South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Specialist CBT Therapist
The closing date is 04 May 2026
This role presents an exciting opportunity for a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (or Practitioner Psychologist with the relevant CBT qualifications and experience) to join a specialist multidisciplinary team based at the Maudsley Hospital. The Neurorehab Neuropsychiatry Outpatient Service offers assessment and treatment for functional neurological disorders (FND) as well as working with the psychiatric complications of neurological and neurosurgical disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, memory disorders, brain tumours, etc. Within the wider service we provide Neuropsychiatric and Neuropsychological assessment and treatment, CBT and Physiotherapy.
We are looking for a dependable, experienced therapist to work as an autonomous practitioner whilst receiving specialist CBT supervision in the delivery of evidence‑based treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to managing a caseload of service users, there will be opportunities to be involved in ongoing research and audit projects evaluating the efficacy of treatment, as well as taking advantage of the wide variety of teaching and training available within the Neuropsychiatry Service and the wider Trust.
As the NHS looks to expand the availability of services for FND, this post offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in the assessment and treatment of this condition as well as other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will provide highly specialist psychotherapy assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the Neurorehab Neuropsychiatry Out‑Patients service based upon an analysis of complex factors contributing to the client's presentation and selectively drawing on an appropriate CBT model. They will be responsible for managing their caseload whilst receiving clinical and managerial supervision from the senior members of the team. They will maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines.
They will be responsible for the collection and audit of outcome data in order to contribute to the further development of the service. There will also be opportunities to participate in teaching and training of CBT skills for neuropsychiatric disorders within workshops run by the service.
The successful candidate will need to have excellent organisational skills, a well‑developed sense of empathy, good listening skills and the ability to concentrate for extended periods. They should have a keen attention to detail and be able to work as an autonomous practitioner whilst also being able to work well within a team.
We are keen to offer flexible working arrangements, and the experience of the pandemic has shown us that some of our clients welcome the flexibility of remote therapy. We can negotiate arrangements for hybrid working within this role.
About us
The Neurorehab Neuropsychiatry Outpatient Service is made up of a team of Neuropsychiatrists, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, Neuropsychologists, a Physiotherapist, Neurologists, a Business Manager and a team of Service Administrators providing support. The service operates within the Outpatient Department of the Maudsley Hospital. There are regular team meetings and intra‑service teaching sessions which afford the opportunity to engage with team members from across the wider Neuropsychiatry Service (which includes the Lishman Unit inpatient service and the FiND Programme day service, both based at the Bethlem Royal Hospital).
Our team and the Trust headquarters are both located at Denmark Hill, less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from the beautiful green space of Ruskin Park and the vibrant high street that offers great shopping opportunities and a wide range of restaurants.
Job responsibilities
To provide a highly specialist psychotherapy service to Neuropsychiatry out‑patients including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation, and monitoring of outcomes.
To provide this highly specialised psychotherapy service to a broad client group presenting with functional neurological disorder (FND), including patients with dissociative seizures, functional motor disorder and functional weakness. To also work with patients with organic neurological conditions (such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis) on issues of adjustment, anxiety and depression.
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 specialist within Neuropsychiatry.
To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
To work as an autonomous professional within BABCP 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 targets with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
* To act as a therapist providing highly specialist psychotherapy assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the Neuropsychiatry Out‑Patients service based upon an analysis of complex factors contributing to the presentation and selectively drawing on an appropriate CBT model. When needed, to deliver evidence‑based psychological treatments within the boundaries of clinical trials. Complete outcomes and modify and adapt interventions drawing upon a range of theoretical options.
* To provide culturally appropriate professional interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
* To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
* To contribute to the effective working of the team and to a psychotherapeutically informed framework for the service.
* To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
* To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
* To advise other members of the service on specialist psychotherapeutic care of clients.
* To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
* To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support practice in individual work and work with other team members.
KR 3 Policy and service development
* To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
* To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
* To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users and carers in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
KR 4 Care or management of resources
* To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.
* To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
KR 5 Management and supervision
* To supervise honorary psychotherapists within own area of specialism.
* To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychotherapists, as appropriate.
* To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychotherapists, as appropriate.
* To provide supervision for the psychotherapeutic work of other multi‑disciplinary staff as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
* To undertake occasional teaching and training of honorary psychotherapists and specialist training to other professions in the Neurorehab Neuropsychiatry Out‑Patients service as appropriate.
* To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Neurorehab Neuropsychiatry Out‑Patient service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in the psychotherapies and wider Neuropsychiatry services, and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
* To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 Record‑keeping and Information Governance
* To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
* To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
KR 8 Research and development
* To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.
* To provide expertise in specialist research areas which will contribute to the development of the Neurorehab Neuropsychiatry Out‑Patients Service.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
* To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychotherapist according to BABCP and Trust guidelines.
* To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BABCP 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 BABCP Standards of Ethics and Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.
* To adhere to the BABCP Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
KR 10 General
* To travel to team or service meetings as appropriate and across the Trust when required.
* 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 with skill and tact when dealing with highly complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues; taking account of sensory and cultural barriers to communication.
* To provide psychological support to clients who are experiencing (or have experienced) serious emotional trauma and also to provide support to carers and staff working with such clients and to support others involved in such situations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Entry‑level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the BABCP for purposes of professional registration.
* Qualification in CBT and/or psychology eg: ENB650, Diploma/Degree in CBT, MSc OR a combination of specialist short courses and/or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice‑based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher.
* Registered with the BABCP as a Psychotherapist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BABCP.
* oQualification in supervision
Experience
* Experience of specialist psychotherapy assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
* Post‑qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
* Experience of carrying out audit or service evaluation projects.
* Experience of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in Neuropsychiatry in outpatient and inpatient settings.
* Experience of supervising psychotherapists having completed the relevant training.
* Experience of writing and publishing papers in peer reviewed journals
Knowledge
* Advanced knowledge of clinical assessment and psychometrics
* Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
* Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
* Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised assessments and interventions for Neuropsychiatry patients.
* Knowledge of physical and online resources available for Neuropsychiatric patients.
* Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment.
Skills
* To deliver psychotherapy across cultural and other differences.
* To communicate complex and sensitive information skilfully and sensitively with clients, carers and colleagues, overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
* To select and administer specialist psychotherapy assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data.
* To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients, groups and carers.
* Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.
Abilities
* Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
* Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
* Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
* Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in self‑harm or aggressive behaviour.
* Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.
* Ability to use complex multi‑media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings.
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.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
£66,274 to £73,496 a year incl. of HCAs
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