Job summary
Are you a Clinical Associate Psychologist with an interest in supporting adults experiencing eating disorders? Are you keen to develop new skills? Our Community Eating Disorder Service for Adults (EDSA) is recruiting and would like to hear from you! We will provide you with the necessary training and supervision to deliver the core evidence-based interventions for eating disorders.
The EDSA is responsible for providing a countywide community service to adults experiencing an eating disorder, including assessment and a range of evidence-based interventions (for example, the Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults MANTRA, and CBT-based interventions such as Guided Self-Help, CBT-T, CBT-E). We have also fully 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 MDT that includes psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, dietitians, psychological therapists, clinical associate psychologists, and support workers.
Excellent supervision and training opportunities exist within the team and the Trust. With support from HEE, 2023/2024 has seen an increased number of training opportunities available. Individuals are attending an 8-day Whole Team ED training, as well as MANTRA, CBT-E, ARFID, and SSCM. Some colleagues are also being supported to gain further CBT qualifications and BABCP accreditation through postgraduate courses.
Main duties of the job
To improve the wellbeing of adults experiencing an eating disorder by undertaking specialised psychological assessments, contributing to bespoke clinical formulations, delivering structured, evidence-based and psychologically-informed interventions, and undertaking agreed research activity, all appropriate to the post-holder's level of training, competence, and experience. Specific interventions will include the Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-T, CBT-E), and Specialised Supportive Clinical Management. Practitioners will be offered training opportunities in those interventions that are not familiar to them.
About us
As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance, and a commitment to career development. You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts. We are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty, and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter and only two hours away from London. There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan; there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key relationships:
* Clinical Lead
* Clinical Supervisor
* Operational line manager
* Multi-disciplinary colleagues
* Recovery Partners
* Trust Research lead
Works as part of a multi-disciplinary community team and in specialised clinical settings. Consults with relevant external agencies such as primary care, social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels.
Within Clinical Work:
* Communicate clearly and empathetically to clients, families, and carers.
* Communicates formulations and information professionally, sensitively, and diplomatically frequently in a highly emotive atmosphere to clients, relatives, carers, and other healthcare professionals.
* To communicate confidential and highly complex personal information concerning psychological needs, obtained through assessments and interventions, to referring agents and to the client themselves.
* The post holder will be required to work in a highly emotive atmosphere, frequently encountering highly distressing problems and circumstances and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
* The post holder will be required to work in situations where there are barriers to understanding, acceptance, and possible exposure to aggression.
* Establish a rapport with individuals who have mental health and other difficulties, some of whom may be aggressive or distressed.
* Discuss and negotiate clinical work with colleagues within a multidisciplinary team.
* Discuss clinical work with other agencies and professionals.
* Provide written reports and assessments for clients, their families/carers, and other agencies.
* Effectively communicate the content of their clinical work to supervisors and make use of direct feedback and direction to ensure safety and maximise the effectiveness of their work.
Planning and Organisation:
* In conjunction with their clinical supervisor and line manager, to plan and prioritise own workload, research, and individual and group sessions.
* Plans and implements psychological interventions empathetically, sensitively, and independently, with a range of client groups, and evaluates the impact of such intervention.
* Plans and delivers structured group or individual interventions for clients.
* To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups where relevant.
* To attend and participate in administrative and service planning meetings as determined by the line manager and clinical supervisor.
Analytics:
* Formulates the nature, causes, and maintaining factors of psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental, and clinical literature base, and the results of assessment.
* To make independent day-to-day clinical decisions and judgements based on detailed psychological assessments, within the scope of practice for Clinical Associate Psychologists set out in the apprenticeship standards and under the general guidance of their clinical supervisor who is available for consultation as required. Highly complex decisions and issues of clinical risk should be referred for discussion with the HCPC registered clinical supervisor.
* To determine appropriate psychological intervention, taking into account a range of potentially conflicting clinical information and dynamics.
Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy:
* To provide structured, evidence-based and psychologically informed interventions to adults experiencing an eating disorder.
* To undertake structured interviews, psychological assessments, and observations of individuals and groups.
* To assist in the development of psychological formulations of complex clinical problems and the development and delivery of care plans, which include psychological treatment and/or management of client's problems.
* To work with individuals and groups who may have complex and long-term needs and present a risk to themselves and others.
* To carry out psychological assessments sensitively and independently with a broad range of client groups including individual psychometric testing.
* To carry out psychological and psychometric tests, to develop interview and observation skills and to assess client/patient needs.
* To assist in the design, implement and modify as appropriate, bespoke psychological interventions with clients and groups.
* Assess and manage risk in consultation with their clinical supervisor.
* Responsible for recognising the potential for, or signs of, service-user harm, abuse or neglect, including poor clinical practice, reporting all such concerns and taking all responsible steps to protect the service-user. Responsible for identifying and reporting concerns regarding the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults who may be at risk.
* To provide emotional support for clients.
