Job summary
This is a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic Clinical Psychologist to develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a psychology service to the functional neurological disorder (FND) MDT and personally provide highly specialist clinical input.
You will provide specialist assessment and rehabilitation to adults who have functional neurological disorder. The Lishman Unit provides in-depth, multidisciplinary assessments and rehabilitation interventions using a team goal setting approach.
Opportunities are also available for you to enhance expertise by undertaking further professional development and work in other parts of the neuropsychiatry service.
You will work with an already established multidisciplinary team who are highly specialised and dedicated to the service users they work with. The role will provide lots of opportunities for you to collaborate with the team and will be a perfect platform to demonstrate leadership qualities. The role involves regular contact with the Ward Manager and Consultant Psychiatrist to help ensure you feel confident and supported in your role, in addition to a Trust-wide Staff Support Service and networks to help you connect with others within SLaM.
Main duties of the job
- To develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a psychology service to the functional neurological disorder (FND) MDT and personally provide highly specialist clinical input.
- To enable other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
- To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the functional neurological disorder MDT
- To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychologists within the Lishman Unit
- To undertake service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.
- To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
- To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.
- Supervision and support for training in evidence-based intervention for Functional Neurological Disorder can be made available by the Trust, where appropriate.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
To develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a highly specialist psychology service to the functional neurological disorder (FND) MDT within the Lishman Unit.
To provide evidence-based psychological intervention with individuals with complex FND.
To lead the MDT in the provision of a whole-team approach to rehabilitation for individuals with FND.
To provide whole-team leadership to de-escalate behaviour that challenges and/or manage complex interpersonal dynamics that arise.
To provide highly specialist psychological culturally appropriate assessments, formulations and interventions for clients.
To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
To lead assessments with the MDT (such as outreach assessments) where appropriate.
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To act as key-worker for a proportion of specific service users on the unit, taking responsibility for updating the ward round, co-ordination of family meetings, providing point of contact for service users family members and contributing to discharge planning
KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning
- To co-ordinate (and chair) fora necessary for the whole-team approach, including formulation meeting and team talk, and lead the psychological approach for service users in the FND pathway, making use of the Band 7 psychologist, Assistant Psychologist and other members of the MDT as appropriate.
- To take a lead in ensuring a psychologically informed framework for the functional neurological disorder MDT within the Lishman Unit.
- To take a key role in admissions process for the Lishman Unit, via participating in outreach assessments, in proportion with the remainder of the MDT.
- To take a lead in developing 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.
KR 3 Policy and service development
- To implement policies and procedures in own area of work.
- To identify any aspects of the Lishman FND service which could be improved and propose changes to practices or procedures that affect those services and may also affect other services.
- To initiate and implement service development projects, as agreed with clinical/professional lead.
- To participate in the ongoing implementation of new initiatives (e.g. national guidelines) across relevant services.
- To lead the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
KR 4 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.
KR 5 Management and supervision
- To provide clinical leadership to more junior psychologists, assistant psychologist and other professionals, as appropriate.
- To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists.
- To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.
- To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
- To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
- To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Lishman Brain injury and FND services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in neuropsychology and FND and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 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 ensure the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry, in those parts of the service for which the post-holder has leadership responsibility.
KR 8 Research and development
- To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits
- To initiate and carry out appropriate research.
- To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the Lishman Brain Injury or FND services.
- To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 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.
- To ensure that all psychology and psychotherapy staff for whom the post-holder has leadership responsibility, maintain professional standards and continuing professional development.
KR10 General
- To travel to outreach assessments as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations relevant to the Lishman unit MDTs such as aggressive behaviour emerging from brain injury or psychological trauma, or team dynamics elicited by prominent maladaptive personality styles and to support others involved in such situations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
To develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a highly specialist psychology service to the functional neurological disorder (FND) MDT within the Lishman Unit.
To provide evidence-based psychological intervention with individuals with complex FND.
To lead the MDT in the provision of a whole-team approach to rehabilitation for individuals with FND.
To provide whole-team leadership to de-escalate behaviour that challenges and/or manage complex interpersonal dynamics that arise.
To provide highly specialist psychological culturally appropriate assessments, formulations and interventions for clients.
To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
To lead assessments with the MDT (such as outreach assessments) where appropriate.
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To act as key-worker for a proportion of specific service users on the unit, taking responsibility for updating the ward round, co-ordination of family meetings, providing point of contact for service users family members and contributing to discharge planning
KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning
- To co-ordinate (and chair) fora necessary for the whole-team approach, including formulation meeting and team talk, and lead the psychological approach for service users in the FND pathway, making use of the Band 7 psychologist, Assistant Psychologist and other members of the MDT as appropriate.
