Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join our Merton Talking Therapies team as Principal Clinician and Step 3 Lead. Merton Talking Therapies is a primary care mental health service providing psychological, and wellbeing support to residents of Merton, or those registered with a Merton GP. It incorporates a Wellbeing and a Talking Therapies service. The Talking Therapies team provide evidence-based psychological treatments (CBT, IPT, DIT, BCT, EMDR) to people with common mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD within a stepped-care model.
This is a new role which will involve working closely with the Head of Psychology and Psychotherapies for the Trust Talking Therapies services, the Merton Service Manager, and the Merton Talking Therapies Senior Management Team to ensure consistency in service provision and quality of clinical care across the Merton Talking Therapies service. The postholder will also be responsible for leading our Step 3/High Intensity team.
Main duties of the job
This key role within the Merton Talking Therapies team requires a range of clinical, managerial and leadership skills. You will share responsibility for the smooth operation of the service, including ensuring that referrals are contacted in a timely fashion, that assessment and treatment protocols are adhered to, that appropriate decisions regarding stepped care are carried out efficiently, and that clinical data entries are completed accurately. You will ensure the assessments and interventions delivered by Merton Talking Therapies are of the highest standard and support the service to meet the nationally agreed requirements around access, recovery and waiting times.
You will provide Step 3 diagnostic assessments and evidence-based treatment to clients aged 18 and over presenting with depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. You will provide professional and clinical supervision to clinicians within the service which will include ensuring that clinicians work towards their identified capacity target. You will be involved in screening referrals and liaising with other teams to support a smooth transition between services where required. You will support with the resolution of complaints and incidents. You will participate in staff recruitment and training, and lead and report on clinically related audits and data collection as required.
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.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide high intensity clinical sessions within the Merton NHS Talking Therapies high intensity stream, delivering at least one NHS Talking Therapies approved modality.
Provide clinical supervision in the modality (modalities) in which they are accredited.
Support the Merton service manager and work alongside the Merton SMT to ensure the delivery of supervision, operational and performance management to staff working within the NHS Talking Therapies service.
Work alongside the service manager and SMT to design, implement and evaluate service developments.
Develop and maintain high quality, NHS Talking Therapies manual compliant therapy offers within the service.
Support staff to deliver on performance targets, as well as report on performance targets.
Provide clinical and professional supervision to 8a senior clinicians within the Talking Therapies services.
Ensure the systematic governance within the Merton NHS Talking Therapies service in collaboration with other members of the SMT.
Support the development and maintenance of relationships with VCSE partners.
Ensure, alongside the service manager, that the service meets performance and contractual targets relevant to the Merton NHS Talking Therapies contract.
Ensure and support workforce planning and training for the Merton NHS Talking Therapies service and its staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide high intensity clinical sessions within the Merton NHS Talking Therapies high intensity stream, delivering at least one NHS Talking Therapies approved modality.
Provide clinical supervision in the modality (modalities) in which they are accredited.
Support the Merton service manager and work alongside the Merton SMT to ensure the delivery of supervision, operational and performance management to staff working within the NHS Talking Therapies service.
Work alongside the service manager and SMT to design, implement and evaluate service developments.
Develop and maintain high quality, NHS Talking Therapies manual compliant therapy offers within the service.
Support staff to deliver on performance targets, as well as report on performance targets.
Provide clinical and professional supervision to 8a senior clinicians within the Talking Therapies services.
Ensure the systematic governance within the Merton NHS Talking Therapies service in collaboration with other members of the SMT.
Support the development and maintenance of relationships with VCSE partners.
Ensure, alongside the service manager, that the service meets performance and contractual targets relevant to the Merton NHS Talking Therapies contract.
