Systemic Psychotherapist (Family & Couples)

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines to provide Psychotherapy services to the Service. As part of the multi-disciplinary team and working in partnership with other lead agencies when appropriate, the post holder will be responsible for providing highly specialist assessment of service users and the planning, implementation and evaluation of highly specialist psychotherapy.

The post holder will provide specialist advice and consultation to NHS colleagues, referrers and other external agencies.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

Clinical Duties

1. Working autonomously as part of a multidisciplinary team, provide assessments and psychotherapy for service users practicing at a high level of clinical expertise and within relevant Codes of Practice and drawing on a wide range of models and techniques.

2. To formulate a range of treatment options based on an appropriate conceptual framework. To identify priorities of action in complex circumstances. As part of this practice, there will be the need to identify risk and take appropriate action.

3. To work in ways which are sensitive to and appropriate for the needs of service users from a wide range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds. This includes abilities to understand and offer therapeutic interventions to service users

4. To provide psychotherapy as an autonomous clinician, drawing on a range of models and techniques when required. To practice in a way that is inclusive and considerate of the needs of each individual and their current emotional state. Ensuring that consultation, assessment and treatment interventions are provided in partnership with service users and their families.

5. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychotherapeutic interventions for service users, adjusting and refining formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.

6. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the patient and their difficulties.

7. To ensure that appropriate feedback on caseload is provided to relevant stakeholders, and that feedback from service users is utilised to enhance and develop service delivery. To be responsible for attending CPA meetings and reviews where appropriate.

8. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients as appropriate. Responsible for ensuring that referrals and discharges are made in accordance with relevant policy and procedures and the principles of good practice. Include elements of risk assessment in all work.

9. To assist the Clinical Lead and Service Manager in the on-going development and provision of Psychotherapy Services, promoting a high level of clinical practice to ensure a needs-led service.

10. To facilitate other team members work with service users through joint work and supervision.

11. To manage complex clinical planning, and provide specialist consultation, advice and guidance to other professionals. The post holder will attend training and monthly supervision for their clinical work and will be expected to contribute to the supervision of others. This will include liaison and working with professional networks involved with highly complex, emotive and often conflictual issues.

12. To maintain high standards of clinical record keeping and to adhere to policies and procedures as defined by the Trust and Other Statutory Bodies and to adhere to professional ethical standards and codes of practice of professional bodies and UKCP or HCPC. To provide comprehensive reports as required.

13. Demonstrate awareness of research and its application to clinical practice.

14. Ensure that appropriate feedback on work is provided to relevant stakeholders/referrers/ researchers, and that feedback from service users is utilised to enhance and develop service delivery.

15. Communicate in highly skilled and sensitive manner information concerning assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients. Effectively communicate professional opinion, verbally and in writing to service users, other professionals, statutory and voluntary agencies.

16. Contribute to the writing of information sheets and leaflets as necessary.

17. Working in partnerships with other lead Agencies, to ensure that Child & Adult Protection issues are addressed effectively and within all local procedures.

18. Communicate effectively with service users, members of the multidisciplinary team and other statutory and voluntary agencies and maintain close links with relevant clinicians and services.

Management, Policy and Service Development

To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. This will include assisting with the completion of statistical information to ensure quality and quantity of services available or highlight areas of deficit.

To advise both service and professional management on psychotherapeutic issues.

To assist in the development of policies, procedures and plans in order to enhance and develop Psychotherapy as part of the service

To attend and participate in the multi-disciplinary team.

To assist in the implementation of Trust strategy for Scientific and Professional staff in accordance with recommendations following CQC inspections and as part of Local Delivery Plans.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

Responsible for the provision of psychotherapy training and the promotion of psychotherapeutic ideas as part of the teaching to designated multidisciplinary team members and other Agencies. To provide workshops and clinical sessions. Where agreed to provide specialist consultation and clinical supervision to other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

To assist the Clinical Lead in the educational needs of Trainee Psychotherapists, students and other on placements allocated to the Service.