- To take a lead in ensuring a psychologically informed framework for the functional neurological disorder MDT within the Lishman Unit.
- To take a key role in admissions process for the Lishman Unit, via participating in outreach assessments, in proportion with the remainder of the MDT.
- To take a lead in developing 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.
KR 3 Policy and service development
- To implement policies and procedures in own area of work.
- To identify any aspects of the Lishman FND service which could be improved and propose changes to practices or procedures that affect those services and may also affect other services.
- To initiate and implement service development projects, as agreed with clinical/professional lead.
- To participate in the ongoing implementation of new initiatives (e.g. national guidelines) across relevant services.
- To lead the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
KR 4 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.
KR 5 Management and supervision
- To provide clinical leadership to more junior psychologists, assistant psychologist and other professionals, as appropriate.
- To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists.
- To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.
- To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
- To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
- To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Lishman Brain injury and FND services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in neuropsychology and FND and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 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 ensure the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry, in those parts of the service for which the post-holder has leadership responsibility.
KR 8 Research and development
- To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits
- To initiate and carry out appropriate research.
- To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the Lishman Brain Injury or FND services.
- To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 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.
- To ensure that all psychology and psychotherapy staff for whom the post-holder has leadership responsibility, maintain professional standards and continuing professional development.
KR10 General
- To travel to outreach assessments as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations relevant to the Lishman unit MDTs such as aggressive behaviour emerging from brain injury or psychological trauma, or team dynamics elicited by prominent maladaptive personality styles and to support others involved in such situations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oEntry-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. (A/I) Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent; Counselling psychologist: MSc and PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology; Forensic psychologist: MSc in Forensic Psychology plus completion of the British Psychological Society's Qualification in Forensic Psychology Stage 2)
- oAdditional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-qualification training in intervention relevant to Functional Neurological Disorders (FND), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I/R)
- oCompleted training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)
- oRegistered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. (A/I)
Desirable
- oHaving completed or working through training in area of psychological practice relevant for treatment of FND, such as CBT for FND, MBCT or other evidence-based approach.
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature relevant to FND. (A/I)
- oExperience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
- oPost-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
- oExperience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)
Desirable
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with FND. (A/I)
Knowledge
Essential
- oHighly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies relevant for individuals with FND (A/I/R)
- oAdvanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment. (A/I/R)
- oAdvanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics (A/I/R)
- oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
- oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I/R)
Skills
Essential
- oTo deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
- oTo lead a whole-team psychological approach with regard to service users who may present highly challenging behaviour or emotive dynamics on account of trauma and/or maladaptive interpersonal styles.
- oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which expert opinion may differ. To guide junior psychologist to do the same.
- oTo 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.
- oTo plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and to organise meetings such as CPAs and case reviews, and joint activities with staff of partner agencies.
Abilities
Essential
- oAbility to demonstrate leadership and work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I/R)
- oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R)
- oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I/R)
- oAbility 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. (A/I)
- oAbility to manage physical aggression directed at self, including use of physical interventions as prescribed by Trust policies. (A/I)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oEntry-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. (A/I) Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent; Counselling psychologist: MSc and PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology; Forensic psychologist: MSc in Forensic Psychology plus completion of the British Psychological Society's Qualification in Forensic Psychology Stage 2)
- oAdditional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-qualification training in intervention relevant to Functional Neurological Disorders (FND), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I/R)
- oCompleted training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)
- oRegistered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. (A/I)
Desirable
- oHaving completed or working through training in area of psychological practice relevant for treatment of FND, such as CBT for FND, MBCT or other evidence-based approach.
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature relevant to FND. (A/I)
- oExperience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
- oPost-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
- oExperience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)
Desirable
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with FND. (A/I)
Knowledge
Essential
- oHighly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies relevant for individuals with FND (A/I/R)
- oAdvanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment. (A/I/R)
- oAdvanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics (A/I/R)
- oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
- oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I/R)
Skills
Essential
- oTo deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
- oTo lead a whole-team psychological approach with regard to service users who may present highly challenging behaviour or emotive dynamics on account of trauma and/or maladaptive interpersonal styles.
- oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which expert opinion may differ. To guide junior psychologist to do the same.
- oTo 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.
- oTo plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and to organise meetings such as CPAs and case reviews, and joint activities with staff of partner agencies.
Abilities
Essential
- oAbility to demonstrate leadership and work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I/R)
- oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R)
- oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I/R)
- oAbility 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. (A/I)
- oAbility to manage physical aggression directed at self, including use of physical interventions as prescribed by Trust policies. (A/I)
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).
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Lishman Unit
Denis Hill Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road
Beckenham
BR3 3BS
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
