Early Intervention in Psychosis Lead Psychologist

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider is seeking a Band 8b registered clinical psychologist in London. The role involves leadership and management of psychology staff, focusing on support for adults recovering from psychosis. Applicants should possess a doctorate in psychology, HCPC registration, and significant experience in community settings, particularly with CBT for psychosis. Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team and commitment to early intervention are essential aspects of this role.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in community mental health settings is essential.
• Experience delivering CBT for psychosis is required.
• Skills in mentoring and supervising others are paramount.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to psychology staff and manage the service.
• Supervise and coordinate clinical supervision for psychologists.
• Develop psychology provision for early intervention.

Skills

Ability to work creatively in multi-disciplinary settings

Proficient with IT tools (Word, Excel)

Cultural competence

Education

Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology

HCPC registration

Clinical Supervision Training

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity for a highly motivated Band 8b registered clinical psychologist to work across the City and Hackney EQUIP and Heads Up Teams. EQUIP provides an assertive and responsive service to adults aged 18-65 recovering from a first episode of psychosis, covering the City of London and Hackney. The team focuses on wellbeing and social, psychological, physical and educational/vocational recovery, adheres to early intervention standards, and participates in the National Clinical Audit on Psychosis. It collaborates with the Heads Up team to support those at risk of developing psychosis and connects with local community groups to improve detection.

This post is suitable for someone with significant experience, a strong interest in psychosis and early intervention, and a collaborative leadership approach. The successful candidate will provide psychology across EQUIP and Heads Up and will work closely with the operational lead and consultant psychiatrists as a member of the senior management team.

Responsibilities

The principal psychologist will provide leadership to and manage psychology staff within the service and contribute to the senior management team. The post holder will work alongside clinical and/or counselling psychologists to support individuals experiencing or at risk of developing first episode psychosis and their families/carers. Specific duties include:

• Supervise and line manage the psychological professions in the team and lead on governance aspects required to deliver an effective service
• Provide or coordinate clinical and managerial supervision for psychologists in EQUIP and Heads Up
• Ensure staffing provision aligns with service need and budget; develop relevant and meaningful job plans
• Lead recruitment processes for psychological professionals
• Oversee administration of waiting lists and allocation of work to team members
• Develop psychology provision for first episode psychosis in EQUIP and Heads Up in line with national guidance and other early intervention services across East London
• Provide specialist assessment and formulation for service users with complex presentations
• Potentially provide specialist evidence-based interventions (e.g., CBT for psychosis, Family Intervention)
• Offer psychotherapeutic insights, consultation, supervision and teaching to the team
• Participate in service development, evaluation and research as an active member of the senior leadership team
• Represent EQUIP and Heads Up psychology in internal and trust-wide leadership meetings
• Lead on innovation to develop care pathways in collaboration with users, carers and other organisations

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
• HCPC registration
• Clinical Supervision Training
• Trained in Behavioural Family Therapy or other family interventions

Desirable

• Management Training
• Other relevant specialist training or qualifications

Experience

• Substantial experience as a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist in a community mental health setting
• Substantial experience delivering CBT for psychosis in a community setting
• Experience of working in at least two therapy modalities
• Research experience
• Experience representing psychology within multi-disciplinary care
• Experience developing and delivering specialist training programs
• Experience supervising professional and clinical practice of qualified and unqualified staff
• Experience identifying needs and developing services to meet them
• Experience applying psychology across diverse cultural contexts

Desirable

• Management skills
• Experience of working in an early intervention service with first episode psychosis
• Experience in systemic interventions/working with families

Skills

• Ability to work creatively and collaboratively in multi-disciplinary settings; capable of mentoring and supervising others
• Proficient with keyboards and basic IT (Word, Excel, email, internet, PowerPoint)
• Ability to provide a culturally competent, non-stigmatising service with awareness of discrimination and disadvantage in mental health

Aptitude/Values

• Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological topics and service delivery models
• Ability to manage exposure to distressing and traumatic circumstances
• Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals
• Ability to articulate the value added by psychological interventions within multi-disciplinary teams
• Accountability for own work and autonomous clinical practice

Other Details

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a DBS check will be required.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. For details, see the UK Visas and Immigration guidance.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Vivienne Cohen House, 230 Homerton High Street, London, E9 6AT

Employer website: elft.nhs.uk