaching programmes, including the supervision of MSc and DClinPsy projects; and carry out research administration and related duties as requested by Head of the CAMHS HSR Unit .  

• Engage in continuing professional clinical and researcher development as appropriate.

• Attend and participate in appropriate research seminars/conferences within subject-related areas, and disseminate work at other appropriate professional, scientific and service user events.

• Maintain and promote service user involvement in the Unit’s research activity.

• Manage the pressures of research, administrative demands, & clinical practice and competing deadlines.

• Conduct risk assessments and take responsibility for the health and safety of research workers, students and others.

• Undertake activities to support, manage and administer research projects, and any other reasonable duties that may be requested by the Head of the CAMHS Research Unit.

 

Clinical

• Undertake direct clinical work, supervision and consultancy that contributes to the specialist parenting services of the Centre for Parent and Child Support, National and Specialist CAMHS, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation . 

• Work effectively, sensitively and collaboratively with diverse parent, child and family populations in an NHS multidisciplinary parenting service.

• Work as an independent and autonomous professional within relevant professional and local/national service frameworks, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions, ensuring adequate supervision and reporting of clinical work, and continued professional development.     

• Contribute to the strategic development of the Centre for Parent and Child Support parenting services, interventions including Empowering Parents Empowering Communities and Helping Families Teams and implementation of new initiatives and best practice recommendations (e.g. national guidelines including NICE). 

• Liaise appropriately with other professionals, service users and families 

• Provide clinical supervision of trainees, co-working and consultation to promote the dissemination of psychological interventions and contribute to their governance

• Comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and ensure professional development in line with the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development and Standards of Proficiency

• Adhere to BPS Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

• Assess and monitor risk and assist the primary and secondary care teams in drawing up and implementing appropriate risk management plans.          

• Respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations ( such as those involving child or vulnerable adult protection; harm to self or others; other challenging behaviour; abuse) and support others involved in such situations.

• Be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group and follow Trust policies relating to its management.

• Travel to community settings across the Trust when required.

• Undertake any other duties appropriate to your grade as directed by your manager/supervisor.

 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

• Doctoral level qualification in clinical psychology, counselling psychology or equivalent 

• Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist (or eligible for registration) 

• PhD, Clinical Doctorate or considerable research experience  

• Good methodological and academic clinical knowledge in relevant research and clinical areas, for example, mixed methods research, child disorders, parenting, specialised psychological interventions for children, adolescents and parents 

• Design and successful delivery of research studies and evaluation projects 

• Well-developed IT, digital and software skills including collection and analysis of research data, and for teaching purposes. 

• Experience of mental health and parenting assessment and intervention with children, parents and families presenting with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature  

• Ability to apply appropriate methods of clinical governance, legislation and professional standards to own work and that of colleagues, supervisees and trainees, as appropriate. 

• A flexible, energetic self-starter able to engage actively with team members, the wider College, NHS partner trusts and other potential collaborators in developing programme of research and excellent clinical practice 

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues. 

Desirable criteria 

• Additional specialist training in psychological/parenting interventions for children, adolescents and parents  

• Experience of providing teaching to under/post-graduate students, DClinPsy trainees publication record in peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books  

• Skills in parenting programme implementation, workforce training and development and providing teaching to professional groups  

• Experience of service user involvement projects and working with service users as advisors and consultants 

Further information

Enhanced DBS required  

 

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance. 

Clinical academic, parenting, child mental health, outcome evaluation