Clinical/Counselling Psychologist / CBT Therapist

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 16 May 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within the CNWL eating disorders service as Clinical/Counselling Psychologist and/or Specialist CBT Therapist.

Main duties of the job

This position involves providing specialist therapies to clients across all sectors of care, although the majority of the work will be with outpatients.

This position involves providing specialist therapies (CBT-E, MANTRA, CBT-AR) to clients across all sectors of care. This includes the provision of highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy, whilst also offering advice and consultation on clients' psychological care to colleagues and to other non-professional carers. The post holder will carry out clinical duties, clinically-relevant audit and research (as appropriate), and relevant administrative duties.

About us

The post holder will be based at the Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service and will provide clinical and other services across the inpatient, day patient and outpatient programmes. The majority of the role will be with outpatients. Depending on service need, you may be expected to work flexibly across sites (Paddington and Harrow-on-the Hill clinics). Service provision within this scope may at times involve travelling to different sites within the catchment area.

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.

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£54,320 to £60,981 a year Per annum incl. HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

333-G-ED-0419

Job locations

Health at the Stowe

260 Harrow Rd

London

W2 5ES


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To provide assessments of clients referred to the team, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources.

2. To diagnose patients eating and related psychiatric problems.

3. To formulate and implement plans for treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence based models for eating disorders.

4. To be responsible for implementing interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis.

5. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual.

6. To integrate (with the psychological formulation) an understanding of the medical aspects of the eating disorders and associated medical conditions.

7. To liaise with other clinicians involved in the patients care, in order that appropriate physical checks and interventions are carried out to ensure the patients physical safety.

8. To understand the role of relevant physical treatments (e.g. nutrition, pharmacology).

9. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

10. To provide psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulations, diagnoses and treatment plans.

11. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.

12. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients, and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

13. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.

14. To act as care coordinator where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans under CPA (to include clients, their carers, referring agents and others involved the network of care).

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To provide assessments of clients referred to the team, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources.

2. To diagnose patients eating and related psychiatric problems.

3. To formulate and implement plans for treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence based models for eating disorders.

4. To be responsible for implementing interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis.

5. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual.

6. To integrate (with the psychological formulation) an understanding of the medical aspects of the eating disorders and associated medical conditions.

7. To liaise with other clinicians involved in the patients care, in order that appropriate physical checks and interventions are carried out to ensure the patients physical safety.

8. To understand the role of relevant physical treatments (e.g. nutrition, pharmacology).

9. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

10. To provide psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulations, diagnoses and treatment plans.

11. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.

12. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients, and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

13. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.

14. To act as care coordinator where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans under CPA (to include clients, their carers, referring agents and others involved the network of care).

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in a subject relevant to mental health and higher level postgraduate training in an applied clinical field that includes models of psychopathology and distinct psychological therapies. PLUS Clinical/Counselling Psychologist registered with the HCPC. or Or CBT therapist- Must be fully or provisionally accredited with the BABCP or have completed a BABCP accredited high intensity CBT course or diploma programme.
  • Clinical experience of delivering CBT and/or MANTRA or CAT in a relevant psychological post

Desirable

  • Post-qualification training in CBT for eating disorders. ADOS trained MANTRA trained

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience of psychological assessment and evidence-based treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings
  • Substantial experience of working within a CBT and/or MANTRA or CAT framework with patients who present with problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
  • Supervised experience of delivering evidence-based therapies for the eating disorders and common comorbid conditions.
  • Experience of interdisciplinary working within the NHS.

Desirable

  • Supervised experience of delivering other treatments for the eating disorders, such as CAT or MANTRA and motivational work. Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.

Skills and knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of the theoretical and evidence base for understanding, formulating and treating the eating disorders.
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of mental health.
  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of CBT in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
  • High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one other specialised psychological therapy.
  • High level knowledge of the theory and practice of cognitive-behavioural therapy.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
  • Publication and presentation of clinical research in the field of the eating disorders or associated areas of mental health.

Attitudes, aptitudes, and personal characteristics

Essential

  • Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in a subject relevant to mental health and higher level postgraduate training in an applied clinical field that includes models of psychopathology and distinct psychological therapies. PLUS Clinical/Counselling Psychologist registered with the HCPC. or Or CBT therapist- Must be fully or provisionally accredited with the BABCP or have completed a BABCP accredited high intensity CBT course or diploma programme.
  • Clinical experience of delivering CBT and/or MANTRA or CAT in a relevant psychological post

Desirable

  • Post-qualification training in CBT for eating disorders. ADOS trained MANTRA trained

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience of psychological assessment and evidence-based treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings
  • Substantial experience of working within a CBT and/or MANTRA or CAT framework with patients who present with problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
  • Supervised experience of delivering evidence-based therapies for the eating disorders and common comorbid conditions.
  • Experience of interdisciplinary working within the NHS.

Desirable

  • Supervised experience of delivering other treatments for the eating disorders, such as CAT or MANTRA and motivational work. Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.

Skills and knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of the theoretical and evidence base for understanding, formulating and treating the eating disorders.
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of mental health.
  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of CBT in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
  • High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one other specialised psychological therapy.
  • High level knowledge of the theory and practice of cognitive-behavioural therapy.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
  • Publication and presentation of clinical research in the field of the eating disorders or associated areas of mental health.

Attitudes, aptitudes, and personal characteristics

Essential

  • Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Health at the Stowe

260 Harrow Rd

London

W2 5ES


Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Health at the Stowe

260 Harrow Rd

London

W2 5ES


Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Senior CBT therapist

Laura Craster

laura.craster2@nhs.net

02076856218

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£54,320 to £60,981 a year Per annum incl. HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

333-G-ED-0419

Job locations

Health at the Stowe

260 Harrow Rd

London

W2 5ES


Supporting documents

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