Trainee/ Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT) Therapist

Job responsibilities

Work as a core member of the Complex Emotional Needs Service and directly into Sequoia Therapeutic Community.

To work alongside clinicians within Sequoia Therapeutic Community to ensure that the treatment programme is delivered, monitored and evaluated, including group work as required.

To be committed to effective team working and to the coherent delivery of the evidence-based treatment model for Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT).

To promote a high standard of patient care.

To work within the operational policies and the standards set out in the Complex Emotional Needs Operational Policy and Sequoia Therapeutic Community Policy.

Participate as a member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team in the Complex Emotional Needs Service.

To deliver all aspects of Sequoia Therapeutic Community and Mentalisation based therapy including; Dialectical Behaviour Therapy groups and experiential groups to the highest quality and standards with available resources including supervision and consultation with Key Workers and other staff.

Have the freedom to take action, advise and implement care planned therapy within the Complex Emotional Needs Service.

Provide high level and complex professional clinical support, advice, guidance and instruction as requested and required by the multi-disciplinary team.

Build and maintain effective relationships with appropriate staff across organisational boundaries as needed within the role.

Provide direct and indirect supervision to junior team members as needed.

Support staff on the management of complex cases as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To demonstrate and promote Navigos values in everything you do in the work environment.

2. Management responsibilities

To provide specialist assessments of clients referred based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources, as required including, as appropriate, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care where necessary.

To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options in line with the theoretical and therapeutic models and the highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual.

To manage an individual therapy case load that includes individual and group-based therapy.

To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.

To undertake dynamic risk assessments and risk management for individual clients as part of the multidisciplinary team and to provide advice to other services across service lines on specialist risk assessment and risk management for this client group.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress.

To ensure effective communication and share relevant information as required.

3. Delivery of effective healthcare within the organisation

Deliver Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT) within the Complex Emotional Needs pathway and Sequoia Therapeutic Community.

To become a member of Sequoia Therapeutic Community and contribute to the activity schedule of including community meetings, small and large existential groups and teaching of Mentalisation and Dialectical therapies.

Plan and secure service user engagement in service delivery.

Identify risks to the health and well-being of service users needs through discussion and support the development of care plans to address any shortfalls identified.

Use professional judgement to take appropriate action and to prioritise the actions of other staff to minimise risks in a manner that is consistent with best practice, policies and procedures for governance, risk management and safeguarding.

Challenge conventional practice where this lacks evidence of effectiveness and/or effective use of resources.

4 Responsibilities to staff

Provide clinical advice and supervision both informally and formally to junior staff.

Support the maintenance of supportive relationships within the service.

To undertake Mentalisation Based Therapy training if not already completed and work towards accreditation.

Continued professional development will be offered.

To contribute to pre- and post-qualification teaching as appropriate.

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working with adults with mental health problems in a variety of community settings
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working.
• Experience of inter-agency working.
• Experience of working with clients with Complex Emotional Needs associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
• Experience and skills in risk assessment and management.

Desirable

• Experience of audit/service development.
• Experience of the use of a variety of therapeutic tools.
• Knowledge of clinical governance.

Knowledge

Essential

• Exceptional interpersonal, influencing and communication skills and the ability to engage Service Users, clinicians and other stakeholder groups.
• Able to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others as well as being able to cope with highly distressing circumstances.
• Ability to identify child or adult protection concerns, raise alerts and participate in safeguarding enquires/investigations/case conferences.
• Professional and service user focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
• Ability to cope with conflicting and competing demands, a willingness to be challenged and a confident approach in managing complex change and working well under pressure.
• To be able to demonstrate an awareness and responsibility whilst recognising the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
• Competent IT skills and the ability to navigate around various systems and software packages (such as SYSTMONE, outlook, MS office and the internet).
• Demonstrable experience of managing difficult situations with service users that have complex mental health conditions and challenging behaviours.
• Full range of mental health assessment skills, including assessment and management of risk.
• Ability to assimilate new concepts and approaches to care.
• Enthusiasm and self-motivation.
• Ability to reflect on personal experience. Demonstrates capacity and willingness to use clinical supervision.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

Desirable

• Willingness to learn and develop new therapeutic skills.
• Openness to share appropriately with others in experiential groups, tolerating vulnerability at times.

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised professional qualification in therapy e.g. CBT therapist, nursing, social work, occupational therapy or psychology.

Desirable

• Mentalisation Based Therapy training and/or accreditation.
• Training in group work/psychodynamic group work.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the locality, to meet the needs of the service.

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).