Psychologist / Psychological Therapist / Family Therapist

Job responsibilities

Our friendly and growing team is ready to welcome someone who shares our passion for improving access and the quality of care for people with eating disorders. We are looking for a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to come and work with us in the adult community service in south Essex. Previous experience of working in an eating disorders service is desirable but not necessary as there a number of training opportunities in the field, and so we would welcome the interest of those looking for a new opportunity.

The post will support the introduction of the FREED (First episode Rapid Early intervention for Eating Disorders) service model, and to integrate it within the existing pathways provided by the multidisciplinary team. You will provide a specialist psychological service, including assessment and therapy, to adults across all sectors of care including community, day service and inpatient.

This post offers excellent clinical leadership and service development experiences. There are a considerable number of specific eating disorders training opportunities available for you to attend, including CBT-ED, MANTRA and the Maudsley Whole Team Training. We will also supportyou with up to £6,000 of appraisal-linked training and development over the first 2-3 years in post.

You will utilise skills for audit, policy, service development and research within the service. We are always searching for innovations to support service users and welcome opportunities for new ways of working. Flexible working and job sharing is possible with other services across the Trust.

There are many exciting clinical and training roles within EPUT where members of our Team can access training or provide clinical support; such as partnership training for the Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) roles, and ACT-based resilience training for staff. Please contact us to exploreand discuss this further.

The Trust has a well-respected psychological services directorate, well integrated within most specialisms. Psychologists and Psychological Therapists are involved with the planning and strategic implementation of new and existing services.

We hold the development of people within our department as crucial to delivering key targets for the service and the Trust. The Service enjoys good links with and supervises clinical psychology trainees from the training schemes at the University of East Anglia, University of Hertfordshire,University of Essex and University College London. Clinical research, teaching and specialised interests are actively encouraged. As well as formal courses, members of the directorate have enjoyed secondments and placements at several centres of excellence. Current members of thedepartment are clinical tutors on training courses, hold honorary lecturer and fellowship positions and have involvement as fellows at CSIP/NIMHE.

A little bit about the area

Pitsea is a small town which has close links to Basildon and Laindon. Over the last few years, Pitsea has been redeveloped with new houses and shops bringing new people to the area. Pitsea is on the main train line linking London and Southend. The town is also served by the A13, which makes it easy to travel into London by car and the M25 also provides easy access into Kent and other parts of Essex.

EPUT Support Services

As a Trust we recognise that the last year has been challenging for us all, but EPUT are proud to support every individual with access to various support services, whether it be in regards to your work or personal life. The types of support that EPUT has available are: ..

• Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a free counselling service which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.This is designed to provide you with independent, free and confidential information, advice and support to help you improve your wellness and wellbeing. Free counselling sessions can be offered either via telephone or face to face on a variety of topics.
• Here For You is a new support service in response to the pandemic, specifically for people who work in healthcare, social care, the voluntary sector or not-for-profit sector. EPUT staff can benefit from receiving support and advice via telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Support with long COVID offering webinars and support groups to raise awareness and provide advice.
• Support with managing stress.
• Occupational Health support via either management or self referrals.

Relocation Expenses

The Trust can offer a generous relocation package of up to £8000, which is dependent on eligibility and offered under specific terms.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for additional documents.

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral level training in applied psychology, as accredited by the BPS OR Masters or Doctoral Level qualification in Family & Systemic Psychotherapy OR other therapeutic modality
• HCPC Registered Clinical/counselling Psychologist
• UKCP registered psychotherapist
• BACP registered

Desirable

• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in another core mental health profession (e.g. nursing or occupational therapy), research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
• Specialist psychotherapy training.

Knowledge

Essential

• Doctoral or Masters level knowledge of research methodology & research design
• Evidence of continued professional development as recommended by the relevant professional or registering body.Formal training in supervision of other psychologists/

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, eating disorders etc).
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health speciality.
• Completion of the systemic supervision course

Skills/Experience

Essential

• Literate in IT/Computer Skills
• Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English Language
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of 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.
• Demonstrate further specialist training/experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist in Adult Mental Health settings over a minimum of 18 months.OR2 years post qualification experience in a mental health setting as a Family & Systemic Psychotherapist/Psychological Therapist
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour

Desirable

• Experience of working with adults with eating disorders.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Experience of working in a day service setting.
• Experience of working within a multicultural framework

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Shares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour
• Ensures that the organisational values of open, compassionate and empowering are demonstrated by self and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Fitness Analysis as appropriate
• Current driving licence
• Ability to travel across sites efficiently and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc

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).