Job summary
o We are inviting applications from enthusiastic Clinical/Counselling Psychologists / Family Therapists / Psychotherapists / Clinical Nurse Specialists for a full-time Band 8a post with our ITP Team. Are you someone who enjoys working with young people, is a team player, can bring experience of working with young people & families or eating disorders, and is willing to be flexible according to client need? Do you love to learn and want to make a real contribution to developing excellent standards of care? If so, we are keen to meet you! o We are a friendly, welcoming, fast developing, innovative, national and specialist ITP day programme team working with young people (11 - 18 years) and their families. We offer an inclusive and supportive team environment and are keen to support your professional development and wellbeing.o The Intensive Treatment Programme (ITP) of the Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders (MCCAED) is an intensive day programme for young people with restrictive eating disorders who have not been able to make progress in outpatient treatment and who may be at risk of being admitted for inpatient treatment. o ITP offers a therapeutic group programme, with groups taking principles from CBT for Eating Disorders, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Remediation Therapy, and Art Therapy, as well as CBT for comorbid difficulties (anxiety, low mood, perfectionism etc).
Main duties of the job
o To deliver specialist applied psychotherapeutic service in the MCCAED Intensive Treatment Programme (ITP day hospital). Working collaboratively to assess the needs of the service users, planning, implementing and evaluating the care given in ITP. o To provide clinical work as required by the service. This will involve facilitation of therapeutic groups, and individual and family therapy sessions.o To work following clinical guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, seeking help from clinical/professional supervisor or manager as needed.o To offer clinical supervision to more junior members of the MDT (band 4-7), including assistant psychologists, trainee clinical psychologists, clinical psychologists, and clinical nurse specialists.o To provide daily therapeutic meal support to young people. This involves staff eating snacks and lunch alongside young people. Meals within the programme are timed, with the expectation that staff are able to eat what is required within the time frame (10 minutes for snacks, 15 minutes for lunch, 20 minutes for dinner). For lunches, a vegetarian and meat option are available daily, however where possible staff should be able to eat what the young people eat. o Due to the nature of the service, the role will be primarily face-to-face, with the occasional option to work from home during half terms.
About us
About our location:
The Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders is based at the Michael Rutter Centre for Children and Young People, Maudsley Hospital, which is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). Our Trust headquarters is also located at Denmark Hill. (Due to move to the Pears Maudsley Children and Young People (PMCYP) at the Maudsley Hospital in late 2025/early 2026)
Flexible working:As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 8am to 6pm, giving you the very best of good work life balance. (The hours may include working early mornings, late evenings or some Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post)
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Client Care To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients within the day programme (ITP). This will include specialist interventions for young people with anorexia nervosa including group facilitation, therapeutic meal support, and individual and family therapeutic work. To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients within the MCCAED outpatient team (small caseload alongside ITP). This may include specialist interventions for young people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders. Assessment and treatment of common comorbidities including depression, anxiety, self-harm and OCD. To provide culturally appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions with carers or families of referred clients 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, including drawing up appropriate risk management plans. To act as care coordinator taking responsibility for initiating, planning and reviewing care plans, CPA co-ordination and meetings. To act in a manner that supports a psychologically informed framework for the service. To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning To contribute to the effective working of MCCAED and to a psychotherapeutic framework for the service. To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans. To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and challenging behaviours and to support others involved in such situations.
Policy and service development 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.
Management and supervision To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of trainees / assistants if required, under supervision from a more senior clinician. To supervise trainees within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training. To take responsibility for seeking supervision and support for yourself and not going beyond your scope of practice. Provision of consultation or training to other professionals.
Teaching and Training To provide occasional specialist training in psychotherapeutic approaches to care to other professions as appropriate. To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
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 clinician according to professional regulations and Trust guidelines.
