Job summary
Kidney Psychotherapist / CBT Therapist / Counsellor
Kidney disease carries a significant psychological burden. Our renal department offers comprehensive psychosocial care to patients and their carers. The Kidney Psychosocial Team is comprised of three psychological therapists, two social workers and a mental health nurse, with input from psychiatry.
Psychological therapies and interventions focus on adjustment, coping, treatment adherence and the complex psychological effects of living with a long-term health condition, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. We promote and model a psychosocially-aware culture within the department, including through teaching.
The successful candidate will be a creative and driven practitioner, trained in more than one therapeutic modality, with a good understanding of the relationship between psychological functioning and physical health. Our patients have complex needs and significant psychosocial challenges, including current and past traumas. In this setting psychological practitioners need to be robust and resilient, and to be experienced in working with complex presentations.
The team base is Denmark Hill, but some in-person attendance at our satellite dialysis units across south-east London may be required (to be negotiated / shared equitably by team members).
Part time - 30 hours per week (Ideally to work the first half of the week. This, and the possibility of compressed hours, is negotiable).
Main duties of the job
Job Purpose:
- To provide specialist psychological interventions and talking therapies to adult kidney patients and their families and carers, in a timely manner and tailored to clients' needs. This includes specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- 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, consultation and training, as appropriate.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit and research with support from the Highly Specialist Psychotherapist, Kidney Psychosocial Service Lead
- To work as an autonomous professional and in adherence with psychotherapy accreditation body guidelines (BACP, BABCP, or UKCP) - and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.
- To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved
- To contribute to service and strategic developments in conjunction with the service lead.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical responsibilities
To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations, interventions and talking therapies for adult kidney patients coping with the impact and psychological consequences of long term and life-limiting health conditions. These difficulties include, but are not limited to: adjustment and adjustment-related distress; coping with - and adhering to - demanding and life-long treatments, like dialysis; anxiety; panic; low mood and depression; post-traumatic stress; health anxiety; altered sense of self and identity; relationship stress; loss and grief.
To provide psychological interventions and talking therapies remotely (i.e. by telephone or video call), where appropriate or necessary
To provide culturally appropriate talking therapies and/or psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients, when required.
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To deliver debrief sessions, crisis intervention and reflective practice sessions to colleagues affected by emotionally distressing or traumatic situations involving patients, as appropriate
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service
To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.
To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Policy and service development
To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical responsibilities
To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations, interventions and talking therapies for adult kidney patients coping with the impact and psychological consequences of long term and life-limiting health conditions. These difficulties include, but are not limited to: adjustment and adjustment-related distress; coping with - and adhering to - demanding and life-long treatments, like dialysis; anxiety; panic; low mood and depression; post-traumatic stress; health anxiety; altered sense of self and identity; relationship stress; loss and grief.
To provide psychological interventions and talking therapies remotely (i.e. by telephone or video call), where appropriate or necessary
To provide culturally appropriate talking therapies and/or psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients, when required.
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To deliver debrief sessions, crisis intervention and reflective practice sessions to colleagues affected by emotionally distressing or traumatic situations involving patients, as appropriate
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service
To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.
To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Policy and service development
To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate Psychotherapist / Psychological Therapist / CBT psychotherapist qualification that confers registration and accreditation with BACP or BABCP or UKCP.
- Registered with - and FULLY ACCREDITED by - BACP or BABCP or UKCP, with evidence of continuing professional development as required by the accreditation body.
Desirable
- Training or formal qualification in clinical supervision
Knowledge
Essential
- A high level of knowledge of the theory and practice of psychological therapy approaches (core model and at least one other model)
- Knowledge of relevant policy and legislation and its implications for clinical practice and in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
- Undergraduate or masters degree-level knowledge of research design and methodology
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of the theory and practice of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Knowledge and experience of the theory and practice of systemic family therapy
- Knowledge and experience of the theory and practice of end-of-life issues / presentations
Experience
Essential
- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs
- Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience
- Experience of developing and carrying out research projects
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with long-term health conditions
- Experience of working in physical healthcare settings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate Psychotherapist / Psychological Therapist / CBT psychotherapist qualification that confers registration and accreditation with BACP or BABCP or UKCP.
- Registered with - and FULLY ACCREDITED by - BACP or BABCP or UKCP, with evidence of continuing professional development as required by the accreditation body.
Desirable
- Training or formal qualification in clinical supervision
Knowledge
Essential
- A high level of knowledge of the theory and practice of psychological therapy approaches (core model and at least one other model)
- Knowledge of relevant policy and legislation and its implications for clinical practice and in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
- Undergraduate or masters degree-level knowledge of research design and methodology
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of the theory and practice of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Knowledge and experience of the theory and practice of systemic family therapy
- Knowledge and experience of the theory and practice of end-of-life issues / presentations
Experience
Essential
- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs
- Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience
- Experience of developing and carrying out research projects
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with long-term health conditions
- Experience of working in physical healthcare settings
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
