Job summary
Are you passionate about promoting psychological approaches to care? Do you have a genuine interest in improving the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers? Do you want to join a dementia pathway where 95% of patients and carers rate their experience as good or very good?
We have one posts available in our dementia pathway for a specialist and highly specialist psychologist or psychological therapist. This posts will play a key role in strengthening our interventions for behaviours that challenge (behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and ensuring that all service users and carers on the pathway are offered a range of psychological approaches tailored to their needs.
The post benefits from strong clinical and professional support and we will seek to provide training opportunities for successful candidates who are enthusiastic and keen to develop their skills.
This post is a band 7 post which will work across the Care Home Intervention and Community Mental Health Teams in Lambeth and Southwark
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide specialist skills to their respective Care Home Intervention multi-disciplinary team, supporting the implementation of an evidence-based approach to understanding and addressing BPSD.
They will undertake clinical work in care homes in the respective boroughs, supporting assessment and formulation of the needs of care home residents referred to the team and working collaboratively with care home staff to implement and evaluate care plans. This will include support with training and upskilling of care home staff, and systemic approaches to improving the quality of care for care home residents
In the CMHTs the postholder will lead and support the care pathway that describes a stepped approach to understanding and addressing BPSD for people living in their own homes. This will include skill development across the wider MDT, as well as consultation and direct work on more complex presentations. The post will include supervision responsibilities for more junior psychological practitioners.
The CHIT and CMHTs are operational Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm, although we can offer some flexibility around working hours. Onsite working and community visits are required for this role.
About us
The care home intervention teams work with people over the age of 65 (or those with younger onset dementia) who are resident in care homes, and who display challenging behaviour in the context of dementia or other mental health difficulties. The teams work on the basis that people's behaviour, even when challenging, can be understood, and this understanding often leads the way in identifying unmet needs and in developing good care planning and practice, involving the use of psychosocial interventions
The Community Mental Health Teams for Older Adults work with people over the age of 65 with mental health problems, including those with dementia. Approximately 35% of the team's caseloads are people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, where there is often risk to harm to self or others, risk of care arrangements breaking down, or other factors which make care arrangements more complex.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
-To provide specialist clinical expertise in behaviour that challenges in dementia for service users and their carers.
-To conduct specialist psychological assessments using interview techniques, psychometric tests,
behavioural observation, functional analysis and consultation with care home staff and relatives.
-To work with care home staff and residents to develop clinical formulations and care plans to reduce behaviours that challenge and improve the experience of service users.
-To be expert in the skilled administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and to be able to supervise others in administration of psychometric tests.
-To provide psychological reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users.
Teaching, training, and supervision
-To provide specialist training to other professions, staff and agencies as appropriate.
-To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Care Home intervention team and Community Mental Health Teams by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and its application to the needs of older people whose behaviour is challenging and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
Management, recruitment, policy and service development
-To contribute to service and pathway (BPSD) development.
-To participate in the recruitment process of staff, as appropriate.
Research and service evaluation
-To carry out appropriate research to improve the care older people with dementia and behaviours that challenge and provide research advice and supervision to other staff undertaking research within the service.
-To contribute to the development of systematic outcome measurement, assessment/ implementation and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
General Responsibilities
-To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with HPC requirements 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 Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics of appropriate professional body and ensure professional development in line with Standards for Continuing Professional Development and Standards of Proficiency for that body. To adhere to Trust policies and procedures.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
-To provide specialist clinical expertise in behaviour that challenges in dementia for service users and their carers.
-To conduct specialist psychological assessments using interview techniques, psychometric tests,
behavioural observation, functional analysis and consultation with care home staff and relatives.
-To work with care home staff and residents to develop clinical formulations and care plans to reduce behaviours that challenge and improve the experience of service users.
-To be expert in the skilled administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and to be able to supervise others in administration of psychometric tests.
-To provide psychological reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users.
Teaching, training, and supervision
-To provide specialist training to other professions, staff and agencies as appropriate.
-To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Care Home intervention team and Community Mental Health Teams by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and its application to the needs of older people whose behaviour is challenging and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
Management, recruitment, policy and service development
-To contribute to service and pathway (BPSD) development.
-To participate in the recruitment process of staff, as appropriate.
Research and service evaluation
-To carry out appropriate research to improve the care older people with dementia and behaviours that challenge and provide research advice and supervision to other staff undertaking research within the service.
-To contribute to the development of systematic outcome measurement, assessment/ implementation and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
General Responsibilities
-To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with HPC requirements 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 Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics of appropriate professional body and ensure professional development in line with Standards for Continuing Professional Development and Standards of Proficiency for that body. To adhere to Trust policies and procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oEntry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration
- oRegistered with professional body as appropriate to discipline eg HCPC/UKCP/ACP/BABCP and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body
Desirable
- oFurther training relevant to Older Adult Mental Health care
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients including older adults with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
- oExperience of providing teaching and training to psychologists and other professional or non-professional groups
- oExperience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs
- oExperience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework
Desirable
- oExperience of working with other client groups and of using a variety of models/approaches to care
- oExperience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
- oExperience of managing a caseload
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for older people
- oSpecialist knowledge and understanding of theory and practice of assessment and intervention with behaviours that challenge in dementia (Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia)
- oKnowledge of theory of other models of psychological intervention
- oDoctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
- oKnowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- oTheoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection
- oAwareness of racial and diversity issues through attendance of relevant training
Desirable
- oKnowledge and Evidence of a flexible and sensitive approach to care
- oKnowledge/ Awareness of issues surrounding social inclusion for mental health service users
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- oSkills in the use of methods of psychological assessment and intervention with older people
- oSpecialist practitioner skills and practice of at least one model of psychological therapy
- oAbility to take on new concepts and work effectively with change
- oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- oHighly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues
- oConsultation skills to work with other professional and non-professional groups
- oAbility to work as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision
- oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
Desirable
- oWell developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data and for teaching purposes
- oMethodical approach to work with attention to detail
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oEntry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration
- oRegistered with professional body as appropriate to discipline eg HCPC/UKCP/ACP/BABCP and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body
Desirable
- oFurther training relevant to Older Adult Mental Health care
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients including older adults with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
- oExperience of providing teaching and training to psychologists and other professional or non-professional groups
- oExperience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs
- oExperience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework
Desirable
- oExperience of working with other client groups and of using a variety of models/approaches to care
- oExperience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
- oExperience of managing a caseload
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for older people
- oSpecialist knowledge and understanding of theory and practice of assessment and intervention with behaviours that challenge in dementia (Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia)
- oKnowledge of theory of other models of psychological intervention
- oDoctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
- oKnowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- oTheoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection
- oAwareness of racial and diversity issues through attendance of relevant training
Desirable
- oKnowledge and Evidence of a flexible and sensitive approach to care
- oKnowledge/ Awareness of issues surrounding social inclusion for mental health service users
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- oSkills in the use of methods of psychological assessment and intervention with older people
- oSpecialist practitioner skills and practice of at least one model of psychological therapy
- oAbility to take on new concepts and work effectively with change
- oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- oHighly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues
- oConsultation skills to work with other professional and non-professional groups
- oAbility to work as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision
- oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
Desirable
- oWell developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data and for teaching purposes
- oMethodical approach to work with attention to detail
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
Lambeth and Southwark Care Home Intervention Team
5 Streatham Common South
London
SW16 3BT
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
