Practitioner Psychologist, Psychotherapist & Psychological Therapist

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 8a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the LEO team, in the role of Highly Specialist Psychological Therapist. The role is on a permanent contract, on a part time basis: three days per week (22.5 hours). 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 with clients and their families, as well as further developing existing abilities relating to supervision, leadership and service development.

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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.

-Management and supervision relating to the team’s pathway for “low intensity” psychological interventions.

-Supervision of more junior psychology staff, including clinical psychologists in training.

-Contributing in innovative ways to service development in LEO, to ensure that the team continues be informed by new developments in the field and as such remains a reference point for other services of its kind.

Working for our organisation

LEO is a nationally and internationally regarded team for early psychosis, having been one of the first of its kind in the UK. An enthusiastic and caring multidisciplinary team is comprised of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, vocational workers, an advanced practitioner and a team leader. A well-established psychology team includes two family interventions therapists. The primary approach for individual therapy in the team is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), while clinicians are encouraged to draw upon a range of evidenced approaches. Given high rates of trauma in psychosis groups, our work is trauma informed throughout. In addition, LEO has a well-established pathway for “low intensity” interventions, ensuring more timely access to therapeutic approaches, and a regular program of therapeutic groups. As a service, we are committed to increasing the accessibility and acceptability of care, and in ensuring that services are delivered equitably.

About the location:

LEO has excellent community links and works alongside other services in Lambeth, which is a diverse, multicultural borough. We are based at 190 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5DL - a short walk from Vauxhall overground station and Oval or Kennington tube stations, as well as being on several bus routes.

Benefits:

Some of our benefits are highlighted here:

• Generous pay, pensions and leave
• Work life balance
• Career development
• Car lease
• Accommodation
• NHS discounts

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical and Client Care

• Provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients within the LEO Service, including individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis.
• Deliver culturally appropriate psychological interventions for clients, families and carers.
• Assess, monitor and manage risk, developing appropriate risk management plans.

Team and Service Contribution

• Contribute to the effective functioning of the multidisciplinary team and promote psychologically informed practice.
• Support the delivery of accessible, inclusive and culturally competent services.
• Challenge discrimination and contribute to equality-focused service development.
• Provide specialist psychological advice and consultation to colleagues and partner agencies.
• Liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals to develop and review care plans.
• Apply research, theory and evidence-based practice to clinical work and service delivery.

Service Development

• Implement policies and procedures and contribute to service improvement initiatives.
• Participate in projects that support service development and quality improvement.
• Engage service users in the planning and delivery of local services.

Management, Supervision and Training

• Provide clinical supervision and support to trainee and junior psychologists.
• Contribute to recruitment, appraisal and development processes where appropriate.
• Deliver teaching and training to psychology trainees and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Support the development and sharing of psychological knowledge and best practice.

Information Governance and Research

• Maintain high standards of clinical record keeping, report writing and electronic data management.
• Contribute to audits, service evaluations, outcome measurement and research activities.
• Support the implementation of evidence-based developments within the service.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development.
• Maintain compliance with HCPC standards, BPS guidelines and Trust policies.
• Keep up to date with developments in psychological practice, legislation and mental health care.

General Responsibilities

• Travel across Trust sites and community settings as required.
• Manage challenging or distressing situations professionally and in line with Trust policies.
• Work flexibly, including occasional late clinics or weekend commitments where required.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the detailed job description and main responsibilities of the role.

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

• Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
• Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
• We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity.

Welcome to your candidate journey.
Our Candidate Recruitment Information Pack is designed to help you learn more about our Trust, understand the recruitment process, and prepare a strong application. We encourage you to explore the pack and use the guidance, tips and resources available to help you feel informed, confident, and ready to showcase your best self:Recruitment Toolkit - Customer Success Test

Please note:

• That all applications for this post will need to be made online
• That you read and understand the Job Description and Person Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not been successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe’.