Band 7 Psychological Therapist/Band 6 Trainee Psychological Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Complex Needs Service for a full-time Band 7 Psychological Therapist/Psychologist as part of transformation work to improve access and treatment for people with complex emotional needs, diagnosable as personality disorder, in Bedfordshire and Luton.

The ideal candidate would have an accredited training in an evidence-based therapy for personality disorder (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or Mentalization-Based Treatment). However, the service would consider appointing a senior mental health professional (e.g. Community Social Worker, CPN, Occupational Therapist) with highly developed clinical skills, and interest and enthusiasm for working with people with complex emotional needs, to a Band 6 Trainee Psychological Therapist role.

Applicants for the Trainee role would have to be willing to undertake concurrent training in an evidence-based therapy for people with a diagnosis of personality disorder, and must maintain satisfactory progress in this training in order to continue working in this role. On successful completion of an accredited training within a two-year period, the banding of this post would change to Band 7 Psychological Therapist.

The successful candidate will be committed to working collaboratively with service users, carers, and colleagues to create a psychologically safe environment that enables the delivery of effective treatment.

Main duties of the job

To work collaboratively as a member of a multi-disciplinary specialist 'personality disorder' team to provide psychologically-based assessments and deliver evidence-based psychological therapies (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or Structured Clinical Management and Mentalization-Based Treatment) to service users with complex emotional needs who present with high risk to themselves and/or others. The post holder will be required to participate in weekly peer supervision meetings, and will offer specialist advice, supervision, training, and consultation to other professionals, teams and VCSE colleagues to support effective and efficient psychologically-informed care and treatment across the care pathway for people with complex emotional needs, diagnosable as 'personality disorder', in Bedfordshire and Luton. The post holder will be expected to work autonomously within professional guidelines and under the management and supervision of the Principal Psychologist and Head of Complex Needs Service. The post holder will also be required to contribute to the co-produced development of the dedicated complex emotional needs offer through participation in clinical research, audit and quality improvement projects. The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary, and must be committed to equal opportunities.

About us

The post holder must comply with and promote the organisation's Equal Opportunities Policy and avoid any behaviour which discriminates against colleagues, potential employees, patients or clients on the grounds of gender, sexuality, age, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, disability or social class.

You are at all times required to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to the Trust's Equal Opportunities Policy and to ensure that staff receive equal treatment throughout their employment with the Trust.

Job description Job responsibilities

• To conduct psychologically informed assessments of service users with a personality disorder, including risk assessments and assessments for psychological therapy. This will involve the integration of complex and often contradictory information from a range of services including: mental health, housing, social services, probation, and independent sector services. The assessments will include: mental health, physical health, social care, quality of life, areas of strength and vulnerability, substance misuse, risk to self and others, and protective factors. A range of self-report questionnaires and interviews will be employed which require specialist training to administer and interpret.

• To be knowledgeable about the evidence base and NICE clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of personality disorder in order to make highly skilled evaluations and decisions about treatment options. In addition to the evidence base, these decisions will be expected to take into account developmental and risk management issues, as well as the influence of the social network and social situation of the service user.

The post holder will be required to participate in weekly peer supervision, and will offer specialist advice, supervision, training, and consultation to other professionals and teams to support effective and efficient psychologically-informed care and treatment across the region. We would welcome interest from candidates who are committed to co-producing the development of the care pathway through participation in clinical research, audit and/or quality improvement projects.

For further details contact:

Carol-Ann SARGENT, telephone 01582 293000 or email carol-ann.sargent@nhs.net

Person Specification Education, Training and Qualifications Essential

• Core Mental Health Profession (e.g. Social Worker; Occupational Therapist; CPN; Psychologist)
• Current HCPC/NMC registration
• Further training in evidence-based therapies for people with a diagnosis of ''personality disorder'' (Mentalization Based Treatment or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)

Experience Essential

• Post-qualification experience of autonomously managing a caseload in a community mental health setting.
• Substantial clinical experience working with people with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' as a full member of a multi-disciplinary community mental health team.
• Experience of conducting psychologically informed/generic assessments, group interventions, risk assessments, mental state assessments, safety planning and crisis intervention.
• Knowledge and experience of working with people with comorbid mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance misuse and psychosis.
• Experience of using psychological interventions with people with 'personality disorder' (DBT/CBT/MBT)
• Experience of using outcome measures in clinical practice

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Essential

• Knowledge of NICE guidelines for management and treatment of 'personality disorder'; awareness of relevant research and its implications for clinical practice.
• Knowledge and skills in an evidence-based therapy for people with ''personality disorder'' (MBT, DBT, CBT)
• Knowledge and understanding of recent legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the welfare of adults with mental health difficulties and a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' and their friends/families (including children).
• Ability to apply an understanding of diversity, difference and rights to interactions with people with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder'

Desirable

• Ability to clearly and concisely convey psychological principles and concepts
• Knowledge and skills in use of statistical IT packages (Statistica, SPSS)

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

363-LUT11033