About this role
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and motivated psychologist/psychological therapist with an enthusiasm for working in inpatient services to join the Inpatient Psychological Therapies Service at the Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health Unit. The post is based on our female acute ward, where the psychological service is well-established and valued. Across the unit there is a commitment to trauma-informed and formulation-driven care.
You will join a welcoming psychology team, consisting of clinical psychologists, CBT therapists, arts therapists and psychotherapists. We also host placements for first-year and third-year trainee clinical psychologists and MSc students. Continuing professional development and career progression is a service priority.
We warmly encourage applications from both experienced and newly qualified practitioners. The post is available as a Band 7 developmental post or Band 8a depending on experience. Successful candidates appointed at Band 7 will be provided opportunities and support to progress to the Band 8a role upon successful completion of a preceptorship programme.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the provision and governance of a full and comprehensive psychological service for a female acute ward. They will provide direct care to service users and their families offering assessment, formulation, and brief evidence-based interventions.
They will work collaboratively and proactively with the multi-disciplinary team to provide a safe, equitable and trauma-informed approach to care. The team's psychological understanding will be supported and developed through teaching, training, team formulation, consultation, and supervision. This will involve the postholder contributing to the implementation of RAID, a psychological approach to working with behaviours that challenge, and supporting the introduction and implementation of stabilisation skills. Both of which are part of our service priorities on reducing restrictive practice and trauma-informed care.
Facilitating reflective practice, providing de-briefs after serious incidents and other supportive interventions for staff wellbeing are an important and rewarding part of the role.
About us West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation. Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m. The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'. The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view Band 7 and Band 8a JD as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS Essential
Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology or its equivalent, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS and/or Accredited CBT therapist with the BABCP and/or UKCP Registered / BACP (accred.) psychotherapist with a Level 7 psychotherapy qualification Professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council or UKCP / BACP. Training in clinical supervision for doctoral, and equivalent, trainees.
Desirable
Evidence of post-qualifying training in psychological therapies relevant to severe and enduring mental health difficulties including for example DBT/ CBT-P/ EMDR / SCM / Systemic Practice. Training in the supervision of psychological therapies
EXPERIENCE Essential
Post qualification experience of working in mental health settings delivering specialist psychological assessment, formulation and interventions across a range of settings including community, primary care, inpatient, crisis services. Experience of working with a wide range of client groups across the whole life course presenting with a range of psychological difficulties. Post qualification experience and/or training in working with adults affected by psychological trauma Experience of providing clinical supervision to assistant/trainee or qualified psychologists/psychological therapists, and/or other professionals. Experience of the application of psychology / psychotherapy in different cultural contexts.
Desirable
Experience of teaching / training. Experience of working in acute mental health services (inpatient wards, HTT, crisis intervention services, psychiatric liaison). Experience of having facilitated/co-facilitated psychological therapy groups. Experience of facilitating reflective practice to teams. Experience of service development/change leadership. Experience of working with interpreters.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS Essential
Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and management. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Post-graduate knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology / psychotherapy Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS / BABCP / UKCP / BACP. Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies. Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific psychological problems (e.g. personality difficulties and dual diagnosis). Knowledge and awareness of the trauma informed approach. Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors impacting access to mental health care and the use of restrictive practices. Advanced specialist knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of psychology / psychotherapy applied to clinical practice. Able to provide and receive sensitive information with empathy and transparency Able to make appropriate clinical judgements in complex situations Able to plan, prioritise and organise own workload. Comprehensive IT skills. Skills in administering psychological tests and standardised assessments.
Desirable
Knowledge of quality improvement methodology. Understanding of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act. Knowledge of the NHS Leadership Framework and Positive Leadership Models Knowledge of RAID.
PERSONAL Essential
Able to sit for extended periods of time while demonstrating active listening skills. Able to maintain light physical effort for short periods. Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of exposure to highly emotive material and behaviour that challenges. Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations including working with people affected by trauma. Ability to work independently and under pressure. Adaptable and able to work flexibly to respond to the service needs/priorities.
OTHER Essential
Knowledge of and commitment to the professional code of conduct of the BPS / BABCP / UKCP / BACP. Capable of being guided by policies, procedures and codes of conduct Able to reflect on and learn from own professional practice. Willing to participate actively in CPD in line with professional body guidance Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance to support and maintain clinical practice
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.
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 West London NHS Trust
Address H and F Mental Health Unit
London
W6 8NF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)