Job summary
The Adult Eating Disorders service is a large well-established service with an experienced multidisciplinary team of clinicians. The post holder would be working in the outpatient team. The team works with a caseload of approximately 200 clients with eating disorders from the 5 boroughs that the Trust serves.
Evidence-based psychological therapy models are well regarded within the service. The team enjoys agile working so there is the opportunity to do some work from home but there is an expectation of face-to-face sessions so the ability to travel to our main base at Springfield and other Trust locations is essential. There is opportunity for joint working, monthly in house CPD meetings, a robust induction and excellent supervision.
Main duties of the job
We are delighted to have secured additional funding for a number of fixed-term, senior assistant psychologist posts. This is so that we can expand our service criteria and reduce waiting times for evidence-based psychological therapies. We are seeking experienced assistant psychologists to work in our friendly service and focus on providing clinical assessments and interventions as well as organisational and data support to qualified clinician
The role involves a range of supportive tasks including direct clinical contact with service users; co-facilitating groups; offering 1:1 brief interventions to clients assessed as being low risk and who may benefit from brief psychological therapy such as guided self-help and CBT-T for eating disorders. The postholder will endeavour to maintain the enthusiasm for evidence-based interventions including CBT, DBT & MANTRA within the team and beyond (building links with other services), through attending training and regular updates/liaison.
The role will require good organisation skills, creative thinking and problem solving, as well as teamwork and passion. It is essential that you have already worked as an Assistant Psychologist in a mental health setting and ideally you will have experience of working with people with eating disorders.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
About our locations:
Springfield University Hospital, Tooting
Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A 32-acre public park, shops and cafes are coming soon. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
Under appropriate supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist and/or Cognitive Behavioural therapist:
- To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in the community setting.
- To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups(eg MANTRA/DBT skills/CBT-ED).
- To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, including referral, clinical and review meetings.
- To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological, including neuropsychological, tests, 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 under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
- To assist in the implementation and monitoring of both group and individual treatment programmes (eg guided self-help and CBT-T for eating disorders) in a way that is positive and respectful of clients and carers' needs.
- To assist in the compilation of assessment, update and discharge reports as required.
- To work with other staff to assess clients in various settings and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
- To receive regular supervision from a qualified professional psychologist / CBT therapist every week.
- To attend and participate in multi disciplinary supervision meetings held for clients on caseload as required.
- To attend and participate in professional or multi-disciplinary meetings and training as required.
- To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.
- To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
- To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Management, Recruitment and Service Development
- To assist, under supervision, in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
- To attend meetings, as appropriate, in which service developments are planned and discussed.
Research and Service Evaluation
- To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
- To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
- To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Training and Development
- To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy.
- To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual Development Review.
- To undertake personal development as identified in the personal development plan.
Other
- To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders professional and service manager(s).
- To contribute to standards of best practice through active involvement in regular professional appraisal and individual performance management.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
- To prepare test materials, group materials and visual aids as required.
- To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
Under appropriate supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist and/or Cognitive Behavioural therapist:
- To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in the community setting.
- To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups(eg MANTRA/DBT skills/CBT-ED).
- To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, including referral, clinical and review meetings.
- To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological, including neuropsychological, tests, 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 under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
- To assist in the implementation and monitoring of both group and individual treatment programmes (eg guided self-help and CBT-T for eating disorders) in a way that is positive and respectful of clients and carers' needs.
- To assist in the compilation of assessment, update and discharge reports as required.
- To work with other staff to assess clients in various settings and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
- To receive regular supervision from a qualified professional psychologist / CBT therapist every week.
- To attend and participate in multi disciplinary supervision meetings held for clients on caseload as required.
- To attend and participate in professional or multi-disciplinary meetings and training as required.
- To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.
- To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
- To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Management, Recruitment and Service Development
- To assist, under supervision, in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
- To attend meetings, as appropriate, in which service developments are planned and discussed.
Research and Service Evaluation
- To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
- To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
- To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Training and Development
- To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy.
- To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual Development Review.
- To undertake personal development as identified in the personal development plan.
Other
- To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders professional and service manager(s).
- To contribute to standards of best practice through active involvement in regular professional appraisal and individual performance management.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
- To prepare test materials, group materials and visual aids as required.
- To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- oAn upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- oEntitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- oFurther post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of working with people with mental health problems and/or or other disabilities
- oExperience of working with people with eating disorders
Desirable
- oExperience of paid work in direct care provision within the NHS
- oExperience of working in a multidisciplinary setting that provides treatment to people with eating disorders
- oExperience of using computer software for management of databases and data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows
Person Specification
Training & Qualification
Essential
- oAn upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- oEntitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- oFurther post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of working with people with mental health problems and/or or other disabilities
- oExperience of working with people with eating disorders
Desirable
- oExperience of paid work in direct care provision within the NHS
- oExperience of working in a multidisciplinary setting that provides treatment to people with eating disorders
- oExperience of using computer software for management of databases and data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
