Our 60th year caring for young minds

Research and Programme Assistant, Early Years Parenting Unit (internship)

Role Description
Title Research and Programme Assistant, Early Years Parenting Unit (unpaid internship) EYPU Manager (Nicola Labuschagne) The Anna Freud Centre Early Years Parenting Unit, 38 Mayton Street, London N7 6QR Up to 21 hours per week to be worked between 09:00 and 17:00, Monday Wednesday 8 July 2013 8 October 2013

Reporting to Organisation Location Hours

Duration

The Anna Freud Centre (AFC) The Anna Freud Centre (AFC) is a registered charity which addresses the emotional well-being and mental health of children, young people and their families through Practice and Learning. As a Centre of Practice the AFC delivers innovative and effective treatments and services for children and their families. As a Centre of Learning the AFC pioneers training and research dedicated to improving understanding of children and young peoples emotional problems through training allied and mental health professionals, conducting empirical research and advising practitioners, universities and policy makers. The Centre is affiliated to UCL with which it offers a wide range of postgraduate programmes (one of which is also offered with Yale University) and undertakes collaborative research projects. Background to the post The Early Years Parenting Unit (EYPU) is an innovative new therapeutic service, made possible through grants from the Department for Education. The EYPU provides specialist support to parents with personality difficulties or with a diagnosis of Personality Disorder, and their children under five years of age. The EYPU uses Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT), an evidence-based treatment model, which encourages parents and carers to identify and manage their frequently overwhelming emotions and relationship difficulties. Treatment is provided in an intensive, multifamily approach and includes individual and group

MBT sessions and parenting work. Up to 10 families attend the EYPU at a time for 18 months each. Alongside the therapeutic intervention, a battery of evaluation and outcome measures is administered at baseline, midway and end of treatment. Measures include the following: Video feedback Bayley scales of infant/toddler development Strange situation procedure (SSP) Story-stems Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD) Parent Development Interview (PDI) Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 (SWAP-200) Parenting Stress Index Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) Goal-based Outcomes (GBO) Childrens Global Assessment Scale (CGAS)

Purpose of the post The Research and Programme Assistant administers the majority of the evaluation measures and works alongside the Programme Coordinator to maintain the evaluation database, transcribe audio interviews and enter questionnaire and other data, as well as working with therapists to provide childcare and help with the day-to-day running of the unit. Main Duties and Responsibilities Administering regular evaluation measures with parents and children Supporting EYPU therapists in day to day work with children Conducting audio interviews with parents and preparing verbatim transcriptions for coding and analysis Data entry of questionnaires and other evaluation data Maintaining the schedule of evaluation measures Maintaining regular communication and contact with other members of the team Maintaining the highest standard of professional conduct and record keeping in accordance with AFC policies and procedures Assisting with any other duties of a similar nature that are delegated by senior staff members of the project Taking part in weekly reflective team meetings and group supervision. To be noted This is not an exhaustive list of tasks - the post-holder may be asked to undertake other ad hoc tasks commensurate with the scope and purpose of this post. The post holder will be primarily based at the EYPU site in Islington, but may be required to travel to the Anna Freud Centre for occasional meetings, as well as families homes to conduct evaluation measures alongside a therapist. As the post-holder will be in contact with young people, the post is subject to an enhanced criminal records check. Expenses This is an unpaid position, but expenses will be paid in line with our Voluntary Roles Expenses Policy. June 2013