Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychology Service, a specialist service for the treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and traumatic bereavement in asylum seekers and refugees.
We are keen to recruit an enthusiastic and committed individual who shares our team's passion human rights and social justice. We offer excellent development opportunities including high quality and regular supervision, opportunities for research, and close working with other specialist refugee and trauma services across the London region. We also support the development of leadership skills and aim to nurture our staff and support them to become confident supervisors, devise and implement training, and conduct research. If you would like to make a positive difference to the lives of survivors, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Our team of experienced clinicians offer a range of specialist therapy interventions to survivors of torture, human trafficking, and other human rights violations. You will be providing specialist and expert assessments, formulations and evidence-based treatment for PTSD and Complex PTSD. You will be involved in our phase-based treatment programme, providing both individual and group treatment, and will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in therapy modalities including trauma-focused cognitive therapy for PTSD, EMDR, Compassion Focussed Therapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy. You will also contribute to the supervision of assistant psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists, as appropriate. There will be opportunities to contribute to research, audits and service evaluation, as well as to the development and provision of training focused on working with asylum seekers and refugees, working with interpreters, and treating PTSD. You may also be involved in consultation and liaison to multidisciplinary mental health staff, and other, non-professional carers. There will be opportunities for close working with refugee and other community organisations.
About us
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to provide the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
- A long-standing and award-winning approach to Equality and Diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities and LGBT staff
- A commitment to supporting our staff achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a 'Top 10 Family Friendly Employer' from Working Families charity
- Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.
Job description
Job responsibilities
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychological Therapies Service, a specialist service for the treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and traumatic bereavement in asylum seekers and refugees. Our team of experienced clinicians offer a range of specialist therapy interventions to survivors of torture, human trafficking, and other human rights violations. You will be providing specialist and expert assessments, formulations and evidence-based treatment for PTSD and Complex PTSD. You will be involved in our phase-based treatment programme, providing both individual and group treatment, and will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in therapy modalities including trauma-focused cognitive therapy for PTSD, EMDR, Compassion Focussed Therapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy. You will also contribute to the supervision of trainee and assistant psychologists and qualified members of staff, as appropriate. There will be opportunities to contribute to research, audits and service evaluation, as well as to the development and provision of training focused on treating PTSD. You may also be involved in consultation and liaison to multidisciplinary mental health staff, and other, non-professional carers. There will be opportunities for close working with refugee and other community organisations, as well as Waltham Forest Refugee Resettlement Team.
Your primary role within the Refugee Psychology Service will be to lead on an exciting new outreach and community psychology project in Waltham Forest. This will involve the provision of highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and individual and group-based interventions. The role involves close collaboration with colleagues from the team and opportunities for supervision and service development.
It is important to us that the successful candidate is experienced in working cross-culturally and has a strong commitment to human rights and antiracism.
As this is a new post, it offers excellent opportunities for leadership and service development, research, sharing of expertise and learning within the team.The post offers an opportunity for close collaboration and joint working with refugee community organisations and the local authority refugee resettlement team.
We recognise the importance of promoting the professional development of our staff and there will be several opportunities to participate in continued professional development, including close supervision by senior members of the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychology team, and attending training events and courses relevant to the person's role and future professional development.
The Trust has strong links with, and provides placements for local clinical and counselling psychology courses, and several members of the department are engaged in teaching in local clinical training courses.
Please refer to the Job description and Person specification for further details.
We are looking for applicants who have:
- Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology.
- Current registration as a Practitioner Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Experience of working in an evidence-based way with forced migrants presenting with severe mental health difficulties and social needs
- Experience of working in an evidence-based way with survivors of multiple and prolonged traumas and in offering trauma-focused interventions
- Experience of liaising with multi-disciplinary service colleagues as well as local authority and voluntary sector partners.
- Experience and interest in working cross-culturally and with interpreters.