Ensure and support workforce planning and training for the Merton NHS Talking Therapies service and its staff
Person Specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and (for Clinical Psychologists) neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology ; or alternative training outside of the UK that is recognised by the Health & Care Professions Council leading to registration in the UK as a Clinical or Counselling psychologist and currently registered with the BABCP OR completed a level 2 British Association for Behavioural Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) accredited training course in CBT leading to eligibility for registration with the BABCP as a CBT Therapist; or have completed a level 1 BABCP accredited training course in CBT and have met further training, continuing professional development and supervised clinical practice requirements to meet eligibility for registration with the BABCP; or be eligible for registration with the BABCP as a CBT therapist through an alternative BABCP recognised route and be currently accredited with BABCP as a CBT
Desirable
- Additional NHS Talking Therapies recognised trainings or accreditation (IPT, EMDR, DIT, MBCT, CfD, BCT or Couples Therapy for Depression)
- Leadership and professional management training
- Supervisor accreditation with the BABCP
- Advanced supervision training in CBT, BCT, IPT, DIT, PCE-DfD or MBT
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified applied psychologist / high intensity psychological therapist for a substantive period and at a highly specialist level
- Experience of working as a senior clinician within an NHS Talking Therapies service
- Experience of delivering supervision within an NHS Talking Therapies service
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across the full range of adult mental health care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in-patient settings
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
- Experience of the application of psychological practice in different contexts
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
- Demonstrate further specialist training/experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a specialist clinical/counselling psychologist/CBT therapist over a minimum of 2 years, or an alternative agreed by the Professional Lead
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
Desirable
- Project management experience
- Experience of working in a service with agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of leading a research project
- Experience of delivering service re-design
- Experience of developing and implementing service policies and procedures
- Involvement in research programmes Experience of leading and managing a team
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- Demonstrates an extensive understanding of the national NHS Talking Therapies programme and how it links to governmental objectives
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health / benefits & employment systems
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence-based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. This requires the use of highly developed analytical and judgement skills
- Skills in individual and group work and in programme planning
- Planning and organising skills for caseload management
- Skills in self-management, including time-management
- High standard of report writing for communication with professionals from NHS, Local Authority and other agencies, parents/carers and clients
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information, including contentious and highly distressing information, to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance, including regular supervision, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. treatment resistant depression, OCD, PTSD, personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc)
- High-level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two NHS Talking Therapies compliant specialised psychological therapies
- Formal training in supervision of other psychologists or psychological therapists
Person Specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and (for Clinical Psychologists) neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology ; or alternative training outside of the UK that is recognised by the Health & Care Professions Council leading to registration in the UK as a Clinical or Counselling psychologist and currently registered with the BABCP OR completed a level 2 British Association for Behavioural Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) accredited training course in CBT leading to eligibility for registration with the BABCP as a CBT Therapist; or have completed a level 1 BABCP accredited training course in CBT and have met further training, continuing professional development and supervised clinical practice requirements to meet eligibility for registration with the BABCP; or be eligible for registration with the BABCP as a CBT therapist through an alternative BABCP recognised route and be currently accredited with BABCP as a CBT
Desirable
- Additional NHS Talking Therapies recognised trainings or accreditation (IPT, EMDR, DIT, MBCT, CfD, BCT or Couples Therapy for Depression)
- Leadership and professional management training
- Supervisor accreditation with the BABCP
- Advanced supervision training in CBT, BCT, IPT, DIT, PCE-DfD or MBT
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified applied psychologist / high intensity psychological therapist for a substantive period and at a highly specialist level
- Experience of working as a senior clinician within an NHS Talking Therapies service
- Experience of delivering supervision within an NHS Talking Therapies service
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across the full range of adult mental health care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in-patient settings
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
- Experience of the application of psychological practice in different contexts
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
- Demonstrate further specialist training/experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a specialist clinical/counselling psychologist/CBT therapist over a minimum of 2 years, or an alternative agreed by the Professional Lead
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
Desirable
- Project management experience
- Experience of working in a service with agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of leading a research project
- Experience of delivering service re-design
- Experience of developing and implementing service policies and procedures
- Involvement in research programmes Experience of leading and managing a team
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Essential
- Demonstrates an extensive understanding of the national NHS Talking Therapies programme and how it links to governmental objectives
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health / benefits & employment systems
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence-based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. This requires the use of highly developed analytical and judgement skills
- Skills in individual and group work and in programme planning
- Planning and organising skills for caseload management
- Skills in self-management, including time-management
- High standard of report writing for communication with professionals from NHS, Local Authority and other agencies, parents/carers and clients
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information, including contentious and highly distressing information, to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance, including regular supervision, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. treatment resistant depression, OCD, PTSD, personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc)
- High-level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two NHS Talking Therapies compliant specialised psychological therapies
- Formal training in supervision of other psychologists or psychological therapists
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).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
