Psychotherapist, Practitioner Psychologist & Psychological Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 7
Main area: Psychiatry
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Flexibility to work a shift pattern of 8am - 8pm across a 7 day service
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 334-CLI-7030246
Site: Heather Close
Town: Lewisham
Salary: £54,320 - £60,981 per annum inclusive of HCAs
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 04/04/2025 23:59
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 providing 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
Are you passionate about reshaping mental health care? Do you believe in the power of community, collaboration with community partners and local voluntary care sector, inclusion, and peer support to transform lives? We’re launching an innovative community care centre inspired by world-class models like the Trieste Mental Health Community Network, Navigo in Grimsby, and Clubhouse models in New York and Brixton.
We have an incredibly exciting and rare opportunity to be part of a new community mental health pilot. This centre will hold a major national profile with NHS England who are hoping that the pilot will radically transform how we deliver mental health care in the UK.
We are looking for dedicated staff to help us pioneer this revolutionary approach to care.
What We Offer
* A Unique Care Model: Join a programme focused on community, social inclusion, and holistic recovery.
* Supportive Environment: Collaborate with peers, contribute to a recovery-oriented care system, and make a real difference.
* Development Opportunities: Be part of a pioneering team shaping the future of mental health care, with training and career growth built-in.
Main duties of the job
* To provide specialist psychological interventions - CBT for severe mental health problems - including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
* To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
* To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.
* To promote service evaluation, audit and research.
* To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.
* To be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate.
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.
SLaM employs around 5000 staff and serves a local population of 1.1 million people. With 230 services, we also provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. Our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical and Client Care
* To provide specialist CBT assessments, formulations and interventions for clients (individuals, couples, families and social networks where the identified client has complex mental health needs) within Lewisham CMHTs.
* To provide culturally appropriate psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
* To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
* To provide reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users and their families.
* To select and deliver evidence-based specialist therapeutic interventions, drawing from a spectrum of ideas and models, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions as necessary, based on the highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, couple, family or group.
* To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
* To contribute to the effective working of Lewisham CMHTs and to a psychologically/psychotherapeutically informed framework for the service.
* To contribute to the team or service’s delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
* To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
* To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
* To liaise with the service/s MDT and other professionals.
Policy and service development
* To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
* To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
* To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
Care or management of resources
* To take care of, and use carefully, the Trust’s equipment and physical resources.
* To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
* To ensure the cleanliness and safe functioning and use of equipment that will be used by clients or other persons.
* To monitor and advise clients on the safe use of materials and processes.
* To ensure adequate confidential and safe storage for artefacts produced during the therapy process in line with professional guidelines.
* To be responsible for obtaining, storing and maintaining all materials and equipment for the provision of therapy in work setting within budgetary constraints.
Management and supervision
* To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of a paid assistant if required, under supervision from a more senior therapist.
* To supervise trainees within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Supervision Training.
Teaching and Training
* To provide occasional specialist training in psychological/psychotherapeutic approaches to care to other professions as appropriate.
* To disseminate research/service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
Record-keeping and Information Governance
* To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
* To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
Research and development
* To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
* To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior therapist according to discipline, professional body and Trust guidelines.
* To maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with professional body and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and professional Standards for Continuing Professional Development.
* To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
* To comply with professional body Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/Standards of Proficiency.
General
* To travel to meetings as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
* To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.
* To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics, within the overall Job Plan.
* To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations (such as challenging behaviour, abuse etc) and to support others involved in such situations through Trust-wide approaches including Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve.
Person specification
Qualifications
* To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
* Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration.
* For Psychologists: Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
* For Family/Systemic Psychotherapists: Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field PLUS Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP.
* For Psychotherapists: Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the UKCP/BABCP for purposes of professional registration.
* For Arts Therapists: Masters Degree (or equivalent) in Arts Therapy or Dance Movement Therapy.
* Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline HCPC/UKCP/BABCP.
Experience
* Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
* Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
* Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
* Experience of developing and carrying out audit/research projects.
* Significant post-qualification/graduation experience including experience of individual and group therapy with people with complex mental health needs.
* Experience of group work and support of stepped care.
Knowledge
* Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment.
* Knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and its therapeutic application.
* Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
* Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
* To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences.
* Knowledge of culturally adapted CBT and psychological therapies.
Skills
* To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
* To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers.
* To plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriate.
* Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
* Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.
* Ability to support case formulation and care planning meetings.
Abilities
* Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
* Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
* Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings.
* Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions.
* Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations.
* Ability to support MDT colleagues with psychologically informed care planning.
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.
Please note:
* That all applications for this post will need to be made online.
* That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role.
* That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received.
* That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system.
* 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.
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name: Dr Inga Boellinghaus
Job title: Principal Clinical Psychologist
Email address: inga.boellinghaus@slam.nhs.uk
Telephone number: 07546 56 09 57
Please be advised that my working days are Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.
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