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Job overview
We are looking to recruit a Highly Specialist Psychological Therapist to join our complex emotional needs therapies service. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an established therapies team, in addition the role also expands to working closely with Lewisham community teams to develop stepped care programmes and integrate Trauma informed approaches in how we deliver mental health care.
Main duties of the job
To manage and supervise junior psychological therapists, to offer highly specialised psychological assessments and treatments. To develop and lead in stepped care and trauma informed approaches with community mental health teams.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To provide a highly specialist psychological interventions using CAT/Schema/HI CBT/EMDR/Psychodynamic modalities, etc working with those presenting with complex emotional mental health needs. Including carrying out specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To manage band 7/6/5 psychological therapists.
- To contribute to enabling 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 for HI therapies pathway.
- To promote service evaluation, audit and research.
- To lead and work collaboratively with community MDTs in implementing stepped care for complex presentations.
- To lead and work collaboratively with community MDTs to invest in a culture and practice of Trauma informed care frameworks and principles.
- To work as an autonomous professional within registration body 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.
- To be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- To select and administer specialist assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources
- 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
- Consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups and sensitively managing, a number of people’s needs simultaneously within the context of therapeutic work/consultation
Desirable
- Demonstrates skills in their ability to implement TiC framework and principles
- Demonstrates skills in rolling out stepped care for complex presentations
Ability
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team role
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of staff support eg provision of reflective practice and formulation groups for multi-disciplinary teams
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care. To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for those presenting with complex emotional needs. Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and it’s therapeutic application. Associated awareness of assessment
- To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
- Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to working with complex emotional needs population
- • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
Desirable
- Knowledge of TiC framework and principles
- Knowledge about rolling out stepped care for complex presentations
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
- Experience of supervising assistants, trainees and junior qualified clinicians; having completed the relevant supervisors training
- Experience in working with community mental health teams and other stakeholders
- Experience in implementing stepped care for complex presentations in community teams
- Experience in implement TiC framework and principles in community teams
Desirable
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist in a specialist therapy modality such as CAT, High intensity CBT, Schema, etc.
Qualifications
Essential
- For Psychologists: · Entry-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.For Psychotherapists: Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the APC/BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP (specify which, according to nature of post) for purposes of professional registration.
Desirable
- Further training in CAT, Schema, EMDR,
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Psychotherapist, Practitioner Psychologist & Psychological Therapist with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Nurse practitioner role. The advertised salary is £66,274 - £73,496 per annum inclusive of HCAs pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 21 Jul 2026.
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