Job summary
The St Thomas' Hospital (STH) Liaison Psychiatry service, part of South London and Maudsley's (SLaM) Lambert Operational Directorate, is seeking an experienced, skilled Clinical Psychologist. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to join a well-established and highly regarded liaison psychiatry service. The role sits across both the working age and older adult teams within the liaison service, so there is the opportunity to contribute to a broad range of clinical work (inpatient and outpatient) and strategic projects. St Thomas' Hospital is an exciting and dynamic large teaching hospital, which offers pioneering clinical care to people across the UK.
Main duties of the job
- To work with liaison service colleagues to build a more psychologically informed liaison service.
- To provide highly specialist psychology formulation and input within liaison services including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To take a leading role in supporting physical acute services to manage the mental health needs of patients in the acute setting and set robust plans to support their discharge.
- To work responsively, flexibly and creatively, in a fast-paced environment and in line with patient and service needs.
- To prioritise the needs of multiple services, including the Emergency Department and inpatient wards.
- To design, plan and implement programmes of training on psychological issues for colleagues in the acute trust.
- To take the lead on developing services to support the Emergency Department to manage the needs of frequent attenders more effectively.
- 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, functioning as a lead specialist in psychological aspects of hospital-based care and treatment of people with long term medical conditions or where mental health difficulties significantly impact on the effective utilisation or delivery of healthcare.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM) is committed to innovation, effective interventions and improved service user outcomes. The Trust has a broad range of staff in all disciplines with the widest range of skills and interests that provides many opportunities to thrive and develop. It provides mental health services to the people of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon, and specialist services to people from across the UK.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust is among the UK's busiest and most successful trusts, with a long history of clinical excellence and high quality care. It comprises two of London's best known teaching hospitals, St Thomas' and Guy's. It also includes community services in Lambeth and Southwark. We provide a full range of hospital services for our local communities in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. We also provide specialist services for patients from further afield, including cancer, cardiovascular, women's and children's services, kidney care and orthopaedics. We have one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest A&E departments in London. In 2015/6, there were 2.3 million patient contacts in the Trust, including more than 800,000 in community services, 96,000 day-case patients, 86,000 inpatients and 1.15 million outpatients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job role summary:
- To work with liaison service colleagues to build a more psychologically informed liaison service.
- To provide highly specialist psychology formulation and input within liaison services including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To take a leading role in supporting physical acute services to manage the mental health needs of patients in the acute setting and set robust plans to support their discharge.
- To work responsively, flexibly and creatively, in a fast-paced environment and in line with patient and service needs.
- To prioritise the needs of multiple services, including the Emergency Department and inpatient wards.
- To design, plan and implement programmes of training on psychological issues for colleagues in the acute trust.
- To take the lead on developing services to support the Emergency Department to manage the needs of frequent attenders more effectively.
- 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, functioning as a lead specialist in psychological aspects of hospital-based care and treatment of people with long term medical conditions or where mental health difficulties significantly impact on the effective utilisation or delivery of healthcare.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.
- To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the principles and policies of SLaM and its partner organisations, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
- To agree outcomes and results with clinical and professional leads and to decide how they are best achieved.
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the service, including developing and delivering psychological interventions tailored to the needs of people living with complex medical and psychosocial problems.
- To offer neuropsychological assessment where appropriate, drawing on specialist supervision
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To work with colleagues to co-ordinate the delivery of liaison services.
KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning
- To contribute to the effective working of liaison services and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
- To offer reflective practice, where appropriate, and generally in a service outside the post holders own. To contribute to the Trust wide dissemination of reflective practice.
- To contribute to the delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
- To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
- To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.
- To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
KR 3 Policy and service development
- To implement policies and procedures in own area of work.
- To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
- To participate in the ongoing implementation of new initiatives (e.g. national guidelines) across the service.
- To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
KR 4 Care or management of resources
- To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.
- To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
KR 5 Management and supervision
- To be responsible for the allocation and clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist.
- To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.
- To contribute to the appraisal of more junior colleagues, as appropriate.
- To contribute to the recruitment of more junior colleagues, as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
- To design, plan and implement programmes of training on psychological issues for colleagues in the acute trust.
- To undertake teaching and training of pre- and post-qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and the service and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance
- To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded, as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
KR 8 Research and development
- To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.
- To initiate and carry out appropriate research.
- To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to work and ongoing development of the service.
- To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
- To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.
- To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
KR10 General
- To travel to sites across the Trust and the area it serves as required.
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job role summary:
- To work with liaison service colleagues to build a more psychologically informed liaison service.
- To provide highly specialist psychology formulation and input within liaison services including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To take a leading role in supporting physical acute services to manage the mental health needs of patients in the acute setting and set robust plans to support their discharge.
- To work responsively, flexibly and creatively, in a fast-paced environment and in line with patient and service needs.
- To prioritise the needs of multiple services, including the Emergency Department and inpatient wards.
- To design, plan and implement programmes of training on psychological issues for colleagues in the acute trust.
- To take the lead on developing services to support the Emergency Department to manage the needs of frequent attenders more effectively.
- 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, functioning as a lead specialist in psychological aspects of hospital-based care and treatment of people with long term medical conditions or where mental health difficulties significantly impact on the effective utilisation or delivery of healthcare.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.
- To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the principles and policies of SLaM and its partner organisations, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
- To agree outcomes and results with clinical and professional leads and to decide how they are best achieved.
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the service, including developing and delivering psychological interventions tailored to the needs of people living with complex medical and psychosocial problems.
