Early Intervention in Psychosis Lead Psychologist

East London NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider is looking for a Lead Psychologist to oversee the psychology teams in the EQUIP and Heads Up services, focusing on early interventions for individuals with first episode psychosis. The role involves leadership, management of staff, and providing effective psychological interventions in a collaborative environment. Candidates should have significant experience in clinical psychology and a strong interest in early intervention.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in clinical/counselling psychology in a community setting.
• Experience providing CBT in community settings.
• Experience in early intervention services for first episode psychosis.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage psychology staff within the service.
• Supervise and support individuals experiencing first episode psychosis.
• Develop psychology provision for early intervention.

Skills

Ability to work creatively and cooperatively

Competent in use of basic IT packages

Ability to provide culturally-competent service

Respectful approach to service users

Education

Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology

HCPC registration

Clinical Supervision Training

Job description

Early Intervention in Psychosis Lead Psychologist

An exciting opportunity has arisen 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 for up to 3 years during their recovery from a first episode of psychosis. The service covers the City of London and London Borough of Hackney. Emphasis is placed on maximising wellbeing and on social, psychological, physical and educational/vocational recovery. The team works to standards set for early intervention in psychosis teams and participates in the annual National Clinical Audit on Psychosis. The team also works closely with the early detection team, HEADS UP, which provides support to those who are at risk of developing psychosis, and actively connects with local community groups in order to improve detection rates of this group.

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

Main duties of the job

The principal psychologist role provides leadership to and management of the psychology staff within the service, as well as contributing to the senior management team within the service. The post holder will work alongside clinical and/or counselling psychologists already in post to support individuals who are experiencing or at risk of developing first episode psychosis and their families/carers.

The post holder will supervise and line manage the psychological professions in the team and lead on other aspects of governance required to deliver an effective service.

Whilst there may be opportunities for a small caseload as well as supporting the team with complex assessments and psychological consultations, the main focus of the role is on the team's provision of effective and timely psychological interventions in accordance with NICE guidelines for Early Intervention in Psychosis, and ensuring that the psychological professionals are suitably led and supported towards that aim.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job responsibilities

Provide and/or coordinate clinical & managerial supervision for the psychologists in EQUIP and Heads Up (henceforth referred to as the teams), placing the service user at the centre of service planning and delivery

Ensure that staffing provision within the psychological profession is in line with service need and the established budget and to develop relevant and meaningful job plans for that group

Lead on recruitment processes for psychological professionals

Oversee the effective administration of the waiting list, including allocation of work to specific team members

Oversee and lead on the development of 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 of service users with complex presentations

Potentially provide specialist evidence-based intervention to service users, including CBT for psychosis and Family Intervention

Offer psychotherapeutic insights, consultation, supervision and teaching to team members as appropriate

Participate as an active member of the EQUIP and Heads Up senior leadership team in regards to service development, evaluation and research

Represent EQUIP and Heads Up psychology in Psychological Professionals Leadership meetings, both within City and Hackney as well as trust wide in East London

Leading on innovation in the team with regards to developing care pathways that best meet the needs of the service users in collaboration with users, carers, other statutory and voluntary sector organisations

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
• HCPC registration
• Clinical Supervision Training
• Trained in Behavioural Family Therapy/other family interventions
• Management Training
• Other relevant specialist training or qualifications

Experience

• Substantial experience of working as a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist in a community mental health setting
• Substantial experience of providing CBTp in a community setting
• Work within at least 2 therapy modalities
• Research experience
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
• Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes
• Experience of supervising professional and clinical practice of qualified and unqualified staff
• Identification of need and development of services to meet need
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts
• Experience of working in an early intervention service with first episode psychosis
• Experience in systemic interventions/working with families

Skills

• Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently as an independent practitioner, as a mentor and supervisor, and in multi-disciplinary and team settings
• Competent in use of keyboard skills and basic IT packages - word processing, excel, e-mail and internet, powerpoint
• Ability to provide a culturally-competent and non-stigmatising service including an awareness of the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health
• Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological phenomena, and an interest in models of service delivery
• Able to manage effectively frequent exposure to highly distressing/highly emotional circumstances and exposure to traumatic circumstances
• Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals
• Able to articulate the value added by psychological interventions within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services, while showing respect for the expertise of others
• Must be capable of accountability for own work, of autonomous clinical practice, of being guided by precedent and of working towards defined results

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.

£72,921 to £83,362 a yearper annum pro rata Inc HCAs