Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic clinical psychologist/accredited CBT therapist to work in the ARMS pathway in our Brent Early Intervention Team.
Brent Early Intervention Service (EIS) is a clinical team providing a service for young people aged 14-35 who have developed a First Episode of Psychosis. It is a multidisciplinary team, comprising psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, nurses, care coordinators, employment specialists, and team managers.
We are now expanding this service to individuals with an At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) who are at very high risk of developing a first episode of psychosis. For the ARMS pathway, we aim to provide a comprehensive assessment for anyone suspected to be experiencing symptoms of prodromal psychosis within two weeks. For those who meet criteria for an At-Risk Mental State we offer holistic treatment and support to clients and carers for up to two years. This is made up of psychological therapy, practical key-working support, and medical and pharmacological care where appropriate.
Strong team skills and the ability to work through consultancy with other staff members will be essential.
We welcome applications from clinical psychology trainees completing training in September 2023.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
The post-holder will be expected to provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for clients meeting ARMS criteria, primarily: offering up to 24 sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp). They will administer initial comprehensive assessments of ARMS using a semi-structured assessment tool. Training will be provided in the delivery of this assessment tool if necessary. They will also provide appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required. They will act as key worker for ARMS clients, taking responsibility for regular monitoring (either by phone or in person), initiating planning and review meetings, and in some cases supporting with practical matters such as housing or finances.
About us
Joining Brent Early Intervention Service offers the opportunity to utilise and develop your skills in psychosocial interventions including Family Intervention and CBTp. You will work alongside Senior Psychologists to develop the scope of therapeutic services within the team and be part of the wider Integrated Psychology and Psychotherapy Services with excellent opportunities for professional development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical and Client Care
- To provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for clients meeting At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) criteria, primarily: offering up to 24 sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp).
- To administer initial comprehensive assessments of ARMS using a semi-structured assessment tool. Training will be provided in the delivery of this assessment tool.
- To provide appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required, including structured family therapy/family intervention following a theoretical model.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To act as key worker for ARMS clients, taking responsibility for regular monitoring (either by phone or in person), initiating planning and review meetings, and in some cases supporting with practical matters such as housing or finances.
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
- To contribute to the effective working of the Brent EIS Team, 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 liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans, as well as in promoting the Brent EIS service.
Policy and service development
- To contribute to the Brent EIS service, through liaising closely with other services working with young people in the borough. This includes primary care, community mental health services, colleges and universities, and various other third sector organisations.
- To develop relationships with NHS and non-NHS services within Brent Lambeth, with the aim of raising awareness of the early warning signs of psychosis
- To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
- To promote service user involvement within the team, and 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 and audits.
Care or management of resources
- To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.
- To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
Management and supervision
- To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist or MSc clinical placement student if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
- To supervise Trainee Clinical and Counselling Psychologists after completion of the relevant Courses Supervision Training.
Teaching and Training
- To deliver occasional teaching on prodromal psychosis, early intervention, and psychological approaches if required; predominantly at Masters level.
- To provide occasional specialist training in psychological approaches to care to other professions as appropriate.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
Record-keeping and Information Governance
- To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
Research and development
- To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
- To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.
- To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
General
- To travel to different sites within Brent and across CNWL for meetings and liaison as appropriate. This includes pathway-wide psychology meetings, CPD events, specialist supervision, teaching, training, and other commitments as they arise.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical and Client Care
- To provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for clients meeting At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) criteria, primarily: offering up to 24 sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp).
- To administer initial comprehensive assessments of ARMS using a semi-structured assessment tool. Training will be provided in the delivery of this assessment tool.
- To provide appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required, including structured family therapy/family intervention following a theoretical model.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To act as key worker for ARMS clients, taking responsibility for regular monitoring (either by phone or in person), initiating planning and review meetings, and in some cases supporting with practical matters such as housing or finances.
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
- To contribute to the effective working of the Brent EIS Team, 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 liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans, as well as in promoting the Brent EIS service.
Policy and service development
- To contribute to the Brent EIS service, through liaising closely with other services working with young people in the borough. This includes primary care, community mental health services, colleges and universities, and various other third sector organisations.