- To offer neuropsychological assessment where appropriate, drawing on specialist supervision
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To work with colleagues to co-ordinate the delivery of liaison services.
KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning
- To contribute to the effective working of liaison services and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
- To offer reflective practice, where appropriate, and generally in a service outside the post holders own. To contribute to the Trust wide dissemination of reflective practice.
- To contribute to the delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
- To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
- To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.
- To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
KR 3 Policy and service development
- To implement policies and procedures in own area of work.
- To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
- To participate in the ongoing implementation of new initiatives (e.g. national guidelines) across the service.
- To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
KR 4 Care or management of resources
- To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.
- To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
KR 5 Management and supervision
- To be responsible for the allocation and clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist.
- To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.
- To contribute to the appraisal of more junior colleagues, as appropriate.
- To contribute to the recruitment of more junior colleagues, as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
- To design, plan and implement programmes of training on psychological issues for colleagues in the acute trust.
- To undertake teaching and training of pre- and post-qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and the service and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance
- To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded, as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
KR 8 Research and development
- To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.
- To initiate and carry out appropriate research.
- To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to work and ongoing development of the service.
- To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
- To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.
- To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
KR10 General
- To travel to sites across the Trust and the area it serves as required.
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential: o Entry-level qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (DClinPsy/DCounsPsy) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I) o Completed training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R) o Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. (A/I)
Desirable
- o Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I/R)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams with colleagues from a range of disciplines. (A/I/R) o Experience of working with people in acute mental health crisis and those with complex and persistent mental health problems (including but not limited to; psychosis, personality disorders, severe affective and depressive disorders, eating disorders). (A/I) o Experience in the delivery of a range of psychological therapies such as behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, third wave cognitive therapy, psychodynamic or systemic therapies. (A/I) o Experience of specialist psychological assessment and brief treatment of clients with a range of complex psychological and physical health needs. (A/I) o Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training. (A/I) o Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups. (A/I) o Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I) o Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)
Desirable
- o Evidence of having worked in an acute hospital setting as a clinical specialist. (A/I) o Evidence of having worked in a crisis service (including liaison or HTT). (A/I) o Evidence of having post-graduate experience in older adult settings. (A/I) o Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes. (A/I)
Knowledge
Essential
- Essential: o Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for people with long-term medical conditions, e.g. CBT as well as third wave approaches, e.g. ACT, mindfulness, or psychodynamic/systemic approaches. o Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment. (A/I) o Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I) o Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. (A/I) o Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I)
Desirable
- o A familiarity with providing group therapy and/or group approaches within a health care context. (A/I) o Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I)
Skills
Essential
- Essential: o Competence in more than one therapeutic model. (A/I/R) o To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I/R) o To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which expert opinion may differ. (A/I/R) o To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans. (A/I/R) o To be aware of risk relating to aggressive, challenging and extremist behaviour amongst the patient group and follow trust policies relating to the management of those behaviours. (A/I/R) o 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. (A/I/R) o To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and to organise meetings and joint activities with staff of partner agencies. (A/I/R) o To plan allocation of tasks to trainee and/or assistant psychologists. (A/I) o To be skilled in the administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and to be able to supervise others in administration of psychometric tests. (A/I/R) o Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. (A/I/R). o Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups (A/I/R).
Desirable
- o Skills in providing teaching and training to non-mental health professional groups; i.e. physical health-care and housing services (A/I/R).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential: o Entry-level qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (DClinPsy/DCounsPsy) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I) o Completed training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R) o Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. (A/I)
Desirable
- o Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I/R)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams with colleagues from a range of disciplines. (A/I/R) o Experience of working with people in acute mental health crisis and those with complex and persistent mental health problems (including but not limited to; psychosis, personality disorders, severe affective and depressive disorders, eating disorders). (A/I) o Experience in the delivery of a range of psychological therapies such as behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, third wave cognitive therapy, psychodynamic or systemic therapies. (A/I) o Experience of specialist psychological assessment and brief treatment of clients with a range of complex psychological and physical health needs. (A/I) o Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training. (A/I) o Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups. (A/I) o Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I) o Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)
Desirable
- o Evidence of having worked in an acute hospital setting as a clinical specialist. (A/I) o Evidence of having worked in a crisis service (including liaison or HTT). (A/I) o Evidence of having post-graduate experience in older adult settings. (A/I) o Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes. (A/I)
Knowledge
Essential
- Essential: o Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for people with long-term medical conditions, e.g. CBT as well as third wave approaches, e.g. ACT, mindfulness, or psychodynamic/systemic approaches. o Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment. (A/I) o Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I) o Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. (A/I) o Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I)
Desirable
- o A familiarity with providing group therapy and/or group approaches within a health care context. (A/I) o Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I)
Skills
Essential
- Essential: o Competence in more than one therapeutic model. (A/I/R) o To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I/R) o To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which expert opinion may differ. (A/I/R) o To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans. (A/I/R) o To be aware of risk relating to aggressive, challenging and extremist behaviour amongst the patient group and follow trust policies relating to the management of those behaviours. (A/I/R) o 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. (A/I/R) o To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and to organise meetings and joint activities with staff of partner agencies. (A/I/R) o To plan allocation of tasks to trainee and/or assistant psychologists. (A/I) o To be skilled in the administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and to be able to supervise others in administration of psychometric tests. (A/I/R) o Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. (A/I/R). o Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups (A/I/R).
Desirable
- o Skills in providing teaching and training to non-mental health professional groups; i.e. physical health-care and housing services (A/I/R).
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).
