Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is celebrating another significant milestone in its commitment to developing local healthcare professionals.
A second Jersey-born Assistant Psychologist has securing a place on the highly competitive Clinical Doctorate Programme at the University of Southampton.
CAMHS Assistant Psychologist Natasha Belim (pictured) will begin the doctorate programme in September 2026, training to become a Clinical Psychologist while completing all clinical placements in Jersey.
The appointment builds on an innovative partnership between CAMHS and the University of Southampton, starting in 2024, which enabled the first locally based trainee Clinical Psychologist to join the programme and remain on island throughout their training. Ross Lawless is now entering his second year of study.
Clinical Psychologists play a vital role in supporting children, young people, and their families, experiencing mental health difficulties, but recruitment to these specialist positions remains challenging both locally and across the UK.
Historically, CAMHS has experienced difficulties attracting applicants to Clinical Psychologist vacancies. Many Jersey students return to the Island with psychology degrees but face limited opportunities to gain the experience required to secure a place on a Clinical Psychology doctorate programme. Successful candidates have traditionally needed to relocate to the UK to complete training, with many choosing to remain there after qualification.
The partnership with Southampton University was established to address this challenge by creating a local training pathway, helping Islanders gain the qualifications they need while remaining connected to their community.
Darren Bowring, Associate Director for Mental Health and Wellbeing said: “This is exactly what our partnership was designed to achieve, creating opportunities for local people to access specialist training while remaining in Jersey.
“Clinical Psychologists are a highly skilled profession that can be difficult to recruit to. By investing in local talent, we are developing a sustainable workforce of professionals who understand the Island, its communities and the needs of local children, young people, and families.
“This approach strengthens our succession planning and helps ensure CAMHS can continue to meet demand for psychological support in the years ahead.”
