Clinical Associate Psychologist

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 06 May 2025

Job summary

Across South London and the Maudsley NHS Trust we have been developing new ways of bringing together health and social care professionals with our Voluntary sector and local communities to support people with severe mental health problems, including complex emotional needs associated with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' and disordered eating.

Our transformation work aims for teams of clinical and non-clinical staff to work together to make a greater positive impact on the health and lives of groups and communities of people living with mental ill-health. Through providing more integrated care across mental and physical health services in inner London, we have been able to test new ways of working within our 'blended' teams, to deliver improvements aligned to the implementation of the Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults.

A key feature of our approach has been the development of psychological provision in crisis services. The post holder will provide psychological interventions to service users receiving care from the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment team. This role will be working with people with complex mental health problems, to develop a psychological understanding of their difficulties and to support the development of coping strategies, focusing on strengths and assets to support people in recovery from mental health crisis.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work with people who are receiving care from the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team to develop a shared understanding of the complex issues the person is facing, how they cope and the impact this has on their mental, physical health and well-being and those around them (psychological assessment and formulation). Under supervision they will explore social, psychological, therapies and other potential options which may improve health outcomes and help them achieve agreed goals.

This work will be under the supervision of a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist who will retain clinical responsibility for clinical work carried out, provided that the clinical work is within the care plan specified.

About us

The Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team is multi-disciplinary; Psychiatry, Nursing, Social Workers, Clinical/Counselling psychologists, and Lived Experience Practitioners. The team works with service users to offer brief intervention (usually 2-4 weeks) to support recovery from mental health crisis. We foster a culture of respect, creativity and commitment to working with those that present with complex mental health difficulties.

We endorse and embody the core SL&M values: kindness, respect, together.

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year per annum Incl. of Inner HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

334-CLI-7057300

Job locations

Ladywell Unit

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LW


Job description

Job responsibilities

Service users seen by the post holder will include those who have experienced high levels of distress and complex mental health difficulties, who may have experienced adverse life events and experiencing socio-economic disadvantages leading to mental health crisis. Service users may present with a high level of risk to both themselves and sometimes to other people. Assessments and interventions will be delivered in a range of settings, including community, as well as clinics and in person, by telephone or digital platform.

Psychological based provision is offered at the individual, group, couple and family level through to teams.

We have Lived Experience Practitioners working in the team with whom the post holder would be expected to work closely, with the opportunity to provide supervision on coping skills interventions and work to support community engagement.

We sincerely welcome applications from people who have previous experience of using Mental Health services, and/or individuals who are/have been a carer for someone. We are also very interested in receiving application from people who have strong local connections to the 3 boroughs in which we work.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Service users seen by the post holder will include those who have experienced high levels of distress and complex mental health difficulties, who may have experienced adverse life events and experiencing socio-economic disadvantages leading to mental health crisis. Service users may present with a high level of risk to both themselves and sometimes to other people. Assessments and interventions will be delivered in a range of settings, including community, as well as clinics and in person, by telephone or digital platform.

Psychological based provision is offered at the individual, group, couple and family level through to teams.

We have Lived Experience Practitioners working in the team with whom the post holder would be expected to work closely, with the opportunity to provide supervision on coping skills interventions and work to support community engagement.

We sincerely welcome applications from people who have previous experience of using Mental Health services, and/or individuals who are/have been a carer for someone. We are also very interested in receiving application from people who have strong local connections to the 3 boroughs in which we work.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • An approved qualification in psychology conferring eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, (Class 2.2 or higher) .
  • Completed BPS [British Psychological Society] accredited CAP apprenticeship training programme including EPA to IFA standards

Experience

Essential

  • Strong ability to engage with a variety of services and community partners and stakeholders, and to expand existing networks, and to nurture and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders
  • Understand how to analyse and appraise key theoretical concepts of psychological models of treatment both at individual and group level recognised in evidence-based national guidelines
  • Communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding

Desirable

  • Lived experience of using services, and/or being a carer for someone

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • To be able to assess and formulate someone's experiences drawing on a range of psychological models and theory
  • Awareness of diversity of cultural norms across the borough, and being able to respond to this appropriately
  • Work cross-culturally and/or in different languages
  • Understand the principles of clinical supervision using them to provide a safe and supportive environment to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work
  • Maintain and implement knowledge of contemporary evidence-based practice through appropriate continued professional development

Desirable

  • Experience of working closely experts by-experience, local communities, Community and Voluntary and Social Enterprises, to co-produce and co-develop services
  • Knowledge and implementation of local, regional and national policy.
  • Able to understand and critically appraise best evidence and existing practice to inform clinical decision making where there is no agreed consensus on treatment protocols and evaluate outcome
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • An approved qualification in psychology conferring eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, (Class 2.2 or higher) .
  • Completed BPS [British Psychological Society] accredited CAP apprenticeship training programme including EPA to IFA standards

Experience

Essential

  • Strong ability to engage with a variety of services and community partners and stakeholders, and to expand existing networks, and to nurture and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders
  • Understand how to analyse and appraise key theoretical concepts of psychological models of treatment both at individual and group level recognised in evidence-based national guidelines
  • Communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding

Desirable

  • Lived experience of using services, and/or being a carer for someone

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • To be able to assess and formulate someone's experiences drawing on a range of psychological models and theory
  • Awareness of diversity of cultural norms across the borough, and being able to respond to this appropriately
  • Work cross-culturally and/or in different languages
  • Understand the principles of clinical supervision using them to provide a safe and supportive environment to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work
  • Maintain and implement knowledge of contemporary evidence-based practice through appropriate continued professional development

Desirable

  • Experience of working closely experts by-experience, local communities, Community and Voluntary and Social Enterprises, to co-produce and co-develop services
  • Knowledge and implementation of local, regional and national policy.
  • Able to understand and critically appraise best evidence and existing practice to inform clinical decision making where there is no agreed consensus on treatment protocols and evaluate outcome

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Ladywell Unit

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LW


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ladywell Unit

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LW


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Amy Roe

amy.roe@slam.nhs.uk

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year per annum Incl. of Inner HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

334-CLI-7057300

Job locations

Ladywell Unit

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LW


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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