Job description
Job responsibilities
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychological Therapies Service, a specialist service for the treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and traumatic bereavement in asylum seekers and refugees. Our team of experienced clinicians offer a range of specialist therapy interventions to survivors of torture, human trafficking, and other human rights violations. You will be providing specialist and expert assessments, formulations and evidence-based treatment for PTSD and Complex PTSD. You will be involved in our phase-based treatment programme, providing both individual and group treatment, and will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in therapy modalities including trauma-focused cognitive therapy for PTSD, EMDR, Compassion Focussed Therapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy. You will also contribute to the supervision of trainee and assistant psychologists and qualified members of staff, as appropriate. There will be opportunities to contribute to research, audits and service evaluation, as well as to the development and provision of training focused on treating PTSD. You may also be involved in consultation and liaison to multidisciplinary mental health staff, and other, non-professional carers. There will be opportunities for close working with refugee and other community organisations, as well as Waltham Forest Refugee Resettlement Team.
Your primary role within the Refugee Psychology Service will be to lead on an exciting new outreach and community psychology project in Waltham Forest. This will involve the provision of highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and individual and group-based interventions. The role involves close collaboration with colleagues from the team and opportunities for supervision and service development.
It is important to us that the successful candidate is experienced in working cross-culturally and has a strong commitment to human rights and antiracism.
As this is a new post, it offers excellent opportunities for leadership and service development, research, sharing of expertise and learning within the team.The post offers an opportunity for close collaboration and joint working with refugee community organisations and the local authority refugee resettlement team.
We recognise the importance of promoting the professional development of our staff and there will be several opportunities to participate in continued professional development, including close supervision by senior members of the Waltham Forest Refugee Psychology team, and attending training events and courses relevant to the person's role and future professional development.
The Trust has strong links with, and provides placements for local clinical and counselling psychology courses, and several members of the department are engaged in teaching in local clinical training courses.
Please refer to the Job description and Person specification for further details.
We are looking for applicants who have:
- Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology.
- Current registration as a Practitioner Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Experience of working in an evidence-based way with forced migrants presenting with severe mental health difficulties and social needs
- Experience of working in an evidence-based way with survivors of multiple and prolonged traumas and in offering trauma-focused interventions
- Experience of liaising with multi-disciplinary service colleagues as well as local authority and voluntary sector partners.
- Experience and interest in working cross-culturally and with interpreters.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification in Clinical/Counselling Psychology to doctorate or equivalent level
- Eligible for registration with the Health Care Professions Council
Desirable
- Additional specialist training in evidence based psychological models particularly in relation to working with traumatic experience, and working cross culturally
Experience
Essential
- Experience of delivering evidence based interventions for a range of complex and severe mental health problems including trauma
- Experience using Narrative Exposure Therapy or EMDR, or a willingness to train in one or both of these approaches
- Experience of working with refugees, asylum seekers, or other forced migrant groups
- Experience of working therapeutically with interpreters
Desirable
- Experience of offering teaching and training
- Experience of working closely with community organisations
- Implementing audit or research in a healthcare setting
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the impact of exile on mental health and knowledge of responses to traumatic experience more generally
- Knowledge of a wide range of therapeutic interventions for different presenting problems.
- Specialist knowledge of evidence based psychological approaches to trauma
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant assessment measures.
- Knowledge of community psychological principles and ways to work with disadvantaged communities
Skills
Essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work flexibly and to be responsive to the needs of the service.
Desirable
- Knowledge of a second language and the ability to employ this in therapeutic work
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification in Clinical/Counselling Psychology to doctorate or equivalent level
- Eligible for registration with the Health Care Professions Council
Desirable
- Additional specialist training in evidence based psychological models particularly in relation to working with traumatic experience, and working cross culturally
Experience
Essential
- Experience of delivering evidence based interventions for a range of complex and severe mental health problems including trauma
- Experience using Narrative Exposure Therapy or EMDR, or a willingness to train in one or both of these approaches
- Experience of working with refugees, asylum seekers, or other forced migrant groups
- Experience of working therapeutically with interpreters
Desirable
- Experience of offering teaching and training
- Experience of working closely with community organisations
- Implementing audit or research in a healthcare setting
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the impact of exile on mental health and knowledge of responses to traumatic experience more generally
- Knowledge of a wide range of therapeutic interventions for different presenting problems.
- Specialist knowledge of evidence based psychological approaches to trauma
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant assessment measures.
- Knowledge of community psychological principles and ways to work with disadvantaged communities
Skills
Essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work flexibly and to be responsive to the needs of the service.
Desirable
- Knowledge of a second language and the ability to employ this in therapeutic work
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).
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).
