Featured Job: Child and Adult Psychologists

Nigel Blagg tells me about the associate positions he is advertising. 'These are really varied, exciting and flexible roles. They offer opportunities to do really in-depth assessments which will have both immediate and long-term impact on people's lives – children, young people, adults and whole families.'

'The company started in 1990 undertaking governmental research and has developed into what we are now: an independent psychology practice, based in our own Taunton premises, covering Southern and South Western England and the whole of Wales. We offer educational, clinical, forensic, counselling and neuropsychological assessment services to a wide range of clients; from private individuals to local authorities, the NHS, clinical commissioning groups and family courts.'

It's only possible to give a selection of the areas these associates will work in. They include mental capacity, learning disability, personality disorders, mental health, risk issues and support needs among adult clients. Child assessments include complex ASD, attachment and sibling relationship issues as well as placement and therapeutic needs after a care order. 'Most of our associates get involved in expert witness work in family courts; some also offer therapeutic services, as required.'

What sort of people is Nigel looking for? 'We're looking for psychologists who are genuinely enthusiastic about psychology's ability to make a difference. In particular, given the growth in our work, we want to shorten the time it takes us to respond to enquiries. Our associates take a systemic, multi-modal, integrative approach to assessment, formulation and intervention, drawing on a wide range of approaches and models, including psychometrics, risk protocols, observations and clinical interviews. Being able to communicate in meetings and write reports that non-specialists understand is important: we pride ourselves on our national reputation for the high quality and practicality of our written reports.'

Presumably these are roles for experienced psychologists. 'Not entirely. We do have very experienced psychologists working as associates but less-experienced ones can bring new ideas from their research and CPD and gradually expand their expertise within the practice. We have one assistant psychologist working here and might increase that to two.'

What do you offer the associates? 'Incredibly varied work that spans the different domains of psychology and flexibility re hours, caseload and areas of specialism. We offer in-house supervision and support and a lot of learning goes on between the associates. We also have a bank of resources and a very good in-house administration team who are great at matching associates to cases.'

Nigel sums up: 'let me stress that we're a very friendly, inclusive, mutually supportive team. And everyone here believes psychology can make lives better.'

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