About this role
Job summary
To provide specialist psychological interventions to adults with learning disabilities with additional mental health needs and/or behaviour which challenges, including specialist assessment, treatment, 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 and to provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate. The post holder will undertake service evaluation, audit and research and work as an autonomous professional withinregistration body guidelines and codes of conduct and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor. The post holder will contribute psychological expertise within the wider multi-agency context and 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.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations, and evidence-based clinical interventions for adults with learning disabilities within the MHLD service, working effectively with individuals who present with complex mental health difficulties and challenging behaviours. Operate within the expected professional limits of a Band 7 role, achievable for newly-qualified psychologists. Expertly select, administer, and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological tests, which requires the skilled manipulation of testing materials alongside the integration of highly complex data. Deliver culturally appropriate therapeutic interventions to clients, families, and care networks. Systematically assess and monitor clinical risks, draw up structured management plans, and produce comprehensive reports to inform referrers, families, and multi-disciplinary networks. Utilise a range of theoretical models to deliver evidence-based therapies, carefully modifying and adapting methods based on individual developmental histories. Work as an autonomous professional within service policies, taking complete responsibility for your own caseload, treatment pathways, and final discharge decisions. Communicate highly complex and sensitive information with exceptional skill, actively overcoming distinct sensory or cultural barriers. Act as care coordinator or CPA coordinator when required, taking full responsibility for planning, reviewing care plans, and leading multi-agency meetings.
About us The Psychology service operates within the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities (MHLD) Service under the Croydon and Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Directorate. Practitioners work under the strategic leadership of the Consultant Clinical Psychologist and borough Team Leaders. Clinical work is delivered within Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark teams, each managed locally by a Team Leader. Clinicians can contribute to service developments and CPD initiatives across the Trust, as agreed with leadership. Geographically, Lambeth and Southwark teams are based at the Maudsley Hospital, while the Lewisham team is based in Catford, co-located with the Lewisham CTLD and employed by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Each borough team comprises Clinical Psychologists, a Behavioural Support Practitioner, Trainee Psychologists, Psychiatrists, CPNs, and Administrators. Staff work in partnership with CTLD health colleagues and social care partners. Service users live alone, with families, or in supported living. Both direct and indirect psychotherapeutic interventions are provided to reduce challenging behaviour, improve mental health, support recovery, and enhance quality of life. Beyond clinical work, consultation and training form a large part of the role, often delivered with the Estia Centre, the Directorate's training component. Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark are diverse inner London boroughs with significant ethnic minority populations.
Job description Job responsibilities
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for adults with learning disabilities seen within the MHLD service, including working with people who have mental health difficulties and/or challenging behaviours and their networks, within limits expected at Band 7, i.e. achievable by newly-qualified psychologists after a few months on-the-job training.
To select, administer and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological tests, requiring skilled manipulation of test materials, and interpretation and integration of complex data.
To provide culturally appropriate psychological 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, service users, their families and professional network.
To select and deliver specialist evidence based therapeutic interventions, drawing on a range of theoretical 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 and their network.
To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.
To work as an autonomous professional within professional guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.
To communicate skilfully and sensitively highly complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues taking account of sensory and cultural barriers to communication.
To act as care coordinator or CPA co-ordinator if required, taking responsibility for planning and reviewing care plans, CPA co-ordination and meetings as required
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
To contribute to the effective working of the MHLD service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
To contribute to the team or services 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 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 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 the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
KR 4 Care or management of resources
To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts 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.
KR 5 Management and supervision
To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training.
To provide supervision for the psychological and/or psychotherapeutic work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychological practitioners and specialised training to other professions and staff in local services 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 learning disabilities and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
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 undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
To initiate and carry out appropriate research as agreed.
To provide research advice to other staff undertaking research within the service.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychological therapist according to professional body and Trust guidelines.
To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with professional body and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and professional Standards for Continuing Professional Development.
To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
To comply with professional body Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/Standards of Proficiency and ensure professional development in line with these.
KR10 General
To travel to home visits, community placements, psychology meetings as appropriate and across the Trust 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 (such as challenging behaviour, abuse etc.) and to support others involved in such situations through Trust-wide approaches including Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve.
Person Specification
Qualifications. Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Essential
Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature within the specialty of learning disabilities. (A/I) 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. (A/I) Experience of developing and carrying out audit/research projects). (A/I) Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of adults with learning disabilities who have additional mental health needs, psychological distress or challenging behaviour. (A/I) Knowledge of psychological assessment, therapy and its therapeutic application as well as clinical psychometrics. (A/I) Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I) Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I) To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I) To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I) Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches/models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline (A/I) Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care. (A/I) Doctoral/MSc level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. (A/I) Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for people with learning disabilities (A/I) Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I) Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I) Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I) 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. (A/I) 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. (A/I) Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self. (A/I) 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. (A/I) To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials. (A/I) To plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriates. (A/I) Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. (A/I) Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups (A/I). 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. (A/I) To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, including neuropsychological assessments, formulation and interventions, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I) Specialist practitioner skills in discipline (A/I
Desirable
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.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ
Clinical Treatment Centre (CTC), Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ
London
SE5 8AZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)