Job summary The PATH Early Intervention in Psychosis Service has been developed to provide dedicated biopsychosocial care to individuals experiencing early psychosis. In line with best practice guidelines and national early intervention in psychosis standards, the service also provides dedicated and tailored support to the families and carers of individuals experiencing psychosis. TheFamily Intervention Therapist will play a pivotal role in promoting and embedding family inclusive practice, carer support and family interventions within the PATH service. Main duties of the job You will carry a caseload of families, working alongside other FI trained colleagues. You will also contribute to the planning and delivery of the carer education and support programme for families of those with early psychosis. Of equal importance will be the support and supervision of the family work undertaken by other early intervention staff and there will also be a role to play in the provision of relevant training. Evaluation of clinical and experience outcomes for those receiving family work and carer support will be central to the role. The role will support governance of psychological and psychologically-informed interventions within the service, with support from the Senior and Lead Psychologists. On-going service-development will also be a part of the role. About us Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission. Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. Date posted 31 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £48,270 to £54,931 a year per annum pro rata (5% HCAS included) Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working Reference number 367-ACMS-9134 Job locations 99 Waverley Road St Albans AL3 5TQ Waverley Road St Albans AL3 5TQ Job description Job responsibilities The post-holder will provide evidence-based psychological assessment and interventions for service users and their family members. The post-holder will provide specialist support, guidance and consultation on clients psychological care to other multi-disciplinary professionals The post-holder will work closely with psychological services colleagues, as well as the wider MDT The post-holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures The post-holder will utilise research skills for audit, teaching, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team. Job description Job responsibilities The post-holder will provide evidence-based psychological assessment and interventions for service users and their family members. The post-holder will provide specialist support, guidance and consultation on clients psychological care to other multi-disciplinary professionals The post-holder will work closely with psychological services colleagues, as well as the wider MDT The post-holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures The post-holder will utilise research skills for audit, teaching, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team. Person Specification Qualifications Essential (Nurse Advanced) Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses plus further specialist training to master's equivalent level. (Social Worker Specialist) Professional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma in social care, supplemented by further specialist knowledge, for example in needs of a specific client group, experience to Masters equivalent level. (Occupational Therapist Advanced) Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by further training, short specialist courses, to master's equivalent level. (Psychologist) Doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology or equivalent and Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. (Family Therapist) Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, recognised by DOH and AFT, and Registered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist. Registration by the relevant practitioner registering body, e.g. NMC, HCPC Evidence of having undertaken a comprehensive Family Intervention course previous experience Essential Experience of assessment and intervention for families affected by psychosis under supervision Experience in supporting carers and/or facilitating groups for carers of people with psychosis Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures Awareness of current NHS initiatives and Developments Knowledge of legislation and the national agenda in relation to Adult Mental Health Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients with mental health problems Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team Experience of working in a community mental health setting Desirable Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research, etc. Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision Experience of service development/project management Experience of working in Early Intervention in Psychosis Advanced level knowledge of the theoretical and evidence base for Family Interventions for Psychosis, including factors affecting implementation skills/knowledge Essential Knowledge of the NICE guidelines for Schizophrenia and Psychosis in relation to CBT and Family Interventions Theoretical knowledge of first episode psychosis and the evidence base for family and carer interventions. Knowledge of at least one treatment model (e.g. behavioural-based family interventions, CBT informed Family Intervention, Systemic Therapy) Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Ability to communicate orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multi- disciplinary team and the ability to respect and value other members' contributions and to encourage participation of all involved Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Ability to alert line manager / team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public Ability to time manage effectively and to work under pressure and to prioritise a clinical workload Positive problem solving approach Ability to critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and boundaries with clients from diverse backgrounds Ability to apply psychology in different cultural contexts Ability to recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality and diversity Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving) IT Skills; including the use of Microsoft Office and Outlook, entering data onto electronic patient records Effort Essential Ability to travel and work flexibly across different sites in Hertfordshire Ability to think clearly and express self Ability to remain calm under pressure Ability to deliver complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration Ability to recognise signs of stress and seek the appropriate support Ability to work with people whose behaviour is personally challenging General Essential Ability to comply with relevant professional standards and current developments in the field of mental health and well-being Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice Flexible and positive approach to changing circumstances Ability to identify own developmental needs and takes responsibility for personal development Ability to act consistently with legislation, policies, procedures and other quality approaches and the ability to encourage and develop others to do so Person Specification Qualifications Essential (Nurse Advanced) Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses plus further specialist training to master's equivalent level. (Social Worker Specialist) Professional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma in social care, supplemented by further specialist knowledge, for example in needs of a specific client group, experience to Masters equivalent level. (Occupational Therapist Advanced) Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by further training, short specialist courses, to master's equivalent level. (Psychologist) Doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology or equivalent and Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. (Family Therapist) Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, recognised by DOH and AFT, and Registered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist. Registration by the relevant practitioner registering body, e.g. NMC, HCPC Evidence of having undertaken a comprehensive Family Intervention course previous experience Essential Experience of assessment and intervention for families affected by psychosis under supervision Experience in supporting carers and/or facilitating groups for carers of people with psychosis Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures Awareness of current NHS initiatives and Developments Knowledge of legislation and the national agenda in relation to Adult Mental Health Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients with mental health problems Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team Experience of working in a community mental health setting Desirable Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research, etc. Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision Experience of service development/project management Experience of working in Early Intervention in Psychosis Advanced level knowledge of the theoretical and evidence base for Family Interventions for Psychosis, including factors affecting implementation skills/knowledge Essential Knowledge of the NICE guidelines for Schizophrenia and Psychosis in relation to CBT and Family Interventions Theoretical knowledge of first episode psychosis and the evidence base for family and carer interventions. Knowledge of at least one treatment model (e.g. behavioural-based family interventions, CBT informed Family Intervention, Systemic Therapy) Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Ability to communicate orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multi- disciplinary team and the ability to respect and value other members' contributions and to encourage participation of all involved Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Ability to alert line manager / team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public Ability to time manage effectively and to work under pressure and to prioritise a clinical workload Positive problem solving approach Ability to critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and boundaries with clients from diverse backgrounds Ability to apply psychology in different cultural contexts Ability to recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality and diversity Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving) IT Skills; including the use of Microsoft Office and Outlook, entering data onto electronic patient records Effort Essential Ability to travel and work flexibly across different sites in Hertfordshire Ability to think clearly and express self Ability to remain calm under pressure Ability to deliver complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration Ability to recognise signs of stress and seek the appropriate support Ability to work with people whose behaviour is personally challenging General Essential Ability to comply with relevant professional standards and current developments in the field of mental health and well-being Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice Flexible and positive approach to changing circumstances Ability to identify own developmental needs and takes responsibility for personal development Ability to act consistently with legislation, policies, procedures and other quality approaches and the ability to encourage and develop others to do so 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). Additional information 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 Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Address 99 Waverley Road St Albans AL3 5TQ Waverley Road St Albans AL3 5TQ Employer's website https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)