Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated High Intensity (accredited/working towards accreditation) CBT Therapist/ counselling psychologist and/or clinical psychologist, who is committed to making a difference within primary care and the wider community.
We are actively working to diversify our staff team, to ensure that our workforce represent the ethnically and culturally diverse community that we serve. Given this, although we will welcome and consider applicants from all backgrounds and protected characteristics, we particularly encourage and welcome applicants from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds to apply.
Lewisham NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) or LTT is offering an exciting opportunity to be part of a major national initiative, which is fundamentally changing the way in which
psychological treatments are provided in the NHS in England.
We are committed to get the very best out of our staff and support staff in their career aspirations. We have career pathways available, where you will be able to develop your skills and build on your experience to progress into other roles across different specialties.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an enthusiastic and skilled Clinical / Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join our committed and friendly team of clinicians. You will be providing Step 3 diagnostic assessments and evidence-based CBT treatment on an individual and group basis to clients aged 18 and over presenting with depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD.
We are particularly interested in candidates with experience and passion in working with black men, university age young people, older adults and long-term conditions.
You will have the opportunity to be involved in the clinical supervision of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Low Intensity Trainees and High Intensity Trainees, for which training will be provided.
High quality supervision and CPD are a priority for the team. You will receive regular weekly individual clinical supervision from one of our bands 8a or 8b Clinical/Counselling Psychologists or CBT Therapists working within the service, as well as specialist supervision from CADAT (Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma, SLaM NHS. )
The post-holder will work within LTT providing psychological assessment and evidence-based CBT for adults experiencing depression and/or anxiety or other common mental health problems. The role involves supporting/supervising the telephone triage team on site in our new facility at the Catford Town Hall. The post holder will have and maintain professional registration and standards e.g. HCPC, BABCP.
Working for our organisation
LTT is one of four NHS Talking therapies services delivered by SLaM NHS Foundation Trust. LTT consists of psychological therapists providing a range of NICE recommended psychological treatments across Lewisham. This is a borough of high social and psychological needs with considerable cultural diversity. The service provides psychological care to an ethnically diverse group of clients, where English may not be their first language, who present with a wide range of common mental health issues at varying levels of severity. We have close links with our sister NHS Talking Therapies services within SLaM, sharing good practice and training opportunities, with the IAPT training courses at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and UCL, and with centres of clinical excellence and research innovation such as the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma. LTT and the Trust offer a large variety of training and development CPD opportunities. The post-holder would be encouraged to develop their skills as a leader in therapy services and supported to undertake further leadership training within the NHS. As one of the few trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, we are happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities:
CLINICAL
• To provide CBT assessment for adults with anxiety, depression. Service users may also have long term health conditions and medically
unexplained symptoms.
• Deliver NICE recommended, formulation driven CBT for depression and anxiety disorders, adapting interventions for specific needs
where appropriate.
• Provide group and individual therapy to patients as required. Communicate information to patients with sensitivity and skill.
• Consult and communicate with the wider team, other clinicians, Trust staff and voluntary or social care staff, including timely and
accurate assessment and discharge reports.
• Provide information and signposting for patients who do not meet the service eligibility criteria.
• Refer people with more severe common mental health problems to secondary care psychological therapies service or to local third
sector providers.
• Participate as a member of the service screening panel, to assess suitability of incoming referrals, detect need for risk interventions,
signpost to more appropriate services and liaise with referrers, as required.
• Collect and enter clinical outcome data on a sessional basis; select and interpret outcome measures to inform treatment planning.
• Keep clear and accurate records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
• Assess and integrate issues surrounding social support, voluntary work and employment into therapy.
• Maintain a clinical caseload in line with activity targets agreed with line manager.
2) CONSULTANCY, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION:
• Provide training to staff groups as required (e.g. GP practice staff / CMHT teams etc.).
• Provide clinical supervision and/or opportunities for joint case working to assistant psychologists; trainees and Psychological Wellbeing
Practitioners as appropriate. Supervise telephone triage assessors to support them in determining appropriateness of service and step
of care, and to respond to risk issues that arise.
• Receive regular clinical and professional supervision according to HCPC/BABCP and Trust guidelines.
• Undertake regular training in line with CPD requirements and undertake Trust mandatory training as required.
3) PROFESSIONAL:
• Work as an autonomous professional and maintain standards of practice adhering to HCPC or BABCP guidelines and the policies and
procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.
• To ensure Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS/BABCP and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements
• Be aware of advances in CBT, other psychological therapies and the IAPT programme.
• Work in accordance with the principles of CBT and within the parameters of good practice, in accordance with the policies and
procedures of the Clinical Governance Framework.
Interviewer information pack
4) RESEARCH and SERVICE DEVELOPMENT:
• Collect outcome measures and data in order to evaluate and prepare service reports as required.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of a strong research culture that values the use of outcome measures as a way of
improving clinical practice.
• Encourage the critical evaluation of practice.
• Use theory and literature to support evidence-based practice in clinical work, supervision, teaching and consultations.
• Communicate and disseminate research and service evaluation information so that clinical practice is appropriately informed.
• Assist in the development of a high quality, responsive and accessible service.
• Contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services.
5) GENERAL:
• To participate in business and professional meetings within the IAPT service or MAP CAG.
• To travel to the GP practices, service meetings and other meetings as appropriate.
• To work on site for triage and face to face sessions, also evening sessions as required, increasing access to those who cannot attend
in standard working hours. You will be expected to work at least one regular shifted day each week (but may be up to three), starting
late morning and finishing mid-evening (7-8pm). Saturday working may also be required
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. A doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology with HCPC registration and CBT, OR BABCP CBT practitioner accreditation OR Trainee HI CBT therapists approaching the end of their BABCP accredited training may also be considered providing they anticipate timely completion of course requirements.
Desirable criteria
2. Postgraduate level qualification in at least one additional IAPT-relevant psychological therapy modality
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Experience of working as a psychological therapist using CBT to treat common mental health problems in adults in brief time limited format
4. Experience of collecting and recording patient reported generic and disorder specific outcome measures to monitor progress
5. Experience of carrying out psychological assessment including assessment of
Desirable criteria
6. Liaison with other services, agencies and professional, working within community settings and GP sites .
7. Experience of using another IAPT treatment modality e.g. LTHC, IPT, EMDR
Knowledge
Essential criteria
8. Detailed knowledge of CBT and/or other evidence-based IAPT-relevant psychological therapies as applied to common mental health problems in adult, including depression and anxiety disorders
9. Knowledge of IAPT stepped care framework for treatment depression and anxiety disorders
Skills
Essential criteria
10. Ability to meet agreed service targets. To manage own caseload and time.
11. Demonstrated good written and communication skills
Desirable criteria
12. To be able to offer therapy in another language in addition to English