Clinical or Counselling Psychologist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the LEO team. The role is on a 12-month fixed term contract, on full time basis. LEO is a team for people aged 18-65 in Lambeth who have experienced a first episode of psychosis, and as such sits within SLaM's early intervention for psychosis services. This role represents an excellent opportunity for someone to engage in rich and meaningful direct clinical work and therefore to build on their existing skills as a psychological therapist in early psychosis.

LEO is a nationally and internationally regarded team for first episode psychosis, having been one of the first of its kind in the UK. A large, enthusiastic and caring multidisciplinary team is comprised of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, vocational workers, an advanced practitioner and a team leader, as well as a very well-established psychology team, which includes two family interventions therapists. The primary approach for individual therapy in the team is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), while at the same time clinicians are encouraged to draw upon a range of evidenced intervention approaches, which may include incorporating principles and techniques from ACT, CFT, EMDR and Schema Therapy. Given the high rates of trauma in psychosis groups, our work is trauma informed throughout.

Main duties of the job

-Delivery of individual and family interventions in the context of first episode psychosis, primarily within the framework of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), while drawing on other models and approaches where appropriate, and ensuring that interventions are delivered in such a manner that is both equitable and trauma informed.

-Supporting MDT staff in psychological formulation and case conceptualisation. Contributing to ensuring that the team's work as a whole is psychologically informed where possible, and that psychological perspectives are visible and influential in day to day work at LEO.

-Contribution where appropriate to the team's pathway for "low intensity" psychological interventions.

-Supervision of more junior psychology staff where appropriate.

About us

About LEO

LEO has excellent community links and work in close collaboration with other services in Lambeth, which is a diverse, multicultural borough. The team as a whole is committed to ensuring the best possible care for the clients we serve and their families. In terms of location, LEO is based at 190 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5DL. We are a short walk from Vauxhall overground station and Oval or Kennington tube stations, as well as being on several bus routes.

Benefits

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package, feel valued and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance.

Some of our benefits include:

• Generous pay, pensions and leavepackages dependent on the role and length of service.
• Work life balance, flexible working and supporting a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
• Career developmentwith plenty CPD opportunities such as mentoring, coaching, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
• Accommodation, our staff benefit fromkeyworker housing at selected sites.
• NHS discountsvia theHealth Service Discounts website.

Other benefits include:

• Counselling services
• Wellbeing events
• Long service awards
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Childcare vouchers
• Staff restaurants

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Clinical and Client Care

  • To provide specialist psychological assessments,formulationsand interventions for clients in theLEO service including family work and cognitive behavioural therapies for psychosis.
  • To formulatepsychological treatment plans that are specific to each client and family, based upon an analysisof complex factors contributing to the presentation and selectively drawing onappropriateconceptualand theoretical models.
  • To provide culturallyappropriate psychologicalinterventions with carers or families of referredclients whenrequired.
  • To assess andmonitorrisk and draw upappropriate riskmanagement plans.

  Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

  • To contribute to the effective working of the LEO service and to a psychologically informedframework for the service.
  • To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverselocal communities.
  • To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competentservices.
  • To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clientsin order todevelopand review care plans.

  Policy and service development

  • To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements orbeneficial changes.
  • To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and deliveringservices which meet the needs of local communities.
  • To contribute to service development through undertaking andparticipatinginappropriateprojects.

  Care or management of resources

  • To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.
  • To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requestingor ordering supplies as needed.

  Management and supervision

  • Tobe responsible forthe allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistantpsychologist ifrequired, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
  • To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of therelevant Training Courses Supervision Training.

  Teaching and Training

  • To provide occasional specialist training in psychological approaches to care to other professionsasappropriate.
  • Todisseminateresearch and service evaluation findings through presentations and publishedarticles.

  Record-keeping and Information Governance

  • To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policiesand local procedures.
  • Tomaintainthe highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according toprofessional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

  Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

  • To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist accordingto HCPC and Trust guidelines.

Research and service evaluation

• To contribute to the development of services through undertaking service evaluation and audit.

General Responsibilities

• To ensure own Continuing Professional Development

• Tomaintainan up-to-date knowledge of key legislation

A full Job Description and Person Specification is attached to the advert.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent, or combination of MSc and PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I)
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. (A/I)

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of psychological assessment and intervention with clients experiencing a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in early psychosis (A/I/R)
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care, particularly in young people. (A/I/R)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of delivering CBT-based psychological assessment and intervention with clients experiencing a range of complex needs, within the context of at-risk mental state and/or early intervention for psychosis. (A/I)
• Experience of working with families and carers, and of delivering family therapy following a theoretical model
• Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience. (A/I)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

190 Kennington Lane

190 Kennington Lane

London

SE11 5DL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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