Highly Specialist Psychologist/Psychological Therapist

Maudsley Learning; London; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 67,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player in mental health services is seeking a Highly Specialist Psychologist to join their dedicated team at the National Psychosis Unit. This role offers the opportunity to provide expert psychological interventions for individuals experiencing psychosis, while also supporting staff and fostering a psychologically safe environment. With a commitment to high-quality care and a focus on research and professional development, this position is ideal for those looking to make a significant impact in the field of mental health. Join a forward-thinking organization that values diversity and promotes a culture of inclusion, where your expertise can contribute to meaningful change in the lives of service users and their families.

Qualifications

• Recognized qualification in core mental health professions required.
• Experience in psychological assessment and treatment of psychosis essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological interventions for psychosis in a ward setting.
• Support staff to create a psychologically safe environment.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Family Interventions

Clinical supervision

Cultural competence

Education

Doctorate in Applied Psychology

Entry-level qualification in mental health profession

Tools

Risk management plans

Evidence-based therapeutic interventions

Job description

Search the South London and Maudsley website

Highly Specialist Psychologist/Psychological Therapist

8a or 7 to 8a Preceptorship

Main area: Psychological Professional Grade 8a or 7 to 8a Preceptorship
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Part time - 22.5 hours per week
Job ref: 334-CLI-6824481

Site: Bethlem Royal Hospital
Town: London
Salary: £51,883 - £66,239 per annum incl. of outer HCAs pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 23/01/2025 23:59

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links, and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth, and Richmond.

We are committed to providing high-quality specialist care to our service users and are recognized for the care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission rates our services as ‘good’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives, in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes, and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognizes the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen, and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job Overview

We are delighted to advertise this Band 8a post (or Band 7 to 8a Preceptorship) at the National Psychosis Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital. The post holder will support the Consultant Clinical Psychologist to provide an excellent psychological service to the ward. The post holder will have experience supporting psychologists and psychotherapists (including trainees and pre-qualified staff) to work effectively, compassionately, and collaboratively. The post holder will deliver evidence-based psychological interventions for people experiencing psychosis and their carers and families. The post holder will offer neuropsychological assessments to service users. The post holder will support staff to increase the psychological safety on the ward and support compassionate and trauma-informed ways of working. Supporting staff on the ward will be an important aspect of the role.

This post also offers opportunities for research and continuing professional development. The unit enjoys excellent research links with departments at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, and the Doctoral Clinical Training Course. The service and Directorate have a long tradition in supporting psychology practitioners in developing clinical expertise in novel and emerging areas of working with psychosis.

Main Duties of the Job

• To provide highly specialist psychological interventions for psychosis (individual, family, and carer) in a ward setting, including neuropsychological assessment.
• To contribute to enabling other staff, service users, and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• To provide clinical supervision and consultation.
• To promote service evaluation, audit, and research.
• To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct adhering to local policies.
• To facilitate a monthly staff support group and to participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate.
• To facilitate monthly case formulation and discussion spaces to support psychologically informed care and treatment planning.
• To provide a psychological perspective to clinical team discussions, for example, in ward rounds, CPAs, management rounds, and team discussions.
• To contribute to care through treatment planning and discharge planning as required.
• To take an active role in the multidisciplinary approach to safe patient care and to take appropriate action in relation to safeguarding concerns within the remit of the role.
• To contribute to delivering teaching and training to the team.
• To support the development of an anti-racist and trauma-informed culture on the ward.

Working for Our Organisation

The National Psychosis Unit is a clinical-academic tertiary service offering innovative individualized evidence-based multidisciplinary treatment to people with complex psychosis, where standard treatment guidelines have proven ineffective. The service aims to enhance quality of life through tailored treatments and promoting recovery, thus reducing the need for high-intensity placements and the risk of readmission. There is a strong focus on delivering support and interventions to carers and families. The ward currently has 18 beds (separate male and female wings) managed by a multidisciplinary team.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

The post holder will be supervised and managed by Dr. Majella Byrne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist. The role will be based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital on the National Psychosis Unit.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations, and interventions for service users with psychosis and other complex co-morbid presentations.
• To provide culturally appropriate psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
• To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
• To provide reports, including relevant formulation, opinion, and interventions, to inform referrers and commissioners, where appropriate, service users, and their families.
• To select and deliver evidence-based specialist therapeutic interventions, drawing from a spectrum of ideas and models, monitoring outcomes and modifying and adapting interventions as necessary.
• To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• To have undertaken a recognized qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g., psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work, or occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
• Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field.
• For Psychologists: Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration as a practitioner psychologist.
• Training in CBT for Psychosis.
• Training in Family Interventions in Psychosis.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or accredited to supervise qualified psychological practitioners in relevant discipline.

Experience

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in the field of psychosis.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in the context of psychosis.
• Experience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training.
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of carrying out post-qualification research, audit, or service evaluation projects.

Knowledge

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the treatment of psychosis.
• Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and its therapeutic application to people with psychosis.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
• To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences.

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer and welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics.

Please note:

• That all applications for this post will need to be made online.
• That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role.
• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should a sufficient number of applicants have been received.
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system.
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not been successful.