Highly Specialist Psychological Practitioner
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
An opportunity has arisen to appoint to a Highly Specialist Psychological Practitioner on Chaffinch Ward, a 19 bedded Low Secure Service for men with forensic mental health needs. Chaffinch Ward is the low secure part of the male forensic pathway, that includes River House MSU and Ward-in-the-Community at Lambeth Hospital.
Chaffinch Ward maintains a strong multi-professional team ethos and offers recovery-oriented interventions specifically adapted for forensic service users who are being prepared for discharge to the community. Opportunities to develop and deliver interventions to address a range of mental health and risk-related needs in group and individual therapies will form part of the role. Reflective Practice is highly valued in the service and the postholder will have opportunities to play a key role in this provision. The service has strong links with the forensic community teams and post-discharge follow-up interventions with service users are in the process of resettling into their community placements is encouraged as part of an attachment model of relational security.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be responsible for the delivery of psychological assessment and intervention, in both individual and group modalities, to patients residing on Chaffinch Ward. The post also places a strong emphasis on staff support and consultation to manage a complex population with multiple needs and risks. The role will also comprise additional senior duties to support leadership of the psychology and psychotherapy in-patient service, through involvement in the delivery of a central therapies programme to service users across all forensic wards, and also in supporting discharged patients with stabilisation in community placements and liaison with community mental health teams.
The role will include the supervision of Assistant Psychologists and Honorary Assistant Psychologists on student placement from training institutions, usually the IoPPN. We have a commitment to working with families and carers wherever possible.
About us
Flexible working: We are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage.
Career Progression pathways and development opportunities: We are committed to get the very best out of our staff and support staff in their career aspirations. In this post you will be able to develop your skills and build on your experience to progress into other roles across different specialties. In addition, we offer ongoing training and development in relevant areas.
Date posted
11 February 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
£59,490 to £66,239 a year per annum Incl. of outer HCAs
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours
Reference number
334-CLI-6891432
Job locations
Chaffinch Ward, Monks Orchard House, Bethlem Royal Hospital, BR3 3BX
Job responsibilities
To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for male clients of the rehabilitation inpatient service including assessing/working with mental disorders and offending behaviour.
To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To act as co-ordinating psychologist for the ward caseload, taking responsibility for co-ordinating assessments, producing CPA and other relevant reports.
To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of trainee psychologists/psychologists/assistant psychologists/psychotherapy trainees/students with support from the principal psychologist.
To contribute to the appraisal of staff and recruitment, as appropriate.
To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* 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. (A/I)
* Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline e.g. HCPC/UKCP/ACP/BABCP (A/I).
* Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body. (A/I)
Experience
* Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature. (A/I)
* Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists / therapists having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
* Experience of delivering psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I)
Knowledge
* Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for the mentally disordered population (A/I)
* Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment, risk assessments and clinical psychometrics (A/I)
Skills
* Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I/R)
* Consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups and sensitively managing, a number of people's needs simultaneously within the context of therapeutic work/consultation. (A/I/R)
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer details
Employer name: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Chaffinch Ward, Monks Orchard House, Bethlem Royal Hospital, BR3 3BX
Employer's website: https://www.slam.nhs.uk/
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