Role Purpose
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of a quality evidence-based Psychology service including assessment of children’s and family needs, as part of an inter-disciplinary team and within established professional standards, guidelines and policies for children with complex needs attending services in the Children Disability Network Team.
The service is provided within the Progressing Disabilities Services for Children and young people (PDS) framework, with interdisciplinary team working and family centred practice at its core.
The duties of this post will include direct intervention with children and families. In addition, it will involve provision of support and supervision and induction to staff grade psychologists and trainee psychologists and taking the psychology lead on particular team projects or developments as directed by the CDNT Manager.
Key Responsibilities
- The Senior Psychologist will be responsible for the delivery of psychology services to children and families within the CDNT.
- The Senior Psychologist will be responsible for consultation and clinical supervision regarding the work of psychologists (staff grade) and the supervision of trainee psychologists who may be assigned to the area of responsibility of the post holder.
- To undertake assessment, therapy, appropriate interventions and preventative programmes in accordance with the professional competence of psychologists.
- To carry out Assessment of Need Assessments as required within the designated timeframe.
- To carry out relevant assessments for children and young people transitioning into school, secondary school and adult services as required.
- Work within limits of professional competence in line with principles of best practice, professional conduct and clinical governance.
- Undertake Key contact role as required for children on the caseload.
- Represent the service at meetings and conferences as designated.
- Keep up to date records, reports and statistics as required.
Role requirements
- Have a university degree or diploma (QQ1 level 8 equivalent) obtained with 1st or 2nd class honours in which Psychology was taken as a major subject and honours obtained in that subject.
- Have an Irish post-graduate professional psychology qualification accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland in Clinical, Counselling, or Educational Psychology
- Or An equivalent qualification from another jurisdiction validated by the Department of Health. Application for this post must be inclusive of letter of validation.
- Applicants must have at least five years satisfactory post-graduate experience in the area of professional psychology, no more than three years of which was spent in gaining the postgraduate professional qualification and no less than two years full-time spent in post-qualification experience as a professional psychologist. Years in excess of the permitted three years for completion of the post-graduate training or time not worked will not be taken into consideration when assessing the five years’ experience requirement.
- Demonstrate competence in the area of working with children with disabilities.
- Demonstrate an understanding of interdisciplinary working, family centred practice and a high standard of suitability for the proper discharge of the office.
- Demonstrate the capacity to plan and deliver supports in an effective and resourceful manner within a model of person & family centred care.Demonstrate the ability to manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment including the ability to prioritise caseloads for self and others.
- Display effective interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills including skills in mediation, conciliation and advocacy and the ability to collaborate with colleagues, families, etc.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information and make effective decisions.
- Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a child and family centred service.
- Demonstrate initiative and innovation in identifying areas for service improvement.
- Demonstrates the ability to empathise with and treat others with dignity and respect.
- Demonstrate effective leadership and team skills.
- Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change and learning.
- Demonstrate ability to utilise and provide supervision effectively.
- Demonstrate a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role.
- Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development.
For more details view the full job description in the Additional Information section below.
