Specialist Psychologist/Psychological Therapist/Psychotherapist

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to work within Southwark Trauma Team.  You will be required to:

• To provide a specialist psychology/psychotherapy service to Trauma Team.
• Duties will include assisting the team with screening referrals to the P&P referrals meeting and assisting with ongoing audit and QI projects. This will also include helping with managing the waiting list.
• Reviewing the waiting list, liaising with patients who have waited over six months, attending assessment workshops; offering brief interventions or extended assessments where clinically indicated.
• To offer EMDR, Trauma focus CBT and other Trauma Focus interventions
• To provide 1-2-1 supervision for psychotherapy honorary psychotherapists and trainee psychotherapists
• To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
• To work as an autonomous professional within guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.

Main duties of the job

• To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in , Psychology and Psychotherapies team.
• To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions.
• To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
• To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
• To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
• To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychotherapist according to BPC/UKCP/ EQUIVALENT and Trust guidelines.
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and ofular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs. relevant legislation and policies.
• To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group and follow Trust policies relating to its management.
• To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations such as challenging behaviour and to support others involved in such situations.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Essential Requirements

• Qualification in Psychotherapy or Clinical/Counselling Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training or equivalent) that has been accepted by the HCPC, BACP, UKCP, BABCP for purposes of professional registration, or equivalent for an Adult Psychotherapist (A/I)
• Registered with the HCPC as a Psychologist, or with UKCP or equivalent for an Adult Psychotherapist (A/I
• Registered with the BPC/UKCP/BABCP EQUIVALENT as a Psychotherapist/Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPC/UKCP/ BABCP EQUIVALENT registration body. (A/I)
• EMDR or Trauma Focus CBT
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised assessments and interventions for adults with complex mental health difficulties (A/I/R)
• Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs. (A/I)
• Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in an adult mental health secondary care mood, anxiety, trauma and personality service. (A/I)
• Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.  This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience. (A/I)
• Experience of developing and carrying out research projects. (A/I)
• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I)
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I)
• 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. (A/I)
• To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists. (A/I)
• Practitioner level knowledge of at least two models of psychological therapy and knowledge of the theoretical and evidence base for them. (A/I)
• To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials. (A/I)
• Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. (A/I)

Essential Requirements – Knowledge

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of mood, anxiety and trauma and personality disorder. (A/I)
• Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I)
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I)
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I)

Abilities

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I)
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I)
• 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. (A/I)
• Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self. (A/I) The Trust encourages and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. We see this as valuable and recognise the positive impact this experience can have on the work we do.