Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Psychotherapist

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job description

Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Psychotherapist

We are seeking a passionate and committed Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychotherapist specialising in working with psychosis to join our innovative team. You will be working in Hounslow Early Intervention in Psychosis Service with people experiencing a First Episode of Psychosis, offering individual, family and group interventions, and support to the wider team.

At West London NHS Trust we want to employ talented, passionate and skilled psychological professionals, so that we can provide the best service possible to those who use our services.

In return, we are committed to investing in and supporting our staff. In this role, we offer:

1. Potential to train in CBT for Psychosis
2. Potential to train in Family Intervention for Psychosis
3. Supportive work environment - in a recent survey psychological professionals in our Community and Recovery Services reported high levels of satisfaction with the psychological leadership, supervision and training they receive.
4. A comprehensive CPD and reflective practice program.
5. Opportunities to link and collaborate with the North Thames Doctorate courses through supervision, teaching and research.

We are a values driven organisation and Togetherness, Responsibility, Excellence and Caring underpin how we treat each other and those who use our services.

Main duties of the job

You will lead on the provision and delivery of a comprehensive psychology service including direct and indirect psychological interventions, family work and complex case consultation to MDT colleagues. You will work as a key member of the EIS team and will contribute to the leadership and development of the service.

Skills and experience in working with clients with psychosis, including experience of direct provision of CBTp, other individual interventions for trauma and emotional needs, and Family Interventions, are essential.

We require a genuine commitment to MDT partnership working and psychological approaches to psychosis, and an interest in supporting and developing psychological skills in MDT and more junior psychology colleagues.

You will be based in Hounslow, which is well based for transport links, being only a short walk from the Piccadilly Line.

This role will include working with people from varied cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary; a passion for creating and enabling equality of access to services for all is vital.

About us

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 over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by 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.

Job 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following: Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology; Psychotherapy qualification requiring registration.
• Other qualifications relevant to the client group (e.g. ADOS assessment; systemic therapies; dual diagnosis; EMDR)
• Training in clinical supervision for doctoral, and equivalent, trainees
• Evidence of post-doctoral training in CBTp, and/or FIp and/or other relevant approaches

Experience

• Experience of working as a qualified (specialist) psychologist or psychotherapist with clients with psychosis and complex needs.
• Experience of having facilitated/co-facilitated psychological therapy groups
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
• Experience of administration, scoring and written interpretation of psychometric / neuropsychological tests
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience of co-producing and/or co-delivering services with service users and/or 3rd sector partners.
• Experience of supervising other staff and/or having led service development projects
• Significant level of experience in working within multidisciplinary community teams

Knowledge

• Advanced specialist knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of psychology applied to clinical practice
• Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of the assessment and intervention of complex mental health difficulties.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for work in the current setting

Skills

• Excellent engagement and verbal communication skills, including with persons who may be highly distressed, hostile and/or experience barriers in relationships and communication.
• Able to make complex clinical judgements both alone and with MDT or supervisory consultation, at an appropriate level.
• Able to plan, prioritise and organise own workload, including clinical, administrative and other aspects.
• Able to function in highly emotionally distressing circumstances on a frequent basis (e.g. in dealing with service users with serious mental illness, histories of homicide and serious violence, self-harm, sexual abuse).

Other Requirements

• Demonstrable enthusiasm for and commitment to working with service users with psychosis and a range of levels of need.
• Demonstrable enthusiasm for and commitment to leadership and partnership working with MDT colleagues and community and 3rd sector partners.
• Demonstrable commitment to the skill and career development of other staff members.
• Must be capable of being guided by precedent, clearly defined policies, procedures and codes of conduct.
• Able to reflect on own professional practice.
• Willing to participate actively in CPD in line with BPS guidelines.
• 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.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books.

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.

£59,490 to £78,028 a year per annum pro rata inclusive of 15% HCAS