Job summary
Would you like to join a progressive, award winning, multi-disciplinary team spearheading innovative practices in the treatment of eating disorders?
We have a vacancy for a permanent band 7 clinical or counselling psychologist, CBT therapist or psychotherapist within our outpatient team.
We can offer protected time for research, special interest projects and continued professional development, and clear pathways for further career development within our department and the Trust.
Successful applicants will contribute to the systematic provision of highly specialised psychological therapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E/CBT-ED) and the Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA). Additional therapy models used in the department include Cognitive Analytical Therapy, Schema Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapy and Family Therapy. The post holder will be involved in conducting specialist assessment, treatment planning, treatment provision and monitoring of outcomes. They will provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.There are excellent opportunities to get involved with leading and contributing to service evaluation, audit and research.
Main duties of the job
The Eating Disorder Unit (EDU) is internationally renowned for providing best practice, evidence-based care for adults with the full range of eating disorder difficulties. We are the developers of MANTRA, now recommended as part of NICE 2017 guidelines for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, of FREED (First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders), and of PEACE (Pathway for Eating Disorders and Autism developed from Clinical Experience).
Trainees, who are in the final stages of qualifying would be considered for this job provided they anticipate successful completion. Special transitional arrangements will be put in place, if proof of qualification and professional accreditation have not been received by the start date, and provided all clinical placements have been passed.
About us
We offer opportunities for ongoing training and collaboration with colleagues across the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences at King's College London. We will consider those who are completing training.
Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). We also provide services and operate across other locations, such as London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; and substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Lambeth, Greenwich and Wandsworth.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the Eating Disorders Outpatients Department with complex mental health needs, including eating disorders and other co-morbidity within limits expected at Band 7.
- To select and deliver highly specialist eating disorders evidence based psychological treatments, in individual and group formats.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the eating disorders service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and eating disorders.
- To provide psychological reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order inform referrers and service users.
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To attend outpatient clinical meetings, care planning meetings and local case conferences for patients and to provide representation on behalf of the service in the absence of team members and in support of team members with patients with highly complex needs.
- To contribute to the effective working of the 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.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
- 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.
- 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.
- To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist or psychology practitioner if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
- To supervise trainee psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training.
- 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.
- 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.
- To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist/psychotherapist according to HCPC/UKCP/BABCP/BACP and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with HCPC/UKCP/BABCP/BACP and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements.
- 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/or equivalent standards from the UKCP/BABCP/BACP, and ensure professional development in line with these.
- To adhere to Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
- To travel to other EDU services, psychology meetings, and service related conferences as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
- To be aware of risk relating to physical health and challenging behaviour amongst the client group and follow trust policies relating to its management.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
- To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to early or late clinics, within the overall Job Plan.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the Eating Disorders Outpatients Department with complex mental health needs, including eating disorders and other co-morbidity within limits expected at Band 7.
- To select and deliver highly specialist eating disorders evidence based psychological treatments, in individual and group formats.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the eating disorders service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and eating disorders.
- To provide psychological reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order inform referrers and service users.
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To attend outpatient clinical meetings, care planning meetings and local case conferences for patients and to provide representation on behalf of the service in the absence of team members and in support of team members with patients with highly complex needs.
- To contribute to the effective working of the 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.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
- 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.
- 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.
- To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist or psychology practitioner if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
- To supervise trainee psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training.
- 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.
- 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.
- To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist/psychotherapist according to HCPC/UKCP/BABCP/BACP and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with HCPC/UKCP/BABCP/BACP and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements.
- 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/or equivalent standards from the UKCP/BABCP/BACP, and ensure professional development in line with these.
- To adhere to Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
- To travel to other EDU services, psychology meetings, and service related conferences as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
- To be aware of risk relating to physical health and challenging behaviour amongst the client group and follow trust policies relating to its management.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
- To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to early or late clinics, within the overall Job Plan.
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 equivalent specialist CBT or psychotherapy qualification leading to professional registration.
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist OR with the BABCP as a CBT Therapist OR with the UKCP/BACP as a Psychotherapist.
Desirable
- Additional core profession such as nursing, social worker, occupational therapist
- PhD level qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in eating disorders.
- 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 or quality improvement projects.
Desirable
- Experience of delivering group work
- Specialist experience of working with people with eating disorders and their families/carers
- Experience with health care change or innovation
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- 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.
- To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPA and case reviews.
- To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for adults with ED.
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
- 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 identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
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 equivalent specialist CBT or psychotherapy qualification leading to professional registration.
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist OR with the BABCP as a CBT Therapist OR with the UKCP/BACP as a Psychotherapist.
Desirable
- Additional core profession such as nursing, social worker, occupational therapist
- PhD level qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in eating disorders.
- 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 or quality improvement projects.
Desirable
- Experience of delivering group work
- Specialist experience of working with people with eating disorders and their families/carers
- Experience with health care change or innovation
Knowledge/skills
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- 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.
- To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPA and case reviews.
- To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for adults with ED.
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
- 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 identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
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).