To act as a specialist psychotherapy resource by provision of supervision, consultation and training to the multi-disciplinary team and other health and social care agencies.

Physical Skills

Ability to sit with clients for extended periods of time, often within pressurised circumstances.

Ability to create a calm, appropriate environment for clients in highly emotive situations and respond appropriately to this need.

Take responsibility for installation, upkeep and use of expensive, specialist video equipment. Train multi-disciplinary staff members in the ethical use of video techniques and equipment, including compliance with service policy on consent to videotaping, and on the secure storage and erasure of videotape.

Ability to use Information Technology and word processing skills.

Continuing Professional Development

To contribute to the development of best practice in psychotherapy by taking part in regular supervision and appraisal and maintaining awareness of current developments in the field.

To receive clinical supervision in accordance with Trust clinical governance standards and the codes of practice and ethical guidelines of the relevant professional body, United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or HCPC

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders professional and service manager (s).

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health in general.

To maintain appropriate registration.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

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Qualifications

Essential

• Registered qualification in core mental health/social welfare profession/teaching.
• Qualifying level course in Psychotherapy or equivalent at Masters/Doctoral level.
• Registration/ Accreditation with the relevant professional/accrediting body for the model of psychotherapy relevant to this post. , e.g. UKCP, ACAP, BABCP.

Desirable

• MSc in Family Therapy (recognised by AFT).

Experience

Essential

• Substantial post qualification experience, some of which must be working with users of the service.
• Substantial experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to prioritise case referrals, assessment and discharge effectively on an individual basis or within multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• Specialist expertise in particular areas Group work experience.
• Substantial post-qualification experience working as a specialist systemic psychotherapist working with couples and families.
• Substantial post-qualifying experience of reflecting team work.

Training

Essential

• Approved Clinical Supervisor.
• Post qualification training to demonstrate competency to work across a number of modalities.
• Evidence of recent and relevant continuous professional development.

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Advanced knowledge and skills in using the complete range of approaches within psychotherapeutic practice as required to meet the needs of different patients and settings.
• Highly developed skills in live supervision of both psychotherapists and multi-disciplinary colleagues.
• A highly developed ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to convey complex and clinically sensitive information to service users of all ages and to a wide range of professionals.
• Ability to prioritise case referrals, assess and discharge effectively on an autonomous basis or within the multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to take clinical responsibility for patient care and treatment.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical violence.
• Information technology and word processing skills.
• Skills in the use of video equipment.
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse community.
• Sufficient knowledge of other modalities to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work with clients.
• Ability to identify and employ as appropriate, Clinical Governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice.
• Understanding of the ethical guidelines in all areas of professional conduct.
• Ability to make evidence based therapeutic interventions.
• Awareness of current relevant legislation and National Service Frameworks and their implications for clinical practice.
• Understanding of risk assessment and management.
• Excellent communication and liaison skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Ability to work autonomously making decisions based on sound judgement and to set appropriate goals, in accordance with professional ethical guidelines and Trust policies.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Ability to manage working in situations of acute distress e.g. clients experience of physical, sexual and emotional abuse; client starvation and self-harm.

Desirable

• Research awareness.
• Working with service users with complex needs.
• Knowledge of associated legislation Care Programme Approach.

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Enthusiastic, self-motivated team player.
• Teaching skills.
• Physical stamina to support clinical caseload which requires intense concentration whilst sitting with client groups or in video screen rooms observing clients for prolonged periods.
• Emotional stamina and ability to respond constructively in highly stressful situations where individuals hold very different perspectives and there is a high level of distress, ambiguity and conflict.
• Able to negotiate, be confident and assertive.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Supportive approach towards colleagues and service users.
• Able to maintain professional boundaries and conduct.
• Flexible and creative approach to treatments/models of care.
• Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.

Desirable

• A commitment to the continuous improvement of services using feedback from individual clients, families, user surveys and clinical research.
• A demonstrated interest in supporting the development of the field through participation in professional bodies and activities.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).