Job summary
We are looking for a warm and enthusiastic Clinical Associate Psychologist (CAP) to join our developing Specialist Older People's Mental Health Service (SOAMHS). You will be involved in the development of the psychology input for SOAMHS in Ealing alongside senior psychology colleagues and other members of the multi-disciplinary teams
There is a huge variety of work within this role across the whole range of mental health problems and you will play a key part in enabling the more therapeutic nature of support throughout the service as well as providing clinical interventions. The teams are small so you will be working with the whole range of mental health problems. You will provide groups and individual therapy for people within the service as well as for their carers/families where indicated alongside other team members. The team includes Clinical and Counselling psychologists who will offer supervision.
Main duties of the job
You will have an important role in promoting psychological thinking within the team and the wider system around the patient through consultation and collaboration with partner agencies. We will also look to support outreach within a wide range of community resources and organisations. As the service is new, it is likely that it will change in response to the needs that are identified within the community, so you will need to be flexible in your thinking and approach to patient care.
The London boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham are culturally highly diverse and there is a real commitment to meet the needs of the communities we serve. We do this by ensuring we remain curious about the cultures in which people live and by ensuring we use approaches that are sensitive to people's origins and life experiences. We welcome team members from the communities we serve who can be very helpful in helping understand the cultural background of the people we see.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
1. MSc in Clinical Associate Psychology
2. Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Desirable
3. Other related academic qualifications.
4. Evidence of additional training in psychological therapy techniques.
Experience
Essential
5. Work with client groups with serious mental health problems: mental health care and/or working with carers and/or delivering therapeutic group interventions and/or working in MDTs and/or audit, evaluation or research
Desirable
6. Experience of working with older people
7. Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
8. Work with voluntary organisations
9. Work with people with complex emotional needs (personality disorder)
10. Conducting service related research
Knowledge
Essential
11. The ability to apply formulations to presenting problems
12. Basic understanding of mental health issues and approaches to treatment and intervention
13. Basic understanding of health care systems and structures: staffing, roles and responsibilities, the role of hospitals, primary care and community care
14. Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance relevant to the client group
15. Awareness of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health
16. Ability to draw upon a specific theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations, under clinical supervision
17. To nurture and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders
18. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers, staff and community partners
19. Contain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of others
20. Manage effectively exposure to distressing/highly emotional circumstances
21. Manage effectively verbal aggression from service users, families, etc. and the risk of physical aggression
22. Respectful and collaborative approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals
23. Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively
24. Implement appropriate psychological assessment and interventions relevant to the client group
Desirable
25. Able to speak other languages present in local communities such as Hindi, Punjabi or Polish.
26. Graduate level knowledge of research design and methodology
27. Strong ability to engage with a variety of services and community partners and stakeholders, and to expand existing networks
Personal Qualities
Essential
28. Warm, friendly, approachable
29. Flexible approach
30. Able to work seamlessly with other professional groups
31. Flexible and positive attitude to work.