Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our multi-disciplinary team in the Recovery Day Programme at the New Beginnings Addiction service in Brent.
This is a an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a psychologist who is enthusiastic about working in a multi-disciplinary setting, who is adaptable and enjoys variety and working independently as well as within a team context. You will have post-qualification experience and have excellent clinical skills and supervision experience. You will work alongside a range of professionals including psychiatrists, mental health nurses, social workers, drug and alcohol practitioners, experts by experience, criminal justice staff, recovery workers and group facilitators.
Specifically, you will be part of the Recovery Day Programme (RDP), an evidence-based, group and individual recovery-based intervention service designed to assist clients achieve and maintain abstinence from problem addictions. It is based within the Brent New Beginnings Addictions Service and is an integral part of the treatment pathway of this multidisciplinary service.
If you are currently a band 7 psychologist with post registration experience who wants to work towards a band 8 or a current band 8a who is seeking to follow a senior career pathway in the NHS then this job allows for both of those development pathways.
Main duties of the job
As the Psychologist in the service you will be expected to contribute to developing the RDP team in conjunction with the coordinator, leading on psychosocial interventions for the RDP and wider service, assisting both the Consultant Psychologist and Consultant Psychiatrist in service development and ensuring that the RDP is maintained as a critical element in the treatment pathway in the New Beginnings service.
Liaising and developing effective collaborative relationships with other services such as social care and mental health is a key part of the role. The post holder will have some management and clinical supervision responsibilities for assistant and trainee psychologists and other staff as required, and will assist in embedding a psychologically informed environment (PIE) across all levels of working. The post holder will be responsible for screening and assessing referrals, managing wait lists, and providing psychological consultation to colleagues and other services about the mental health and psychological needs of clients. You will be expected to work with clients in groups and individually, and with carers and families as required.
You will be operationally responsible to the service manager and work alongside the RDP coordinator and receive regular clinical supervision, support and reflective practice from the Consultant Clinical Psychologist, as well as peer support and guidance from other senior team members.
Working for our organisation
CNWL are committed to progressing and supporting their staff with career development and training, and ensuring staff health and wellbeing and job satisfaction. The service has a strong track record of providing both external and internal training for our staff in line with service development and need.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The RDP provides a 12-week intensive, CBT and evidence-based group treatment programme for clients who have reached abstinence. These groups use Motivational Interviewing, cognitive behavioural and behavioural therapy principles, as well as mindfulness-based CBT, dialectical behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, positive psychology and solution focused therapy. Fellowship and peer recovery principles are also incorporated in the programme and the staff team is a mix of recovery workers, experts by experience, group therapists, counsellors and clinical and counselling psychologists.
Individual and couples’ therapy (behavioural couples’ therapy) are also an integral part of the programme, as well as the use of specialist psychological interventions such as EMDR and other trauma-informed approaches. Psychoeducational groups, lectures, guided self-help CBT and workshops also form part of the 12-week programme. Ongoing support for those successfully completing the programme is provided through the RDP Graduates Group.
You will have assessment, formulation, therapy, and leadership and supervision skills; and you will have (and/or want to develop) experience, training and knowledge in working with Addictions and associated complex presentations. Although experience of working with people with addictions would be valuable, we recognise that not all applicants will have had this opportunity. Tailored induction and training will be provided to enable you to work effectively with this client group.
You will have good research and audit skills, be familiar with care quality and clinical governance and be expected to contribute to the development of the service.
A significant percentage of addiction clients also present with diagnoses of Trauma, Personality Disorder, and Complex Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and the team is expected to deliver a range of evidence-based interventions as recommended by NICE Guidance including MI, MBT, DBT, CFT, EMDR and CBT. Other modalities are used dependent on patient need and best practice. The successful applicant will be involved in the provision of therapy and supervise both qualified and trainee psychology staff.
This is a 0.5 WTE permanent post and is available immediately.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
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3. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.