Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Clinical / Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist who has a genuine interest in Early Intervention in Psychosis, and the ability to work effectively as part of the multidisciplinary team.
This is a Band 7, permanent, full-time post (37.5 hours per week) but we would be happy to discuss part-time, job share and flexible working.
About the team:
The Croydon Early Intervention in Psychosis Service (COAST) is a specialist multidisciplinary community mental health team who work with people aged 18-65 who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The team uses well-researched Early Intervention strategies and works intensively with service users and carers for up to three years, to promote engagement with the team and offers a range of interventions to facilitate social inclusion and recovery.
Croydon is a large and diverse borough, so we are seeking someone who is keen to work alongside the local population and encourage access to psychological therapies for those experiencing psychosis.
We would particularly encourage applications from people from Black and Minority Ethnic groups to be more representative of our local population.
This post would be suitable for someone qualifying in September 2022.
Main duties of the job
About the role:
You will be responsible for providing specialist psychological assessment, individual therapy (including CBTp), family interventions and group work, as well as consultation and supervision.
You will work as part of a large and cohesive psychological therapies team (including Consultant lead, 3x senior psychologists, this B7 role, FI therapist, trainees, AP and students) and will have opportunities to supervise an assistant psychologist or Masters students.
You will be part of a large multidisciplinary team including Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Family Interventions Therapists, Vocational and STaR workers, and Care Coordinators. Psychological input is valued in the team, and considered an integral part of the services on offer to our service users and their families. It is a varied role, including providing direct psychological therapy, as well as providing psychological support and consultation to the MDT for complex cases, and involvement in developing and delivering groups, teaching and training.
COAST has good links with other Croydon adult mental health services and the other three SLAM Early Intervention teams. You will be encouraged and supported to access CPD opportunities within the Trust.
About us
Benefits:
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It's important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
- Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
- Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
- Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
- NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
- Long service awards
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide a specialist psychology service to individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis with the COAST early intervention team, and their families, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
- To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
- To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.
Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for a detailed account of the main responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide a specialist psychology service to individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis with the COAST early intervention team, and their families, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
- To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
- To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.
Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for a detailed account of the main responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration (or expect to complete training within the next 3 months) OR Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in CBT
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC OR BABCP Accreditation OR eligible and applying for accreditation and other professional qualification and registration e.g. OT, SW, RMN
Desirable
- PGDip, Cert or further training in CBTp
Experience
Essential
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature, including clients with psychosis and people who have experienced trauma.
- Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience.
- Experience of developing and carrying out research, audit or service evaluation projects.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a psychosis community team or a specialist psychosis service
- Experience of working with families affected by psychosis
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for psychosis.
- Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics for psychosis.
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
Desirable
- An understanding of factors affecting individuals with psychosis and their families
Skills
Essential
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
- To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
- Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
Desirable
- Ability to engage individuals with psychosis or trauma history in psychological therapy
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration (or expect to complete training within the next 3 months) OR Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in CBT
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC OR BABCP Accreditation OR eligible and applying for accreditation and other professional qualification and registration e.g. OT, SW, RMN
Desirable
- PGDip, Cert or further training in CBTp
Experience
Essential
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature, including clients with psychosis and people who have experienced trauma.
- Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience.
- Experience of developing and carrying out research, audit or service evaluation projects.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a psychosis community team or a specialist psychosis service
- Experience of working with families affected by psychosis
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for psychosis.
- Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics for psychosis.
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
Desirable
- An understanding of factors affecting individuals with psychosis and their families
Skills
Essential
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
- To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
- Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
Desirable
- Ability to engage individuals with psychosis or trauma history in psychological therapy
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
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
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).
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Croydon Early Intervention Service (COAST)
Queens Resource Centre, 66a Queens Road
London
CR0 2PR
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
