Job summary
The Cassel's Outreach Service has a vacancy for a 0.5 WTE Highly Specialist Group Psychotherapist.
We are looking for a team player who is passionate about applied psychoanalysis/ psychoanalytic group psychotherapy. You will join a multidisciplinary team committed to creating a safe space where some of the most difficult internal and external experiences can be explored thoughtfully, fostering deep understanding. It's an endlessly fascinating and rewarding challenge!
Main duties of the job
The post holder(s) is/are expected to:
o Work autonomously as a senior clinician within professional guidelines and the overall framework of West London NHS Trust and the Cassel's policies and procedures.o Provide an efficient, effective and highly specialist psychoanalytic group psychotherapy service, assessing and treating adults with severe, complex and persistent mental health needs, usually diagnosed with personality disorder, and contributing to ongoing risk assessment and risk management.o Actively contribute to the Cassel Hospital's culture of enquiry, co-operating fully with the various multi-disciplinary teams which together make up the Cassel Service.o Facilitate and maintain a strong audit and research culture in the promotion of service and policy development.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A qualification in the practice of group analysis with a recognised training organisation (e.g. IGA)
- Qualification in a core profession (e.g. medical, psychology, social work, nursing or teaching)
- Good relevant honours degree or a recognised equivalent
Desirable
- Academic qualification to Masters or Doctorate level
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in the role of senior group psychotherapist, including experience of highly specialist psychoanalytic group psychotherapy in institutional settings, within the NHS or other public/ voluntary sector services
- Significant experience of carrying own caseload in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy, working independently and autonomously as a highly specialist practitioner
- Clinical work with patients drawn from a wide range of diagnostic groups, including management of associated risks
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working to a therapeutic community model
- Experience of co -producing services
- Experience in undertaking research and /or service audit projects
Knowledge
Essential
- Comprehensive knowledge of psychoanalytic theory and concepts of human behaviour, development, and psychopathology including models of the mind and unconscious processes, and of psychoanalytic theories of intervention and technique
- An understanding of organisational and team dynamics
Desirable
- Knowledge of other psychotherapeutic models of treatment
- An understanding of adult mental health problems including knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and treatments
- An awareness of mental health provision in the statutory and voluntary sectors
- Familiarity with relevant legislation and NHS policies and their implications for clinical practice, professional management and service development
Skills
Essential
- Advanced skills in holding a psychoanalytic frame in a group setting
- The capacity to maintain a containing and thoughtful stance in clinical work with patients, families and couples where there may be a high level of distress, verbal aggression or chaotic activity
- The capacity to assess and monitor high levels of risk, and to decide on appropriate intervention as necessary
- The capacity to understand and interpret unconscious processes in a timely and sensitive manner
- The capacity to communicate clearly and effectively with patients, staff and external agencies about highly complex and sensitive matters in verbal and in written form, and in situations of potential conflict and psychological distress
- The capacity to work in an often stressful environment with high expressed emotion in Y I 16 a contained and thoughtful manner, and the capacity to note and recover from failures in this area
Desirable
- The post Outreach Teams' core days are currently Mondays and Fridays
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A qualification in the practice of group analysis with a recognised training organisation (e.g. IGA)
- Qualification in a core profession (e.g. medical, psychology, social work, nursing or teaching)
- Good relevant honours degree or a recognised equivalent
Desirable
- Academic qualification to Masters or Doctorate level
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in the role of senior group psychotherapist, including experience of highly specialist psychoanalytic group psychotherapy in institutional settings, within the NHS or other public/ voluntary sector services
- Significant experience of carrying own caseload in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy, working independently and autonomously as a highly specialist practitioner
- Clinical work with patients drawn from a wide range of diagnostic groups, including management of associated risks
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working to a therapeutic community model
- Experience of co -producing services
- Experience in undertaking research and /or service audit projects
Knowledge
Essential
- Comprehensive knowledge of psychoanalytic theory and concepts of human behaviour, development, and psychopathology including models of the mind and unconscious processes, and of psychoanalytic theories of intervention and technique
- An understanding of organisational and team dynamics
Desirable
- Knowledge of other psychotherapeutic models of treatment
- An understanding of adult mental health problems including knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and treatments
- An awareness of mental health provision in the statutory and voluntary sectors
- Familiarity with relevant legislation and NHS policies and their implications for clinical practice, professional management and service development
Skills
Essential
- Advanced skills in holding a psychoanalytic frame in a group setting
- The capacity to maintain a containing and thoughtful stance in clinical work with patients, families and couples where there may be a high level of distress, verbal aggression or chaotic activity
- The capacity to assess and monitor high levels of risk, and to decide on appropriate intervention as necessary
- The capacity to understand and interpret unconscious processes in a timely and sensitive manner
- The capacity to communicate clearly and effectively with patients, staff and external agencies about highly complex and sensitive matters in verbal and in written form, and in situations of potential conflict and psychological distress
- The capacity to work in an often stressful environment with high expressed emotion in Y I 16 a contained and thoughtful manner, and the capacity to note and recover from failures in this area
Desirable
- The post Outreach Teams' core days are currently Mondays and Fridays
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
