Job summary
Therapeutic approach
CDS UK offer a trauma and dissociation informed psychotherapeutic approach, rooted in psychodynamic and attachment-based psychotherapeutic theory, adapted to meet the needs of people with complex traumatised and dissociative presentations. We also use thinking from other theoretical and clinical paradigms such as play and arts psychotherapies, trauma-focused CBT and body/sensorimotor psychotherapy, as well as developmental approaches to inform our clinical work.
A robust but flexible and open-minded clinical approach is essential in this work and is a good fit within the organisation.
We offer a team approach, as most of our clients require a greater degree of between-session support than in standard outpatient psychotherapy settings. We aim to create a small virtual therapeutic community around each client, and many have a secondary CDS UK support therapist or support worker, in addition to their main therapist, CDS UK case manager and local NHS support from Community Mental Health Teams. Good liaison between team members and services is considered a priority.
Main duties of the job
OVERVIEW
This is an exciting developmental time in the life of the organisation and the post holder will play a key role in the ongoing clinical management and future direction of the CDS UK. The remit of the post will include case management for designated treatment packages, providing specialist psychotherapy and diagnostic assessments, clinical supervision, and acting as the key liaison point for enquiries by patients, referrers/potential referrers, and other professionals.
About us
About CDS UK
CDS UK (Clinic for Dissociative Studies) is a
specialist, national psychotherapy service and registered charity, offering
outpatient psychotherapy and support to people with trauma-related dissociative
disorders, including Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
CDS UK is a charity and an independent provider to
the NHS, subcontracted by ICBs and Health Boards nationally on a discretionary
per-patient basis, where local mental health services are unable to provide
appropriately specialist treatment. The client population seen at CDS UK are,
almost without exception, survivors of extreme and complex developmental
trauma, often abuse within organised groups. This is challenging but often
deeply rewarding work. Specialist supervision, case managerial support and CPD
are an essential part of working with this population and are provided by CDS
UK.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Duties
Acting as a key point of contact for professional
enquiries, including GPs and mental health service providers in close liaison
with the other senior clinicians in the CDS UK core team, administrative team,
and professional enquiries coordinator.
Acting as a key point of contact for patient
enquiries in close liaison with the administrative team and patient enquiries
co-ordinator.
Conducting assessments of new patients, including
administering SCID-D diagnostic interviews (following relevant SCID-D training,
which will be provided) and skilled psychotherapeutic assessments.
Writing clear, professional, and effective
assessment reports including formal diagnoses, risk assessment and treatment
recommendations.
To act as a Case Manager for several designated
treatment packages, including holding case management meetings at an agreed
interval per case with the designated therapist, co-therapist and support staff
and being the point of contact for any issues arising with the package in
liaison with the clinical supervisor(s).
Helping develop CDS UK policies and procedures
alongside the Clinical Director/CEO and Clinical Management Team.
Taking responsibility for the administrative
requirements of the role, including producing professional letters and reports
of a good standard to professional referrers and others regarding CDS UK
patients. Human Resources and Training
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Duties
Acting as a key point of contact for professional
enquiries, including GPs and mental health service providers in close liaison
with the other senior clinicians in the CDS UK core team, administrative team,
and professional enquiries coordinator.
Acting as a key point of contact for patient
enquiries in close liaison with the administrative team and patient enquiries
co-ordinator.
Conducting assessments of new patients, including
administering SCID-D diagnostic interviews (following relevant SCID-D training,
which will be provided) and skilled psychotherapeutic assessments.
Writing clear, professional, and effective
assessment reports including formal diagnoses, risk assessment and treatment
recommendations.
To act as a Case Manager for several designated
treatment packages, including holding case management meetings at an agreed
interval per case with the designated therapist, co-therapist and support staff
and being the point of contact for any issues arising with the package in
liaison with the clinical supervisor(s).
Helping develop CDS UK policies and procedures
alongside the Clinical Director/CEO and Clinical Management Team.
Taking responsibility for the administrative
requirements of the role, including producing professional letters and reports
of a good standard to professional referrers and others regarding CDS UK
patients. Human Resources and Training
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of long-term therapeutic work with people with Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) and/or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
- Experience and knowledge in how to support professionals in complex clinical work and people with childhood trauma including sexual abuse.
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential Criteria:
- A professional qualification at post-graduate level in psychotherapy, clinical psychology or the equivalent with a minimum of five years post-qualification psychotherapeutic or clinical practise experience.
- Registration with a recognised psychotherapeutic national body e.g., UKCP/BACP/BPS/HCPC, or equivalent
- Experience of long-term therapeutic work with people with Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) and/or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
- Experience and knowledge in how to support professionals in complex clinical work and people with childhood trauma including sexual abuse.
- An ability to communicate clearly and in a professionally appropriate manner with a range of patients and professionals in a variety of different circumstances.
- An ability to produce a range of high-quality written communication, including in reports, emails, and letters to support the clinical and other professional work of the organisation.
- An ability to liaise with a wide range of internal and external professionals in a way that supports the clinical needs of patients and the work of CDS UK.
- An ability to communicate and work with patients (including patients in distressed states)
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of long-term therapeutic work with people with Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) and/or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
- Experience and knowledge in how to support professionals in complex clinical work and people with childhood trauma including sexual abuse.
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential Criteria:
- A professional qualification at post-graduate level in psychotherapy, clinical psychology or the equivalent with a minimum of five years post-qualification psychotherapeutic or clinical practise experience.
- Registration with a recognised psychotherapeutic national body e.g., UKCP/BACP/BPS/HCPC, or equivalent
- Experience of long-term therapeutic work with people with Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) and/or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
- Experience and knowledge in how to support professionals in complex clinical work and people with childhood trauma including sexual abuse.
- An ability to communicate clearly and in a professionally appropriate manner with a range of patients and professionals in a variety of different circumstances.
- An ability to produce a range of high-quality written communication, including in reports, emails, and letters to support the clinical and other professional work of the organisation.
- An ability to liaise with a wide range of internal and external professionals in a way that supports the clinical needs of patients and the work of CDS UK.
- An ability to communicate and work with patients (including patients in distressed states)
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
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
