Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a fixed term appointment for twelve months in the Central At Risk Mental State (ARMS) service for Newcastle and Gateshead. The Central ARMS service provides help for young people between 14-25 years old who are at a higher risk of developing psychosis in the future. The aim of the service is to reduce distress, maintain independence, shorten illness, promote recovery and avoid disability. We deliver evidence-based support and care for young people with distressing unusual experiences within a compassionate MDT. We collaborate closely with fellow services in CNTW and the local area to provide proactive, youth focussed and holistic treatment and support.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for individuals with enthusiasm and an interest in the area of young people's mental health. Applicants must be able to work in a multi-disciplinary team and be willing to learn from the young people we serve as well as other staff and service providers in the community. This would be an excellent opportunity for anyone who is keen to gain experience of working with young people with unusual experiences, like hearing voices or seeing visions, as well as learning how to use standardised assessments. The post holder will be supervised by a Clinical Psychologist in implementing psychosocial interventions, promoting well-being and reducing stigma, ensuring robust collection of service data and monitoring of psychotic symptoms.

The post holder will therefore gain experience in early psychosis, treatment approaches and the importance of reducing stigma and promoting well-being. The service and the psychosis pathway have a strong relationship with researchers in the area, and supporting research may form part of the role. You will support service development, including initiatives to increase access and reduce health inequalities.

Working for our organisation

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

This post covers Newcastle and Gateshead and the post holder will need to travel across the locality. The selection process involves formal interview and you will require Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced clearance before commencement of duties.

The successful candidate will provide a central role within the service in the delivery of standardised assessments (CAARMS), psychosocial interventions (CBT-based), supporting the MDT, regular audit and service evaluation activity and health promotion activity. This is a varied role, you will receive support and supervision from the whole team, and weekly supervision from a Clinical Psychologist.

You will deliver interventions to suitable clients to support them to work towards their goals, often using behavioural activation or graded exposure principles. You may also deliver psychoeducation for unusual experiences. You will be responsible for supporting the team to monitor and manage breaches to waiting time targets, as well as supporting the service to evaluate what it is offering to young people.