* Provide training and teaching to other healthcare professionals, carers' groups, and other agencies as appropriate.
* To work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
* To follow a person-focused and evidence-based approach.
* To work in partnership with service users.
* To work in a variety of settings including the client's own home in the community or hospital, or in any settings where their needs are supported and managed.
Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility:
* The post holder will be expected to follow Trust and departmental policies and may be asked to comment on proposals.
* To work in accordance with National NHS policies and regulations, as well as those of relevant professional bodies.
* To follow the advice and policies of the Trust, including knowledge, awareness of, and compliance with the legal framework relevant to the area of work and client group with the NHS.
* To practise and conduct oneself in accordance with the Trust and professional codes of conduct and fitness for practice requirements.
* To contribute to service development via innovative clinical practice and participation in the multi-disciplinary environment.
* To work in partnership with people with lived experience of mental health to inform and shape service provision.
* Participate in the delivery of audit and service improvement projects leading to the continuous enhancement and quality improvement of clinical practice.
* To contribute to the delivery of staff training and support, facilitating the acquisition of psychological skills.
* To plan, monitor and evaluate own work, using clinical outcomes assessments, small-scale research methodology and statistical procedures.
* To plan and undertake regular relevant research, using appropriate methodology and statistical procedures, as agreed with the line manager and clinical supervisor.
* To enhance own knowledge of applied psychology, specific client groups, and types of psychological difficulty through reading, literature searches, and personal study.
* To comply with the requirements of research governance, evidence-based practice and ethical considerations.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources:
* Observes personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources used in the course of work e.g:
* Use of computer/laptop/PowerPoint projector for database, research, e-mail, internet, presentations.
* Computerised and Audio-visual recording equipment for use in assessment and specialist treatment programmes.
* Psychological assessment tests and associated materials.
* To transport clinical records, psychometric test equipment, and laptop computer to and from all sites and clinics, in line with Trust policies and taking care of equipment as required.
Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management:
* To undertake all mandatory and essential Trust training and continuing professional development in line with professional standards.
* Assist with providing specialist training to other health and social care colleagues.
* Act as a psychological resource providing support, guidance, and supervision using psychological models to the wider health or social care teams.
* Receives regular clinical supervision for their own practice.
Freedom to act:
* Clinical work is assigned and reviewed by the clinical supervisor.
* On a day-to-day basis Clinical Associate Psychologists work independently within agreed guidelines, referring as necessary to the clinical supervisor.
* Is guided clearly defined occupational policies, protocols, and procedures or codes of conduct.
* Work is managed and goals agreed and reviewed regularly with clinical supervisor.
Information Resources & Administrative Duties:
* To maintain appropriate and accurate records of own work, in line with Trust, NHS and Social Care policies and professional guidelines.
* To maintain relevant administrative systems of own work, in line with the relevant guidelines.
* To submit statistical information, activity and quality data of own work as required by the Trust, regional, National bodies, or NHS.
* To use information technology as appropriate, within direct clinical work, research, and treatment interventions.
* To undertake functions requiring some familiarity with applied psychology, including literature searches, maintaining training packs, information leaflets, inputting data, and other tasks necessary for the efficient running of the service and/or training needs.
* To keep appropriate records of work and inform referrers and other parties through letters or reports.
* To be familiar with and abide by confidentiality and information governance standards of the Trust.
* To attend relevant meetings with a variety of services and agencies.
* To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
* Other duties as may be agreed with Operational or Management.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* A professional qualification as a Clinical Associate Psychologist in Applied Psychology accredited by the BPS.
* Successful completion of the end-point assessment for a CAP Apprenticeship.
* Current membership of the British Psychological Society and individual accreditation as a CAP once national accreditation schemes are available.
Desirable
* Further training in a specific model of Psychological Intervention.
* Training in an evidence-based intervention for adults experiencing an eating disorder (e.g. CBT, MANTRA, SSCM).
Experience
Essential
* Experience of working as a trainee, apprentice, or qualified Clinical Associate Psychologist within the specific clinical area of practice (i.e. Community Adult Mental Health services).
* Experience of working effectively under supervision from a registered Practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable
* Experience of working with people experiencing eating disorders.
* Experience of working with young people aged 16-25.
* Experience of contributing to the delivery of specific psychological interventions/protocols.
* Experience of providing supervision to health or social care staff.
* Experience of delivering training.
* Experience of developing therapeutic relationships with people who are hard-to-engage.
Additional Criteria
Essential
* An understanding of the psychological assessment process to develop formulations and risk assessments.
* Post-Graduate level knowledge of applied psychological theory and research within the relevant area of practice (Adult Mental Health).
* Awareness of the range of presentations within the relevant area of practice and of the common multi-disciplinary services offered.
* Awareness and understanding of professional level/requirements of role.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Priory Health Park
Glastonbury Road
Wells
Somerset
BA5 1XL
Employer's website #J-18808-Ljbffr