Highly Specialist Clinical / Counselling Psychologist

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

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare provider in London as a Highly Specialist Clinical / Counselling Psychologist. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a new Dialectical Behaviour Therapy service, working with young people facing complex mental health challenges. You will engage in assessment and treatment, training, and consultation in a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Professional registration required; extensive training in systemic family therapy and DBT is essential.
• Experience with children and adolescents in mental health settings is crucial.
• Strong communication and analytical skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist DBT to service users; manage a caseload.
• Contribute to service evaluation, policy development, and clinical supervision.
• Work collaboratively with schools and social services.

Skills

Systemic perspective

Analytical skills

Communication

Consultation

Risk management

Education

Post-graduate training in systemic family therapy

Professional registration with UK Council for Psychotherapy

Qualification in relevant profession (social work, nursing, etc.)

Training in DBT

Systemic supervision training

Tools

Clinical recording systems (e.g., RIO)

Job description

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Highly Specialist Clinical / Counselling Psychologist, London

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Client:

West London NHS Trust

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

e3e15306909b

Job Views:

2

Posted:

02.06.2025

Expiry Date:

17.07.2025

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Job Description:

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join and help shape a new service. West London NHS Trust is recruiting to a new Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Service for Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham CAMHS. The team will undertake Intensive DBT training together in November 2024, provided by British Isles DBT.

The service will provide assessment, treatment; training and consultation in relation to young people aged 12 to 18 who present with persistent self-harm and suicidal behaviour, which may be in the context of emotional dysregulation. Many of the young people seen will present with complex needs including high risk behaviours. All young people seen will have a comprehensive assessment to inform decision making and planning for the future. Each team member will have a small caseload and the team will support each other via consultation meetings and supervision.

Within the DBT service each clinician will play an active role in all aspects of theservice, including assessment, treatment (individual therapy, skills group, phonecoaching) teaching, training, research, and service development.

Main duties of the job

To provide specialist DBT to the service users of the WL CAMHS DBT Service, including specialist assessment and intervention for young people referred to the service. Contribute to service evaluation, policy development, audit, evaluation, and research in the area of self-harm and emotional dysregulation. Provide clinical supervision, teaching and consultation as appropriate.

To use and maintain skilled standards of professional clinical practice in the treatment modalities required by the children and young people attending the DBT service and be a resource to the whole service in maintaining the skills of others.

To manage their own caseload and provide specialist DBT interventions for young people. They will be responsible for the provision of skills training groups for young people and parents/carers.

To work in partnership with schools, social services departments, as well as local and national services to support integrated practice and service delivery.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Post-graduate training in systemic family therapists as accredited by IFT or AFT.
• Professional registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• Previous qualification in a relevant profession such as social work, nursing, teaching, psychology or counselling.
• Training in DBT
• Systemic supervision training

Experience

• Substantial length of practice in relevant first profession
• Significant experience of work with children and adolescents in a mental health or equivalent setting
• Experience of teaching, supervision and/or consultation
• Experience of research and audit
• Experience of working with highly complex children and adolescents who self-harm and/or have suicidal ideation
• Experience of other treatment approaches
• Experience of teaching and training systemic psychotherapy
• Experience of NVR (non violent resistance) approach.

Knowledge

• Evidence base in relation to child and adolescent mental health
• Research and research methodology at post-graduate level in relation to children and adults with mental health and social problems
• The impact of abuse, trauma and other adverse experiences on children, young people and families.
• Legislation and DOH guidelines relevant to child and adolescent mental health Mental Health Act 1983, Children Act 1989
• Child protection policies and procedures
• Child development in relation to mental health difficulties.
• Knowledge of other modalities ( psychoanalytical, biological, cognitive, behavioural etc.) sufficient to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work with clients
• Specialist knowledge in one or more areas of systemic therapy.

Skills

• Skills in working with children and families with mental health and social problems using a variety of approaches coherent with a systemic perspective.
• Ability to apply analytical skills to multi-layered complex cases.
• Ability to formulate comprehensive assessments and offer effective treatment based on systemic principles.
• Ability to provide ongoing treatment in complex, often unstable, and frequently changing circumstances.
• Ability to liaise with and manage complex professional networks in relation to individuals and families.
• Skills in consulting to professional colleagues within and outside CAMHS
• Ability to withstand high levels of emotional distress and think clearly in emotionally charged situations.
• Ability to manage the risk of verbal and physical aggression. Ability to manage and plan own workload of complex cases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to adhere to and promote equal opportunities in the development of the service.
• Willingness and ability to work in co-operation with others.
• Physically able to withstand the effort of working in conditions of stress

Administration and Record Keeping

• Competent in the use of clinical recording systems such as RIO. Understands the process for keeping safe, secure and relevant clinical records Understands and is able to use online incident reporting systems.

Attitude, Aptitude and Personal Characteristics

• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
• Treats service users with respect and dignity at all times.
• Enthusiastic, flexible and confident approach to working.
• Able to prioritise own workload.
• Willingness and ability to learn new skills and adapt to change.
• Honesty, enthusiasm and a sense of loyalty Conducts self in a professional, courteous manner at all times.