About this role
Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable Psychological Therapy Assistant (PTA) to work in a Talking Therapies service. The role is a combined clinical and administrative role. Duties will include: screening incoming referrals; conducting telephone triage assessments to gather clinical information about service user's mental health and progress referrals; proactively helping service users access treatment by making contact and responding to queries; managing waiting lists for a specific care pathway; assisting with administration, data entry and clerical tasks, as well as being the first point of contact for service users and professionals by phone, email and other mediums.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work within the overall framework of the team and adhere to the team policies and procedures. They will be supported by regular supervision with a qualified clinician. This opening is ideal for people that are planning a career in psychological therapies and are keen to develop experience in working with adults presenting with common mental health problems. The PTA role is often a route into the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) postgraduate training course or apprenticeship scheme. We are looking for candidates who demonstrate commitment to this area of work, who would like to progress from the PTA role to the PWP training roles. The post-holder will be based mainly at the Lewisham Town Hall and also in various sites across the Borough of Lewisham. Home working is not possible in this role.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels. In addition, our working relationship with King's Health Partners allows those working at the Trust to get involved in academic research.
Job description Job responsibilities
1. CLINICAL
1.1. Screening incoming referrals to consider suitability for the service based on established criteria
1.2. Proactively engaging service users to help them access treatment by initiating contact and responding to queries
1.3. Conducting telephone triage assessment calls to gather clinical information and progress referrals
1.4. Managing waiting lists for a specific care pathway, booking service users in to appointments, ensuring co-ordination with clinicians and team leads
1.5. Acting as the first point of contact for service users and professionals by phone, email and other mediums
2. ADMINISTRATIVE
2.1. To be responsible for workshop admin tasks, including contacting clients who have not attended, reviewing clients post-workshop and following the service procedures
2.2. To collect and analyse data such as performance figures or service user feedback
2.3. To assist in the design and management of electronic spreadsheets and databases as required
2.4. To deal professionally with telephone/email enquiries, using initiative to take follow up actions when appropriate and help to reassure service users, who may be distressed and confused, in a tactful manner
2.5 To manage the reception of service users coming for treatment
2.6 To support the admin team in administrative tasks such as entering new referrals onto the system, checking triage data for accuracy and data cleansing
3. TEACHING, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
3.1. Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to Trust guidelines, and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g. NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence)
3.2. To receive regular supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
3.3. Where possible, to gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS through attending some training and team meetings.
4. PROFESSIONAL
4.1 The post-holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
4.2. Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
4.3. Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of treatment for common mental health problems.
4.4. Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
4.5. Attend supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.
4.6. Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
4.7. Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuing Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
4.8. Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
oUndergraduate Degree in a related field (Psychology, Mental health, information sciences, or other health or social sciences
Desirable
oPostgraduate training relevant to mental health
Experience Essential
Experience working with a mental health population - voluntary or paid oDemonstrated experience in a fast-paced role that required advanced organisation and communication skills and use of initiative to autonomously troubleshoot and resolve varied problems oExperience of working with service users (either in person, phone or email) to de-escalate feelings of anxiety, confusion, or frustration
Desirable
Experience in a psychological therapies service Experience completing advanced administration tasks in a work or learning setting, such as producing written reports or synthesising data
Knowledge/Skills Essential
Theoretical knowledge of the problems experienced by and needs of primary care patients with common mental health problems Theoretical knowledge of methods of assessment and treatment of primary care patients with common mental health problems Awareness of diversity issues Well-developed verbal skills including telephone skills. Written communication skills that enable communicating complex or sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in self-harming behaviour
Desirable
Understanding of NHS Talking Therapies/IAPT stepped care services Theoretical knowledge of the problems experienced by, and needs of patients with more complex mental health problems such as bipolar disorder, personality disorder and psychosis
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).
Employer details Employer name South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address Lewisham Talking Therapies
Lewisham
SE6 4RU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)