Our 60th year
caring for
young minds
Research and Programme Intern
Early Years Parenting Unit
Role Description
Title
Research and Programme Intern, Early Years Parenting Unit (unpaid
position)
Reporting to
EYPU Senior Research Assistant
Organisation
Anna Freud Centre
Location
Early Years Parenting Unit, 38 Mayton Street, London N7 6QR
Salary
Voluntary Position
Hours
21 hours per week
(Hours: 09:00 – 17:00 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday)
Duration
09th September - 17 December 2014
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 people’s 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 therapeutic service,
made possible through grants from the Department for Education. The EYPU
provides specialist support to parents with personality difficulties or 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 (but are not limited to) the following:
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Bayley scales of infant/toddler development
Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS)
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Assessment (GAD)
Parent Development Interview (PDI)
Parenting Stress Index (PSI)
Strange Situation Procedure (SSP)
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
Purpose of the post
The Research and Programme Intern will have the opportunity to administer
evaluation measures and support the Senior Research Assistant to maintain the
evaluation database, transcribe audio interviews and enter questionnaire and
other data. The post holder will also be alongside therapists providing childcare;
supporting children’s play and helping with the day-to-day running of the unit.
Main Activities
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Administering regular evaluation measures with parents and children
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Working with EYPU therapists to provide play opportunities and childcare
while parents are in sessions
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Preparing verbatim transcriptions for coding and analysis
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Data entry of questionnaires and other evaluation data
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Helping to set up PowerPoint and video presentations and video and
photographic equipment
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Maintaining regular communication and contact with the Senior RA and
other members of the team
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Maintaining the highest standard of professional conduct and record
keeping in accordance with AFC policies and procedures
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Assisting with any other duties of a similar nature that are requested by
staff members
Opportunities
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Observing clinical practice and contributing to an innovative therapeutic
programme for families in need
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Gaining experience of working closely with children, infants and
challenging adults
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Gaining experience of administering a variety of research measures and
contributing to the running of a research programme
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Taking part in reflective team meetings and group supervision sessions
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Travel and lunch expenses paid in line with our Voluntary Roles’
Expenses Policy
To be noted
This is not an exhaustive list of tasks - the post holder may be asked to
undertake 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.
July 2014