Under 5s Child Psychotherapist (ACP)

To provide an efficient, effective, comprehensive and specialist early intervention psychotherapy assessment and treatment service for children Under 5 and their families with

• highly complex and persistent infant mental health problems and presentations beyond ordinary developmental expectations, their carers/parents and families within care pathways as relevant.
• To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment of families with children Under 5 with complex infant mental health presentations, developmental and emotional difficulties.
• To offer consultation, teaching and training on infant mental health and attachment to multidisciplinary colleagues
• To contribute to audit and research.
• To actively engage in outcome monitoring, including the use of normed routine outcome measures associated with CYP IAPT
• To work in clinical practice, making use of supervision, within the overall framework of the CAMHS Directorates and the Trusts policies and procedures., To provide an efficient, effective, comprehensive and specialist early intervention psychotherapy assessment and treatment service for children Under 5 and their families with highly complex and persistent infant mental health problems and presentations beyond ordinary developmental expectations, their carers/parents and families within care pathways as relevant.
• To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment of families with children Under 5 with complex infant mental health presentations, developmental and emotional difficulties.
• To offer consultation, teaching and training on infant mental health and attachment to multidisciplinary colleagues
• To contribute to audit and research.
• To actively engage in outcome monitoring, including the use of normed routine outcome measures associated with CYP IAPT
• To work in clinical practice, making use of supervision, within the overall framework of the CAMHS Directorates and the Trusts policies and procedures.
Person Specification Other Essential
• Ability to form good working relationships with others in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice.
  
  We are looking for an ACP accredited child psychotherapist with an experience of and passion for Under 5s work. You will be part of our successful service and help us to expand our reach and supporting other Hubs across Harrow, making relationships with families and local stakeholders. You will offer brief psychotherapy to families and consultation to professionals and parents. We accept and encourage applications from people qualifying in Summer 2025., The Child Psychotherapist role requires a motivated, organised and enthusiastic professional interested in supporting a lively Under 5s clinical team. They will be part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team undertaking clinical functions in line with their clinical expertise to implement the under the guidance of a Band 8a Child Psychotherapist and Lead Child Psychotherapist., Ability to teach and train others and present the work of child psychotherapists within public, professional and academic settings, Masters level preclinical training at an Association of Child Psychotherapists recognised training school
• Post graduate doctoral level training in clinical child psychotherapy at a training school accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapy (ACP) or Association of Child Psychotherapists Statement of Equivalence
Desirable
• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in relevant fields in health, social care or education settings
Experience Essential
• Experience of specialist psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and their parents as a full member of a multidisciplinary team located in community, primary care, outpatient or inpatient setting
• Experience of working with a wide variety child, adolescents across the whole age range (0-18) and their parents, and presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity and complexity
Desirable
• Experience of working in different CAMHS Tiers.
• Experience of the application of child psychotherapy in different cultural contexts, Skills in the use of complex methods of psychotherapeutic assessment, intervention and management.
• 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.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents including child protection procedures and policies
• Ability to tolerate anxiety without recourse to premature action whilst appreciating the role of the supervisor
• Awareness of the implications of working within a managed system
Desirable
• Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education Structures, National policies and frameworks.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Knowledge of research methodology and outcome research design and ability to critically interpret research findings
Person Specification Other Essential
• Ability to form good working relationships with others in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice.
Desirable
• Ability to teach and train others and present the work of child psychotherapists within public, professional and academic settings, Skills in the use of complex methods of psychotherapeutic assessment, intervention and management.
• 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.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents including child protection procedures and policies
• Ability to tolerate anxiety without recourse to premature action whilst appreciating the role of the supervisor
• Awareness of the implications of working within a managed system
Desirable
• Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education Structures, National policies and frameworks.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Knowledge of research methodology and outcome research design and ability to critically interpret research findings
  
  The role involves a creative and passionate approach to service development, and offers the opportunity of being part of a pioneering initiative. We are looking for clinicians with sound understanding of infant mental health, and who are open to growing and developing in this field. As this is a brand-new service, we are looking forward to growing and developing together with you.
We are advertising a 0.8 (4 days a week) band 7 post for the Borough of Harrow. The post holder will be based within Brent & Harrow CAMHS team and in one of the local Children's Centres. The service aims to provide an accessible, destigmatising, culturally sensitive infant/young child mental health perspective through:
• consultation to parents and professionals
• specialist assessment
• 6 session brief work with Under 5s and their families, using evidence-based treatment
• interagency partnership working
• teaching and training in infant mental health and early attachment.