An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychology Service, a specialist service for the treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and traumatic bereavement in asylum seekers and refugees.

We are keen to recruit an enthusiastic and committed individual who shares our team's passion human rights and social justice. We offer excellent development opportunities including high quality and regular supervision, opportunities for research, and close working with other specialist refugee and trauma services across the London region. We also support the development of leadership skills and aim to nurture our staff and support them to become confident supervisors, devise and implement training, and conduct research. If you would like to make a positive difference to the lives of survivors, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Our team of experienced clinicians offer a range of specialist therapy interventions to survivors of torture, human trafficking, and other human rights violations. You will be providing specialist and expert assessments, formulations and evidence-based treatment for PTSD and Complex PTSD. You will be involved in our phase-based treatment programme, providing both individual and group treatment, and will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in therapy modalities including trauma-focused cognitive therapy for PTSD, EMDR, Compassion Focussed Therapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy. You will also contribute to the supervision of assistant psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists, as appropriate. There will be opportunities to contribute to research, audits and service evaluation, as well as to the development and provision of training focused on working with asylum seekers and refugees, working with interpreters, and treating PTSD. You may also be involved in consultation and liaison to multidisciplinary mental health staff, and other, non-professional carers. There will be opportunities for close working with refugee and other community organisations.

About us

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to provide the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

• A long-standing and award-winning approach to Equality and Diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities and LGBT staff
• A commitment to supporting our staff achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a 'Top 10 Family Friendly Employer' from Working Families charity
• Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will join the specialist Care Pathway for Refugee Support and will be based in the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychology Service managed by the Care Pathway Lead. The post holder will be expected to offer psychological assessment and therapy to adults with a history of forced migration, living in the borough of Waltham Forest. The post holder will also act as a key point for discussions around supporting refugees with mental health difficulties, and will be involved in some community development work with refugee organisations around mental health, and with teaching and training on relevant topics.

The post holder will be expected to support their care pathway team, department and organisation to achieve the Trusts Values in their day to day work. These are the 5Ps: Putting people first Prioritising quality Being progressive, innovative and continually improve Being professional and honest Promoting what is possible independence, opportunity and choiceThe post holder will achieve this by carrying out professionally based duties and responsibilities in the following areas: clinical practice including psychological assessment, psychological intervention, service development, some community development with refugee community organisations, work with other agencies, applied research, service evaluation, teaching and training. The post holder will receive regular clinical supervision from a Senior Psychologist in the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychology Service or from within the care pathway.

Key Responsibilities:1. Providing a specialist psychological service for adults with a history of forced migration with severe and enduring, complex mental health problems. This involves providing specialist assessment and evidence based psychological intervention for individual services users as well as work with couples and groups where appropriate.2. To act as a key point for referral discussions and offer consultation to colleagues from other disciplines in regard to their work with refugees with mental health difficulties.3. To liaise with local refugee community organisations in order to support these in their work with service users and others with mental health difficulties and develop networks of support and psychosocial intervention.4. To carry out professional duties and responsibilities in the following areas: clinical practice, service development, teaching and training, work with other agencies, consultancy and/or applied research and service evaluation.5. To support the development of psychological services through the supervision of other qualified psychologists, trainee psychologists, and assistant psychologists.

Leadership1. To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships throughout the Trust.2. To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.3. To facilitate the development of a positive and supportive team culture by taking responsibility for dealing effectively with potential conflict.4. To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.5. To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.6. To advise, encourage and share knowledge utilising the latest research and practice development, through literature and peer reviews.

Clinical Skills1. To act as an autonomous, registered practitioner who is legally and professionally accountable for own unsupervised actions guided by the professional code of conduct and Trust guidelines and protocols.2. To undertake specialist assessments in order to ascertain suitability for psychological intervention, and to plan appropriate therapeutic and psychosocial interventions based on good practice and evidence.3. To carry out psychotherapeutic interventions with clients and their families where appropriate, using a range of therapeutic approaches.4. To support clients by writing reports and documenting difficulties for immigration authorities and other bodies when appropriate.5. To contribute to the development and facilitation of group work where appropriate.6. To evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions using proven and established means. To ensure practice is supported by research, evidence based practice, literature and peer review7. To work with refugee community organisations and key representative to increase their understanding and management of mental health difficulties and services so that they are able to advise and support service users.8. To attend and contribute to case review and clinical meetings to aid the care planning process. .9. To be responsible, and accountable for service delivery to clients/patients.10. To be able to initiate referrals to other health and professional specialist services and agencies, to organisations in the advice sector when necessary and to refugee community organisations.11. Actively participate in clinical supervision12. Actively participate in management supervision

Computer/Administration1. To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trusts IM& T Strategy.2. To ensure accurate recording of actions and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.3. To take part and assist in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.

Communication1. To undertake assessment of clients needs and formulate appropriate individual care plans2. Build effective relationships with service users.3. Ensure that relatives and carers of service users where appropriate, have a good understanding of the condition of the service user and feel able to communicate effectively with the clinical area to answer any queries or concerns.

Training1. Further professional knowledge will be gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.2. To act as clinical supervisor to trainee clinical/counselling psychologists, providing effective education, facilitating their development and promoting high standards in psychology.3. To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.4. To design and deliver relevant training related to the specialist care pathway in concert with the care pathway lead.5. To monitor and maintain your own mandatory training and workshops.6. To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.7. To support new staff and their integration within the team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional qualification in Clinical/Counselling Psychology to doctorate or equivalent level
• Eligible for registration with the Health Care Professions Council

Desirable

• Additional specialist training in evidence based psychological models particularly in relation to working with traumatic experience, and working cross culturally

Experience

Essential

• Experience of delivering evidence based interventions for a range of complex and severe mental health problems including trauma
• Experience using Narrative Exposure Therapy or EMDR, or a willingness to train in one or both of these approaches
• Experience of working with refugees, asylum seekers, or other forced migrant groups
• Experience of working therapeutically with interpreters

Desirable

• Experience of offering teaching and training.
• Experience of working closely with community organisations
• Implementing audit or research in a healthcare setting

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the impact of exile on mental health and knowledge of responses to traumatic experience more generally
• Knowledge of a wide range of therapeutic interventions for different presenting problems.
• Specialist knowledge of evidence based psychological approaches to trauma

Desirable

• Knowledge of relevant assessment measures.
• Knowledge of community psychological principles and ways to work with disadvantaged communities

Skills

Essential

• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and to be responsive to the needs of the service.

Desirable

• Knowledge of a second language and the ability to employ this in therapeutic work

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

South Forest Centre

11 Thorne Close

Waltham Forest

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

395-WF637-23