Job overview
We are looking for a highly specialist clinical psychologist, to work within the Mental Health & Learning Disabilities Service (MHLD). We are a specialist community service for adults with learning disabilities, covering the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, delivering a service to adults who have additional mental health difficulties and/or behaviour that challenges.
We have a full time post based in central Catford, co-located with the CTLD health team. Those seeking full-time or part-time work are encouraged to apply.
As a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist in MHLD, you will be a member of a borough team that is managed by a team leader, working jointly with Psychiatry and CPN colleagues. The team works in close partnership with local CTLD health teams as well as social care colleagues, with psychological and behavioural interventions delivered as part of a multidisciplinary care plan. You will be part of a well-established group of 18 Psychologists and Behavioural Support Practitioners, working across the three boroughs, with each borough led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
Main duties of the job
You will be expected to work directly and indirectly with people with learning disabilities, families, carers and networks to provide a range of high quality, evidence-based, collaborative and person-centred psychological assessments and interventions. We are looking for someone that can bring a dynamic and creative approach to service delivery, aimed at improving the lives of people with learning disabilities who have additional mental health needs and/or behaviours that challenge.
Working for our organisation
Across the three boroughs, we provide a range of psychological assessments and interventions for people with learning disabilities and their networks, with specialist expertise and interests across the service in systemic, narrative, neuropsychology, CAT and positive behavioural approaches. You will be expected to make use of regular CPD sessions within the Trust as well as special interest/supervision groups offered by psychologists within the service aimed at further developing therapeutic skills and knowledge.
We have close links with the Estia Centre and as we are part of a Clinical Academic Group within Kings Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre, research interests and joint initiatives aimed at improving the physical and mental health care for people with learning disabilities are encouraged. There are opportunities to help develop and deliver training and consultation to provider services and our mainstream mental health colleagues as part of your work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To provide a highly specialist psychological interventions to adults with learning disabilities with additional mental health needs and/or behaviour which challenges, including specialist assessment, treatment, training to other staff, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
• 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 lead specialist in MHLD.
• To undertake service evaluation, audit and research and policy development.
• To work as an autonomous professional within registration body 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.
• To contribute psychological expertise within the wider multi-agency context.
• 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. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration.
2. Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice (specify options required by the post) through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses and/an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice–based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by a registered body and/or an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher
3. Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or accredited to supervised qualified psychological practitioners in relevant discipline.
4. Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline HCPC/APC/BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP/ADMP-UK.
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in services for people with learning disabilities.
6. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with learning disabilities with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
7. Experience of supervising assistant and trainees having completed the relevant training.
8. Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups.
Desirable criteria
9. The Trust encourages and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. We see this as valuable and recognise the positive impact this experience can have on the work we do.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for people with learning disabilities.
11. Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment, therapy and clinical psychometrics.
12. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
13. Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
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 (and for meetings such as CPA and case reviews where appropriate).
16. To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
17. To plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriates.
Abilities
Essential criteria
18. Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
19. Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
20. Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
21. 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.