Job overview
We are looking to recruit a Senior Cognitive Analytic Therapist (CAT) to lead our CAT pathway. This post plays a pivotal role in delivering specialist psychological care to adults with complex mental health needs. The post is an established position in Lewisham Integrated Therapies (LIT) and CAT has a long and valued history in the borough as well as in the Trust.
Main duties of the job
To lead on Cognitive Analytic Therapy in Lewisham. This involves being responsible for the provision of CAT in Lewisham for complex emotional needs, managing waiting lists, supervising junior staff, conducting assessments and offering Cognitive Analytic therapy. To also work closely with our stakeholders in the community mental health teams.
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see The Job description document for a more detailed description of the roles and responsibilities.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. A recognised qualification in a core mental health professions eg. psychiatric nursing or social work, doctoral level clinical or counselling psychology, qualified psychotherapist with demonstrable competence to practice in mental health in the NHS.
2. ACAT accredited CAT Practitioner
Desirable criteria
3. ACAT accredited supervisor
Experience
Essential criteria
4. •Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in Cognitive Analytic Therapy. (A/I)
5. •Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Cognitive Analytic Therapy and complex emotional needs. Experience of holding and managing a waiting list.
6. •Experience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training
7. •Experience in offering clinical and managerial supervision to junior therapists.
8. •Experience working with community mental health teams and other stakeholders
Knowledge
Essential criteria
9. •Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for those presenting with complex emotional needs.
10. •Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
11. •To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences
12. •To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
13. •Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to CAT discipline
Skills
Essential criteria
14. •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.
15. •To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers
16. •To plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriates
17. •Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
18. •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.
Ability
Essential criteria
19. •Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
20. •Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
21. •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