Job summary
PSYCHOSOCIAL THERAPIST (Band 7) Early Intervention in Psychosis
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 7 psychosocial therapist to join the SLaM Early Intervention in Psychosis Team in Southwark (STEP team) on a permanent basis. We would welcome applications from clinical or counselling psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and occupational therapists meeting the person specification.
The team is multidisciplinary, and works to support mental health, encourage personal goal achievements and maintain health and wellbeing. The team works assertively and intensively with service users and carers to promote engagement with the team, with the aim of facilitating social inclusion and recovery.
Professional development is strongly supported, and the post-holder will benefit from the extensive South London and Maudsley CPD opportunities.
We are committed to increasing the accessibility and acceptability of psychological interventions to the diverse population of Southwark, and welcome applications from people interested in designing innovative psychological and psychosocial interventions.
Southwark is a diverse borough and the postholder will work to engage with the local community and take their needs into consideration to provide an accessible service.
We are committed to would welcome applicants with lived experiences of mental health difficulties.
Main duties of the job
The advertised role will involve carrying out psychological assessments and interventions for people experiencing psychosis, as individuals, in groups and as a member of a family.
A substantial part of this role will involve designing and delivering a range of psychosocial interventions for service users, including group interventions and events, as well as working in partnership with local 3rd sector organisations.
The successful candidate will have had experience in delivering CBT and/or Family Interventions for people with psychosis and will be well supported by a senior psychologist within the team. A strong interest in increasing the accessibility and acceptability of psychological interventions would fit with the team's ethos.
About us
The South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is in partnership with Kings College London (including Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience), Guys and St Thomas trust and Kings College Hospital trust to form Kings Health Partners, an Academic Health Sciences centre, with a vision to pioneer better health and well-being, locally and globally, through integrated excellence in research, education and training and patient care.
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 is why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose:
- To develop and support the provision of evidence based psychosocial interventions for people experiencing a first psychotic episode of psychosis in Southwark.
- To work alongside care co-ordinators and psychologists in the STEP team to ensure the delivery of interventions including psychological therapies, family interventions, relapse prevention, social inclusion and physical health interventions.
- To be involved in the development of treatment protocols, audit tools and outcome measures to ensure the service meets national standards.
- In conjunction with the STEP team manager and psychologists, to develop and promote an ethos of working with this client group that facilitates clinical and social recovery, encourages engagement with services, is sensitive to the needs of diverse individuals experiencing their first psychotic episode and is in line with nationally agreed standards and research evidence in this area.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose:
- To develop and support the provision of evidence based psychosocial interventions for people experiencing a first psychotic episode of psychosis in Southwark.
- To work alongside care co-ordinators and psychologists in the STEP team to ensure the delivery of interventions including psychological therapies, family interventions, relapse prevention, social inclusion and physical health interventions.
- To be involved in the development of treatment protocols, audit tools and outcome measures to ensure the service meets national standards.
- In conjunction with the STEP team manager and psychologists, to develop and promote an ethos of working with this client group that facilitates clinical and social recovery, encourages engagement with services, is sensitive to the needs of diverse individuals experiencing their first psychotic episode and is in line with nationally agreed standards and research evidence in this area.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification and registration details
- Evidence of post-qualification training in psychosocial interventions applicable to people who have experienced psychosis
Desirable
- Qualifications(s) in psychosocial treatment models(s) appropriate to the needs of clients with first episode psychosis (e.g. CBT, systemic)
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for psychosis, including cognitive behavioural therapy and family interventions
- Knowledge of a range of treatment models appropriate to the needs of clients with first episode psychosis (e.g. CBT, systemic)
- Knowledge of the principles of Early Intervention in Psychosis
Experience
Essential
- Experience of assessing, developing a formulation and delivering psychosocial interventions with clients presenting with co-morbid difficulties (e.g. anxiety, trauma, personality difficulties, psychosis)
- Significant experience of working with people with psychosis and their families
- Experience of working in a community mental health setting
- Experience of working with, and addressing, issues of diversity
Desirable
- Experience of working with a range of treatment models appropriate to the needs of clients with first episode psychosis
- Experience of working within an Early Intervention for Psychosis service
- Experience of designing/delivering group interventions
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to engage clients who are ambivalent towards services
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification and registration details
- Evidence of post-qualification training in psychosocial interventions applicable to people who have experienced psychosis
Desirable
- Qualifications(s) in psychosocial treatment models(s) appropriate to the needs of clients with first episode psychosis (e.g. CBT, systemic)
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for psychosis, including cognitive behavioural therapy and family interventions
- Knowledge of a range of treatment models appropriate to the needs of clients with first episode psychosis (e.g. CBT, systemic)
- Knowledge of the principles of Early Intervention in Psychosis
Experience
Essential
- Experience of assessing, developing a formulation and delivering psychosocial interventions with clients presenting with co-morbid difficulties (e.g. anxiety, trauma, personality difficulties, psychosis)
- Significant experience of working with people with psychosis and their families
- Experience of working in a community mental health setting
- Experience of working with, and addressing, issues of diversity
Desirable
- Experience of working with a range of treatment models appropriate to the needs of clients with first episode psychosis
- Experience of working within an Early Intervention for Psychosis service
- Experience of designing/delivering group interventions
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to engage clients who are ambivalent towards services
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).
