Job overview
We have a vacancy for a band 7 clinical or counselling psychologist, CBT therapist or psychotherapist within our eating disorders day-services team. This is an exciting opportunity to join our renowned service. We can offer protected time for research, special interest projects and continued professional development, and clear pathways for further career development within our department and the Trust.
Successful applicants will contribute to the systematic provision of highly specialised psychological therapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E/CBT-ED) and the Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA). The post holder will be involved in conducting specialist assessment, treatment planning, treatment provision and monitoring of outcomes. In addition to individual and group psychological therapy provision, the post holder will support other aspects of the day-services programme and provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.
Main duties of the job
1. To provide specialist psychological interventions for eating disorders in adults, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
2. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
3. To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.
4. To promote service evaluation, audit and research.
5. To work as an autonomous professional within registration body 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
6. 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.
7. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate.
Working for our organisation
The Eating Disorder Unit (EDU) is internationally renowned for providing best practice, evidence-based care for adults with the full range of eating disorder difficulties. We are the developers of MANTRA, now recommended as part of NICE 2017 guidelines for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, of FREED, and of PEACE (Pathway for Eating Disorders and Autism developed from Clinical Experience).
We offer opportunities for ongoing training and collaboration with colleagues across the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences at King’s College London.We will consider those who are completing training.
Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). We also provide services and operate across other locations, such as London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; and substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Lambeth, Greenwich and Wandsworth.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The job includes contributing to the systematic provision of highly specialised individual and group psychological therapy for eating disorders in adults. The role sits within our multidisciplinary day-services team. Primary models are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E/CBT-ED) and the Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA). The role would involve providing individual psychological therapy and contributing to psychological therapy groups as well as other elements of the day-services programme, including meal support.
For a detailed description of this role, please review the attached job description for more information.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
8. To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
9. 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 as a clinical or counselling psychologist.
10. For CBT Therapists and Psychotherapists: Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the APC/BPC/ACAT/UKCP/BACP/BABCP (specify which, according to nature of post) for purposes of professional registration. (A/I) (for a job requiring specific professional qualification(s), change this point to specifythe required qualification(s).
Experience
Essential criteria
11. Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
12. 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.
13. Experience of working with issues of risk and safety both physical and relational.
Desirable criteria
14. Experience of working with individuals with eating disorders.
15. Experience of developing and carrying out audit/research projects).
Knowledge
Essential criteria
16. Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment.
17. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
18. Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
Desirable criteria
19. Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for adults with eating disorders.
Skills
Essential criteria
20. 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.
21. To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers.
22. 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.
23. To select and administer specialist assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
Abilities
Essential criteria
24. Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
25. Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
26. 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.
27. Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.