Job overview
Psychology or Psychotherapy specialist post in Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders. The TDS specialises in the assessment and treatment of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative disorders. We are a national specialist service offering consultations, assessments, second opinions and new forms of treatment for people with complex presentations. The TDS is part of the Psychological Medicine Older Adults Directorate (PMOA). The service takes referrals from senior clinician’s only (e.g. Heads of Service and CMHTs) nationally and locally and Self-Funded referrals.
Main duties of the job
• To provide a highly specialist psychotherapy/psychological therapy assessment service to patients with PTSD, complex PTSD and dissociative disorders as well as associated psychological difficulties. This includes specialist assessment, second opinion assessments, outreach assessments, care planning, implementation and producing assessment reports.
• To co-facilitate Sensorimotor Groups. To offer individual therapy (using a variety of therapeutic models as required by the service).
• To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to
flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
• To work as an autonomous professional within BACP/UKCP/BPC/APC/HCPC/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/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best
achieved.
Working for our organisation
The staff are based at the Maudsley Hospital with some remote working. The staff team consists of a Consultant Psychiatrist, Principle Clinical Psychologist, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Honorary Therapists, Business Manager and administrator.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
• To provide highly specialist psychotherapy/psychological therapy assessments, second opinions, and group/individual therapy for clients in the PTSD/Trauma pathway nationally including NICE recommended therapies and other relevant interventions. This may include: psychological stabilisation, EMDR, Tf-CBT, Sensorimotor Therapy, experience of relational based therapies appropriate for complex PTSD, experience of individual and group work.
• To provide culturally appropriate psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
• To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
• To provide reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users and their families.
• To select and deliver evidence-based specialist therapeutic interventions, drawing from a spectrum of ideas and models, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions as necessary, based on the highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, couple, family or group.
• To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.
• To act as the keyworker taking responsibility for initiating planning and reviewing care plans as appropriate.
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
• To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychotherapeutically informed framework for the service.
• To contribute to the team or service’s 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 patients.
• 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 evidence based practice and/or currently understood best practice-based evidence, in individual work and work with other team members.
• To liaise with the service/s MDT and other professionals.
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 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 Trust’s equipment and physical resources.
• To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
• To ensure the cleanliness and safe functioning and use of equipment that will be used by clients or other persons.
• To monitor and advise clients on the safe use of materials and processes.
• To ensure adequate confidential and safe storage for artefacts produced during the therapy process in line with professional guidelines.
• To be responsible for obtaining, storing and maintaining all materials and equipment for the provision of therapy in work setting within budgetary constraints.
• To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
• To identify any aspects of the service within own service area, which need to be improved and to advise service and professional managers accordingly.
• To authorise client travel expenses (if required)
KR 5 Management and supervision
• To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychological practitioners with support from a more senior practitioner when necessary.
• To supervise trainee psychological practitioners within own area of specialism having completed the relevant Supervision Training when necessary.
• To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychological practitioners as appropriate.
• To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychological practitioners as appropriate.
• Consultation as required by service need, such as phone call advice to potential referrers or other enquiries to the service.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
• To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychological practitioners, and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
• To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychological therapy and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
• To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
• 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 a specialist research area which will contribute to the pathway for PTSD/Trauma.
• To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
• To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychotherapist/psychological therapist according to BACP/UKCP/APC/BPC/HCPC /BABCP and Trust guidelines.
• To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BACP/UKCP/APC/BCP/HPCP/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 BACP//UKCP//APC/BCP/HCPC/BABCP Standards of Ethics and Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.
• To adhere to the BACP/UKCP/APC/BPC/HCPC/BABCP. Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
KR10 General
• To travel to Trust premises for service meetings, training, home visits as appropriate and 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 and to support others involved in such situations.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Post-graduate qualification in either psychology or psychotherapy. (A/I) Doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology or equivalent qualification in psychotherapy or CCST in medical psychotherapy or equivalent relevant experience. (A/I) Registered with the HCPC as practitioner psychologist or accepted psychotherapy body. (A/I)
Desirable criteria
2. Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialized areas of psychological practice. (A/I)
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Substantive experience in working with trauma/dissociation at a secondary/tertiary trauma service or equivalent. (A/I) Experience in assessing patients with complex needs suffering from complex trauma, dissociative disorder and or personality disorders. (A/I) Significant post-qualification experience of working with complex PTSD and symptoms of dissociation. (A/I) Experience of racial awareness/diversity training (A/I) Psychological and or psychodynamic therapy: appropriate level of competence in treating patients offering time-limited therapy with a range of patients with complex mental health problems. (A/I)
Desirable criteria
4. Experience of working with Personality Disorders (A/I) Experience of working with individuals with dissociative disorders. (A/I)
Knowledge
Essential criteria
5. Knowledge theoretical and evidence base for them. (A/I/References). Awareness of racial and diversity issues through attendance of relevant training. (A/I/References) Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for traumatized and personality disordered clients. (A/I/References) Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues. (A/I/References) Good knowledge of models of intervention for PTSD and dissociation (A/I) Knowledge of and experience in providing other psychotherapeutic models of treatment. (A/I)
Skills
Essential criteria
6. Essential Requirements Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management of PTSD, complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders. (A/I) Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. (A/I) Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups. (A/I) Advanced practitioner skills in at least one model of psychological therapy for PTSD and complex PTSD/Borderline Personality Disorder. Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues. (A/I) Well developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. Complex methods of psychological assessment and interventions frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. (A/I/References)
Abilities
Essential criteria
7. Ability to work independently and manage work to agreed timescales (A/I) Ability to pursue research in clinical psychology /psychotherapy (A/I) Ability to work independently as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision. (A/I) Has completed a minimum of 18 months post qualification CPD to develop clinical and/or research skills relevant to specialist area as agreed in the Personal Development Plan. (A/I/References) Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and/or challenging behaviour. (A/I/References) Commitment to continuing professional development, to partnership working and to reflexive clinical practice (A/I).