We have several posts available in the Lewisham Community Mental Health Teams, which can be applied for as an Band 8a or Band 7 preceptorship (please specify which band you are applying for in your application).

We are looking for enthusiastic psychological therapists to provide direct and indirect support for individuals experiencing a range of mental health difficulties at the secondary care level.

The postholder will be a part of the Lewisham community psychological therapy pathway, which has recently redesigned its structure in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. This pathway is made up of psychologists, CBT therapists (both qualified and trainees), Clinical Associate Psychologists and Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioners, offering interventions at varying levels of complexity. We are committed to increasing the accessibility and acceptability of psychological interventions to the diverse population of Lewisham, and welcome applications from people interested in designing innovative psychological and psychosocial interventions. You will be supported to initiate your own area of service development or group approach within the team. We particularly welcome applications from people who have worked with clients experiencing psychosis.

There are two full time posts available, spread over three teams. However we welcome applications from people looking for part-time or job-share opportunities, as well as from those who are recently qualified and interested in a preceptorship.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide evidence-based assessment, formulation and interventions for individuals and families experiencing a range of mental health difficulties within the community treatment team.

They will work as part of the MDT and provide indirect support and consultation for colleagues.

The postholder will provide supervision for psychological therapists, as needed, e.g. Clinical Associate Psychologists & Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioners, and would be encouraged to provide trainee clinical psychology placements.

Lewisham is a diverse borough and the postholder will work to engage with the local community and take their needs into consideration to provide an accessible service.

About us

Lewisham Community Mental Health services have been through a progressive community transformation programme and have developed new Primary Care Mental Health Teams including Alliance based working with MIND. Lewisham has established new talking therapy provision including IAPT step 4 and expansion of DBT and MBT. Our services are embracing stepped care provision based on DIALOG+, Structured Clinical Management and new roles such as Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAPs). CPD is well supported via Trust and HEE routes.

Job description Job responsibilities

Job responsibilities

• To provide a highly specialist psychology service to service-users and their families experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
• To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in psychological interventions for the team.
• To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
• To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
• To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 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 OR Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in CBT.
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice (e.g. CBT for psychosis) through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist or BABCP accreditation, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC or BABCP.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working clinically in a community setting
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities

Desirable

• Experience as a clinical/ counselling psychologist/ CBT therapist, of working within an NHS multidisciplinary secondary care mental health service.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for people with complex mental health difficulties and their families
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Entry-level qualification in : Applied Psychology (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent) (Masters plus PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration OR Cognitive Behavioural Therapy qualification accredited by BABCP. (A/I)
• Training in an additional, evidence based therapy relevant to complex presentations, e.g. EMDR/NET, or 3rd Wave CBT therapies (A/I).
• Completed (or about to complete) training course in clinical supervision. (A/I)
• Additional training in, or willingness to take up in-house /external CPD in CBT for psychosis, through formal post-qualification training OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR through a portfolio of supervised practice. (A/I).

Experience Essential

• Post qualification experience of working as an NHS clinical/counselling psychologist or CBT therapist, with people with complex mental health problems who require MDT support.( A/I)
• Post qualification experience of NICE concordant psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature, such as psychosis, bi-polar affective disorders, or complex and long-term anxiety, depressive or personality disorders and other complex mental health presentations . (A/I)
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists/psychotherapists having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)

Desirable

• Experience as a clinical/ counselling psychologist/ CBT therapist, of working within an NHS multidisciplinary secondary care mental health service.

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of NICE concordant specialised psychological assessments and interventions for clients who present with complex presentations, such as bi- polar affective disorders, psychosis , and complex and long-termor complex and long-term anxiety, depressive or personality disorders and other complex mental health presentations . (A/I)
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics relevant to complex presentations in adult mental health. (A/I)
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care, and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I)
• Doctorate (clinical/counselling psychology ) or MSc (CBT therapist) level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.

Skills Essential

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I)
• To support multi-disciplinary team and other practitioners in reflective practise, and in development of psychological knowledge/ formulations of team clients and clinical situations. (A/I)
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups, and well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. (A/I)

Abilities Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi- disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
• Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

334-LEW-4762515-A