Job description
A psychologist working in early intervention centres typically plays a crucial role in assessing, diagnosing, and providing therapeutic interventions for young children who may be experiencing developmental delays, behavioural challenges, or emotional difficulties. Their job profile may include: ● Assessment and Evaluation: Conducting comprehensive psychological assessments to identify developmental, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural needs of children to prepare therapy plans.
● Diagnosis and Treatment Planning: Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to formulate diagnoses and develop individualized treatment plans tailored to each child's unique strengths and challenges. ● Intervention and Therapy: Providing evidence-based interventions, such as play therapy, behavioural therapy, social skills training, cognitive training and parent-child interaction therapy, to support children's development and address their specific needs.
● Family Support and Education: Offering guidance, counselling, and psychoeducation to parents and caregivers on how to support their child's development, manage challenging behaviours, and promote positive parent-child relationships. ● Consultation and Collaboration: Working closely with special educators, paediatricians, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals to coordinate services and ensure holistic support for children and families.
● Program Development and Evaluation: Contributing to the design, implementation, and evaluation of early intervention programs aimed at improving outcomes for young children and their families. ● Documentation and recording of assessment and treatments according to in house policies and making quarterly based evaluation reports to monitor them.
● Coordinate with child protection workers, legal support and child protection office. ● Organize educational programs to inform adolescents or teenagers about the repercussions of high-risk behaviours and ways to adjust to them. ● Using various schools of psychology to teach soft and life skills. ● Psychologists play an important role in sex education.
● Address issues such as depression, bullying, various mental health issues, learning difficulties and family issues related to children by providing appropriate intervention. ● Advocacy and Community Outreach: Advocating for the needs of young children with developmental concerns and raising awareness about the importance of early intervention services within the community.
This include
- Conduct screening camp for the public
- Online support group (Club) to help children with disabilities with the help of volunteers from various parts of Kerala
- Public awareness programs for nearby institutions (shops, companies etc)
- Tele – clinical service for public
- Clinical interview of mental health experts to share in social medias
- Provide sex education programs at schools with the help of medical experts
- To conduct Q&A session for school and anganwadi teachers and parents
- Mother-centred programs to improve mental health
- Provide pre-marital counselling in collaboration with Panchayat offices
- Sensitization programs for family members of children with disabilities
- Spreading awareness about the importance of EIC and red flag signs of various child disorders and updates through medias
- Mainstream school programs: Interactive sessions to enhance inclusive education system and primary training methods for children with disabilities
- Job oriented training to empower and strengthen parents
- Conduct seminars at schools. Research
- Surveys and pilot studies
- Evidence based study on therapy strategies (social skills)
- Studies on current training strategies (teaching and therapy) and its effectiveness.
- Conduct research among specific disability
- Studies on inclusive education program and challenges of mainstream school teachers
- Circulate research study updates on child rehabilitation
- Collection of research studies, books and materials related to child rehabilitation
- Organize research groups, seminar, and other programs
- Conduct conference Others
- Conduct seminars, and workshops on relevant topics
- Periodical fore gathering of psychologists
- Workshops to enhance bonding and group work
- Set up Psychology library
- Resource material preparation Programs for colleagues on mental health at workplace