General To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to work some hours outside of normal office hours (e.g. until 6.30pm on one or two evenings per week), within the overall Job Plan. It is expected that you may need to work some hours outside of normal office hours and be flexible in your ability to change your working pattern frequently and at short notice to meet the needs of the service. This may include working early mornings, later evenings or Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Client Care To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients within the day programme (ITP). This will include specialist interventions for young people with anorexia nervosa including group facilitation, therapeutic meal support, and individual and family therapeutic work. To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients within the MCCAED outpatient team (small caseload alongside ITP). This may include specialist interventions for young people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders. Assessment and treatment of common comorbidities including depression, anxiety, self-harm and OCD. To provide culturally appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions with carers or families of referred clients 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, including drawing up appropriate risk management plans. To act as care coordinator taking responsibility for initiating, planning and reviewing care plans, CPA co-ordination and meetings. To act in a manner that supports a psychologically informed framework for the service. To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning To contribute to the effective working of MCCAED and to a psychotherapeutic framework for the service. To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans. To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and challenging behaviours and to support others involved in such situations.
Policy and service development 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.
Management and supervision To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of trainees / assistants if required, under supervision from a more senior clinician. To supervise trainees within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training. To take responsibility for seeking supervision and support for yourself and not going beyond your scope of practice. Provision of consultation or training to other professionals.
Teaching and Training To provide occasional specialist training in psychotherapeutic approaches to care to other professions as appropriate. To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
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 clinician according to professional regulations and Trust guidelines.
General To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to work some hours outside of normal office hours (e.g. until 6.30pm on one or two evenings per week), within the overall Job Plan. It is expected that you may need to work some hours outside of normal office hours and be flexible in your ability to change your working pattern frequently and at short notice to meet the needs of the service. This may include working early mornings, later evenings or Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical/Counselling psychologist, Systemic Family Therapist, Psychotherapist, CBT Therapist, Nurse (A/I)
- Qualifications and Professional Registration: Any Clinical Nurse Specialist must have a master's level qualification or postgraduate diploma(A/I)
- Completed training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)
Desirable
- Training in family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN/FBT) and/or bulimia nervosa (FT-BN/FBT) (A/I)
- Training in CBT for eating disorders (A/I)
- Training in RO DBT (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist with children, young people and their families under supervision. (A/I)
- Experience of supervising and having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
- Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
Desirable
- Experience treating child and adolescent eating disorders (A/I)
- Experience treating common comorbidities of children and adolescents with eating disorders, such as anxiety, depression, OCD, self-harm and ASC (A/I)
- Experience supervising more junior clinicians working with eating disorders (A/I)
Knowledge/Skills
Essential
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of evidence-based therapies for child and adolescents (A/I/R)
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for child and adolescent eating disorders
Desirable
- Understanding and knowledge of child protection procedures and safeguarding (A/I)
- Skills in delivering group-based therapeutic interventions (A/I)
Abilities
Essential
- 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.
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in self-harming or aggressive behaviour. (A/I)
Desirable
- Ability to work with young people with neurodevelopmental difficulties, such as ASC and ADHD (A/I)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical/Counselling psychologist, Systemic Family Therapist, Psychotherapist, CBT Therapist, Nurse (A/I)
- Qualifications and Professional Registration: Any Clinical Nurse Specialist must have a master's level qualification or postgraduate diploma(A/I)
- Completed training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)
Desirable
- Training in family therapy for anorexia nervosa (FT-AN/FBT) and/or bulimia nervosa (FT-BN/FBT) (A/I)
- Training in CBT for eating disorders (A/I)
- Training in RO DBT (A/I)
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist with children, young people and their families under supervision. (A/I)
- Experience of supervising and having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
- Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
Desirable
- Experience treating child and adolescent eating disorders (A/I)
- Experience treating common comorbidities of children and adolescents with eating disorders, such as anxiety, depression, OCD, self-harm and ASC (A/I)
- Experience supervising more junior clinicians working with eating disorders (A/I)
Knowledge/Skills
Essential
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of evidence-based therapies for child and adolescents (A/I/R)
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for child and adolescent eating disorders
Desirable
- Understanding and knowledge of child protection procedures and safeguarding (A/I)
- Skills in delivering group-based therapeutic interventions (A/I)
Abilities
Essential
- 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.
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in self-harming or aggressive behaviour. (A/I)
Desirable
- Ability to work with young people with neurodevelopmental difficulties, such as ASC and ADHD (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).
