Highly Specialist Group Psychotherapist

NHS; Richmond; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider seeks a Highly Specialist Group Psychotherapist in Richmond. Responsibilities include providing psychoanalytic group therapy and working within multidisciplinary teams. Ideal candidates should have solid qualifications in group analysis and significant practical experience. This position offers a competitive salary, professional development opportunities, and full-time engagement.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a senior group psychotherapist in institutional settings.
• Experience managing a caseload in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy.
• Clinical work with diverse diagnostic groups.

Responsibilities

• Work autonomously as a senior clinician within professional guidelines.
• Provide a highly specialist psychoanalytic group psychotherapy service.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team culture and audit.

Skills

Knowledge of psychoanalytic theory

Advanced skills in holding a psychoanalytic frame

Understanding of organizational dynamics

Education

Qualification in the practice of group analysis

Qualification in a core profession

Relevant honours degree

Job description

Job summary

We have a 1 WTE post for a Highly Specialist Group Psychotherapist, split equally across the Cassel Inpatient and Outreach Services (0.5 WTE to each). Postholders may work within either service or across both; however, we would prefer to recruit dedicated 0.5 WTE Group Therapists to each service. This approach maximizes engagement with the particular questions facing each individual service and allows our new colleagues to bring focused creativity.

We are looking for team players who are passionate about applied psychoanalysis/ psychoanalytic group psychotherapy. You will join a multidisciplinary team committed to creating a safe space where some of the most challenging internal and external experiences can be explored thoughtfully, fostering deep understanding. It\'s an endlessly fascinating and rewarding challenge!

Main duties of the job

The post holder(s) is/are expected to:

• Work autonomously as a senior clinician within professional guidelines and the overall framework of West London NHS Trust and the Cassel\'s policies and procedures.
• Provide an efficient, effective and highly specialist psychoanalytic group psychotherapy service, assessing and treating adults with severe, complex and persistent mental health needs, usually diagnosed with personality disorder, and contributing to ongoing risk assessment and risk management.
• Actively contribute to the Cassel Hospital\'s culture of enquiry, co-operating fully with the various multi-disciplinary teams which together make up the Cassel Service.
• Facilitate and maintain a strong audit and research culture in the promotion of service and policy development.

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.

Details

Date posted: 27 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £61,631 to £68,623 a year Per Annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 222-SF-686

Job locations: Cassel Hospital, 1 Ham Common, Richmond, Surrey, Richmond, TW10 7JF

Job responsibilities (Candidate information)

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 (Essential)

• A qualification in the practice of group analysis with a recognised training organisation (e.g. IGA).
• Qualification in a core profession (e.g. medical, psychology, social work, nursing or teaching).
• Good relevant honours degree or a recognised equivalent.

Experience (Essential)

• Significant experience in the role of senior group psychotherapist, including experience of highly specialist psychoanalytic group psychotherapy in institutional settings, within the NHS or other public/ voluntary sector services
• Significant experience of carrying own caseload in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy, working independently and autonomously as a highly specialist practitioner.
• Clinical work with patients drawn from a wide range of diagnostic groups, including management of associated risks.

Desirable

• Experience of working to a therapeutic community model.
• Experience of co-producing services
• Experience in undertaking research and /or service audit projects

Knowledge/Skills (Essential)

• Comprehensive knowledge of psychoanalytic theory and concepts of human behaviour, development, and psychopathology including models of the mind and unconscious processes, and of psychoanalytic theories of intervention and technique
• An understanding of organisational and team dynamics.
• Advanced skills in holding a psychoanalytic frame in a group setting

Desirable

• Knowledge of other psychotherapeutic models of treatment
• An awareness of mental health provision in the statutory and voluntary sectors
• The capacity to assess and monitor high levels of risk, and to decide on appropriate intervention as necessary.

Additional information

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 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. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants are required to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: West London NHS Trust

Address: Cassel Hospital, 1 Ham Common, Richmond, Surrey, Richmond, TW10 7JF

Employer's website: westlondon.nhs.uk