Job summary
Are you a Clinical Psychologist with a passion for supporting adults experiencing eating disorders? Our Community Eating Disorder Service for Adults (EDSA) are recruiting and would like to hear from you! We welcome recently qualified applicants who may be interested in undertaking a preceptorship towards 8A, and we are experienced in providing the necessary support to achieve this.
EDSA are responsible for providing a countywide community service to adults in Somerset experiencing an eating disorder. This includes assessment and treatment using a range of evidence-based interventions (e.g., the Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults MANTRA, and CBT-based interventions such as Guided Self-Help, CBT-T, CBT-E), as well as broader clinical psychology approaches where needed. We have also implemented the FREED approach (see https://freedfromed.co.uk/), to enable rapid access to effective treatment for young adults presenting with a first episode of an eating disorder.
We are an enthusiastic multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, dietitians, psychological therapists, clinical associate psychologists, assistant psychologist and support workers. Excellent supervision and training opportunities exist within the team and the wider Trust, as well as support to attend relevant external CPD. Service improvement is driven by clinically-based research, including ongoing or recently completed Quality Improvement Projects.
Main duties of the job
The primary focus of the role is providing highly specialist assessment, formulation and intervention to adults experiencing an eating disorder, as well as consultation, training and support to colleagues within the multidisciplinary team and wider CMHS.
You will also be responsible for providing high quality clinical supervision to other clinicians as needed, and may hold some line management responsibilities.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
* Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
* NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
* Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
* A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Working with the support of the Principal Clinical Psychologist, the post holder will be responsible for providing a Clinical Psychology service to people experiencing an eating disorder. This will include directly providing highly specialist assessment, formulation and intervention to service users, as well as consultation, training and support to colleagues within the multidisciplinary team and wider CMHS, and driving service improvement through clinical research.
In addition, the post holder will be responsible for providing clinical supervision to other clinicians and trainees as needed, and may hold some line management responsibilities. The post holder will work with colleagues to continue the promotion and development of psychological approaches within the service.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders (Adults)
Eating Disorder Principal Clinical Psychologist
Eating Disorder Assistant Psychologist
Eating Disorder Psychological Therapists
Eating Disorder Clinical Associate Psychologists
Eating Disorder Locality Leads (EDLLs)
Eating Disorder Support Workers (EDSWs)
Eating Disorder Specialist Dietitians
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) service lead
Adult Psychology & Psychological Therapies Co-ordinator
Head of Psychological Professions
CMHS Operational Managers
CBT staff
Multi-disciplinary colleagues
FREED Network partner organisations
Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
To provide a specialist, doctoral level, assessment and treatment service to adults who may be experiencing an eating disorder.
To tailor interventions to the developmental needs of young adults, using the FREED care package resources as appropriate.
To provide consultancy and support on the psychological aspects of care to other professionals as required.
To provide written and/or verbal reports as needed.
To keep accurate clinical records and conduct appropriate correspondence.
To use Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and psychometric assessments, as required, to enable ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the interventions offered.
To be responsible for updating electronic patient records and other IT functions including outcome measurements.
To work to an agreed contract to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and within Trust agreed timescales.
Clinical Supervision, Teaching & Training
To provide clinical supervision to colleagues with the EDSA or broader CMHS as required.
To take overall responsibility for identifying training needs within the EDSA and developing a program of training to meet these needs, using external providers as needed and ensuring that there is a robust plan for long term sustainability.
To offer consultation to colleagues within Community Mental Health Services and other services, as appropriate.
To offer training in psychological therapy approaches to eating disorders to colleagues within the EDSA and wider staff within the Trust.
To agree a Job Plan and a Personal Development Plan (PDP), to be updated annually and to participate in an annual Personal Development Review (PDR).
To participate in clinical supervision and caseload supervision arrangements provided by the Community Mental Health Service, in accordance with good practice guidelines for all psychologists.
Line Management Responsibilities
To undertake line management for Eating Disorder Psychological Therapists or other colleagues as required.
Service Development
To continuously review the implementation of the FREED service model and care package, advising the Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders (Adults) on its progress, and identifying any areas for improvement or opportunities for further service development.
To be responsible for ensuring that required core outcome data are collated and reported back to the FREED Network, with support from Assistant Psychologist colleagues.
To contribute to the development of clinical psychology and psychological therapies services in accordance with Trust strategy and local needs.
Professional
To observe fully the HPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2008), BPS (1996) Code of Conduct and the DCP (2001) Professional Practice Guidelines.
To participate in the EDSA business and professional meetings, including service development days.
To maintain and further develop high standards of psychological practice, through cooperative work with other clinical psychologists, peer supervision and ongoing relevant CPD.
To be aware of and adhere to Trust and Psychology policies and procedures, including supervision and performance appraisal procedures.
To undertake and keep up to date with mandatory training, including in the Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression.
Clinical Governance
To participate in relevant Trust and ESDA clinical governance initiatives.
To propose changes to work practices to improve the efficacy and accessibility of psychological services.
To provide and maintain appropriate statistics and records of own work, including electronic patient records, clinical outcome measures and data on audit standards.
To promote the use of effective, evidence-based interventions in the service.
To support and participate in clinical audits within EDSA and CMHS to ensure that best practice is shared.
Research and Development
To initiate research and service evaluation as required by the needs of the local services.
To offer advice and support to other members of relevant teams undertaking research projects.
To participate regularly in Clinical Audit projects in the EDSA and CMHS.
To encourage a culture of evidence-based practice in all parts of the service by keeping up to date and disseminating good practice within all teams and across agencies.
Any Other Specific Tasks Required
To travel between the countywide bases (Wells, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Taunton) and/or primary care settings as needed to enable delivery of the service.
To undertake any other duties at a comparable level of responsibility as may be allocated.
Attending meetings as appropriate.
Fulfilling duties of weekly timetable.
Duties as instructed by your manager or appropriate authority.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Doctoral Clinical Psychology/Counselling Psychology qualification or equivalent.
* Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Desirable
* Relevant specialist CPD (e.g. CBT-E, SSCM, MANTRA, Motivational Interviewing, DBT, RO-DBT, Trauma-Focussed CBT, EMDR, NET).
* Post qualification training in psychological therapy
* Accredited psychological therapist
Experience
Essential
* Experience of work in adult mental health services and working with people with severe and complex mental health needs, including eating disorders.
* Teaching and training of Psychology and other staff.
* Knowledge of more than one psychological therapy.
* Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice.
* Experience of working with young people aged 16-25.
* Clinical supervision experience.
Desirable
* Evidence of specialist interest in working with adults with eating disorders during training.
* Extended casework in relevant speciality area before and during training.
* Experience of service evaluation and implementing new service developments.
* Experience of project management.
* Experience of offering line management.
* Clinical audit work in specialist area.
* Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency contexts.
Additional Criteria
Essential
* Knowledge of specialist therapeutic interventions with the client group.
* Advanced, specialist skills in psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
* Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty.
* Effective team player with good liaison and communication skills.
* Very well organised with good administration skills.
* Ability to work independently.
* Ability to cope with workload pressure and prioritise workload.
* Ability to make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues with young people and their families.
* Empathy/engagement with the client group.
* Self-awareness and emotional resilience.
* Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
Desirable
* R & D skills.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
Employer details
Employer name
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Trustwide
The Crescent
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
Employer's website #J-18808-Ljbffr