- To develop relationships with NHS and non-NHS services within Brent Lambeth, with the aim of raising awareness of the early warning signs of psychosis
- To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
- To promote service user involvement within the team, and 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 and audits.
Care or management of resources
- To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.
- To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
Management and supervision
- To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist or MSc clinical placement student if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
- To supervise Trainee Clinical and Counselling Psychologists after completion of the relevant Courses Supervision Training.
Teaching and Training
- To deliver occasional teaching on prodromal psychosis, early intervention, and psychological approaches if required; predominantly at Masters level.
- To provide occasional specialist training in psychological approaches to care to other professions as appropriate.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
Record-keeping and Information Governance
- To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
Research and development
- To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
- To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.
- To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
General
- To travel to different sites within Brent and across CNWL for meetings and liaison as appropriate. This includes pathway-wide psychology meetings, CPD events, specialist supervision, teaching, training, and other commitments as they arise.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent), as accredited by the BPS or completion of a diploma / degrees with BABCP accreditation or have completed a BABCP accredited high intensity CBT course or diploma
- HCPC or BABCP registration
- Substantial specialist knowledge, theory and skills of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, including CBT for psychosis
- Critical understanding of the relevance of studies of human development, psychopathology, psychology, social issues and evidence based practice.
Desirable
- Training in Family Interventions.
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist cognitive-behavioural psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment of adult patients in a mental health setting and presenting with problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
- Experience delivering evidence-based interventions to clients with psychosis, including CBTp.
- Experience of the application of psychotherapy in difference cultural contexts.
- Experience of working within an MDT setting.
Desirable
- Experience of delivering family interventions for psychosis.
- Experience of setting up and running groups.
- Experience of teaching, training and supervision.
OTHER
Essential
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public professional and academic settings.
- Ability to work creatively, cooperatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multidisciplinary and team settings.
- Demonstrably respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, other professional contacts
- Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
- Sickness record / attendance that is acceptable to the Trust
- Declared medically fit to work by Occupational Health Department to perform the duties of the post.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES
Essential
- Skills in the use of methods of cognitive behavioural therapy assessment, intervention and management including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and to develop formulations upon which to base treatment.
- Well-developed skills in the effective communication of highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide variety of recipients in a range of settings within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce comprehensive and coherent letters, reports and associated documentation.
- Skills in working in multidisciplinary settings.
- Skills in providing advice and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Ability to work as a lone practitioner. To plan, organise and prioritise own work and patient caseload.
- Ability to record, monitor and report on clinical information as required.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance, as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent), as accredited by the BPS or completion of a diploma / degrees with BABCP accreditation or have completed a BABCP accredited high intensity CBT course or diploma
- HCPC or BABCP registration
- Substantial specialist knowledge, theory and skills of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, including CBT for psychosis
- Critical understanding of the relevance of studies of human development, psychopathology, psychology, social issues and evidence based practice.
Desirable
- Training in Family Interventions.
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist cognitive-behavioural psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment of adult patients in a mental health setting and presenting with problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
- Experience delivering evidence-based interventions to clients with psychosis, including CBTp.
- Experience of the application of psychotherapy in difference cultural contexts.
- Experience of working within an MDT setting.
Desirable
- Experience of delivering family interventions for psychosis.
- Experience of setting up and running groups.
- Experience of teaching, training and supervision.
OTHER
Essential
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public professional and academic settings.
- Ability to work creatively, cooperatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multidisciplinary and team settings.
- Demonstrably respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, other professional contacts
- Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
- Sickness record / attendance that is acceptable to the Trust
- Declared medically fit to work by Occupational Health Department to perform the duties of the post.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES
Essential
- Skills in the use of methods of cognitive behavioural therapy assessment, intervention and management including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and to develop formulations upon which to base treatment.
- Well-developed skills in the effective communication of highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide variety of recipients in a range of settings within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce comprehensive and coherent letters, reports and associated documentation.
- Skills in working in multidisciplinary settings.
- Skills in providing advice and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Ability to work as a lone practitioner. To plan, organise and prioritise own work and patient caseload.
- Ability to record, monitor and report on clinical information as required.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance, as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
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).
