This is an exciting opportunity to lead and develop services for people with substance misuse problems in both addiction and adult mental health services in the South London and Maudsely NHS Trust. There are two parts to the role and we welcome applicants who may only be interested in one of these and are willing to job share. The two roles are Head of Psychology and Psychotherapy for Addictions and Psychology Lead for co-occurring mental health and substance use problems (dual diagnosis) across the SLaM adult services (inpatient and community).

The Head of Psychology and Psychotherapy will provide professional leadership and governance of therapy services in addictions as part of the Addictions Senior Management Team and across the community services in Bexley, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Richmond. They will provide professional supervision to the consultant psychologists in these services as well as supporting the acute hospital teams (liaison, assertive outreach and detox beds) in King's and Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals. The new Psychology Lead for co-occurring substance use and mental health has been developed to respond to the requirements in the 5-year mental health and community transformation plans to improve work with people who use substances and use mental health services.

Main duties of the job

This role sits within the Addictions Management Leadership Team and also provides Corporate professional leadership across the Trust. There are additional sessions focused on implementing the co-occurring mental health and substance misuse pathway (dual diagnosis) across SLaM adult mental health services.

The Head of Psychology & Psychotherapy will support the Addictions Service Director and Addictions Division, the Addictions Clinical Director and the Quality Centre, and the Director of Psychology and Psychotherapy .

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community.

By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field.

Job description Job responsibilities

Professional Leadership and Management in the Addictions Division / CAG

• Ensure the implementation of standards in the practice of psychology and psychotherapy in the Addictions Division and CAG are in line with the standards set by the Quality Centre ensuring there are robust clinical governance systems that support the implementation of change that will improve patient experience, service quality, safety and efficiency. Ensure that these governance systems have appropriate engagement of psychology and psychotherapy staff.
• Ensure that clinical staff within the Quality Centre, Operations Directorates, Division and other stakeholders are supportive of the strategies and contribute to its effective delivery
• Ensure implementation of the SLAM dual diagnosis and other care pathways that support standardised, consistent and focused interventions based on implementation of national guidelines, NICE requirements etc.
• Provide professional and strategic leadership as a member of the Addictions Executive Management Team.
• Where appropriate manage psychologists, psychotherapists, trainee and assistant psychologists and psychotherapists within the Addictions services.
• Ensure continuing professional development as required by the relevant regulatory and professional bodies.
• Initiate service developments, identify and advise on business development opportunities where appropriate for psychology & psychotherapy and broader service.
• Ensure standards of recruitment and retention of psychology, psychotherapy and other related staff in line with HR policy and ensure that registration and other statutory requirements are adhered to.
• Ensure that relevant policy and guidelines are adhered to and contribute to policy and guidance development and leadership.
• Work in a community orientated way taking account of the diversity of the local community, the political context and community organisations to ensure that all possible is done to promote social inclusion for people with mental health problems.

Professional Leadership and Advice in Quality Centre

• Within addictions and the wider co-occurring mental health and substance use areas, advise Adult Clinical Directors about the standards for psychology and psychotherapy practice as well as psychosocial approaches to address substance use and support them to ensure that the Directorates adhere to these standards.
• Support the implementation of the SLAM addictions care pathway and other evidence based pathways.
• Advise directors on factors affecting service delivery and staff retention.
• Facilitate the integration of psychologists and psychotherapists into all Quality Centre functions: QI, academic, education & training.

Professional Leadership with Professional Director of Psychology and Psychotherapy across Trust

• Be responsible, as a member of TPPAC, for developing, agreeing and implementing governance standards, policies and objectives associated with the practice of Psychology and Psychotherapy across the Trust.
• Be responsible for supporting wider Trust objectives agreed with Trust Director of Psychology and Psychotherapy and as a member of TPPAC taking particular responsibility for leading in relation to certain objectives as agreed with the Trust Director of Psychology and Psychotherapy.

Research and Development

• Liaise closely with the Quality Centre Academic Director on research and development in addictions and the co-occurring and substance use work stream in mental health.
• Initiate appropriate research and to ensure systems are in place for research advice and supervision to other staff undertaking research within the services.
• Lead on the initiation, undertaking and supervision of complex service evaluation and audit as required.

Teaching, Training, Education and Supervision

• Establish and ensure psychology and psychotherapy workforce development is in line with services needs in collaboration with operational managers, Clinical and Academic leadership, other professional heads and directors. Contribute directly and indirectly to the development of addictions staff as well as mental health staff across the Trust as required.
• Ensure appropriate systems for the clinical and professional supervision and appraisal of psychologists and psychotherapists in the Addictions services.
• Provide expert consultation to psychologists and psychotherapists, and professional supervision and clinical supervision with postholders clinical specialism and ensure that such supervision is available where it is not within the postholders clinical specialism.

• Ensure that placements are available and of the highest quality for clinical psychology and other trainees as appropriate. Maintain good relationships with psychology/psychotherapy training courses and develop training placements.
• Establish training and educational needs and ensure good communication and liaison with the Trust Director of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Trust advisors and the Education and Training Department to facilitate appropriate learning, training and education.
• Ensure the planning, organising, and the delivery of teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and psychotherapists, and specialist training to other professions.
• Ensure the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Addictions services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and psychotherapy, and through implementing knowledge gained.
• Contribute to a biopsychosocially informed framework within the Addictions Division and CAG.

Clinical Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide expertise and be responsible for the provision of highly specialist clinical work in addictions.
• Provide highly specialist psychological reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users.
• Select and administer highly specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating highly complex data drawn from several sources such as psychological and neuropsychological psychometric tests, rating scales and so forth.
• Maintain own competence and expertise in the skilled administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and ability to supervise others in the administration of psychometric tests.
• Respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations such as challenging behaviour, abuse and to support others involved in such situations.
• Select and deliver evidence based psychological treatments, monitor outcome and modify and adapt interventions, drawing on a range of theoretical options.
• Work as an independent and autonomous professional within regulatory and professional bodies guidelines and the policies and guidelines of the Addictions Division, CAG and Trust, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.
• Travel to the various Addiction service sites across South London and management meetings as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
• Contribute to the effective working of the clinical team and other services in the Addictions Division and CAG.
• Assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
• To be responsible for psychological interventions with carers and or families as appropriate.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the addictions field in the NHS
• Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration

Experience Essential

• Extensive experience in professional leadership of psychologists and/or psychotherapists such as in a directorate type structure
• Experience of leading and managing a psychology and/or psychotherapy service in equivalent services
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for the psychological care and treatment with clients with complex needs
• Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists and/or other professional groups
• Experience in psychological therapies for addictive behaviour
• Experience of professional and clinical management of qualified and pre-qualified psychologists and/or psychotherapists
• Evidence of contribution to the promotion of equality and diversity
• Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects
• Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects
• Experience of representing the profession in local forums

Skills & Abilities Essential

• Skills in negotiating with management on strategic policies
• Ability to hold a leadership role within a Directorate and TPPAC
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to colleagues, clients and families
• Ability to develop an in-depth understanding of a wide range of organisational and community cultures, deve
  
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