About this role
Job summary
We are excited to advertise a part-time Band 8a maternity cover in the ELFT Community Eating Disorder Service (https://www.elft.nhs.uk/services/east-london-eating-disorder-service-adults). We are seeking a Senior Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join our expanding team of psychologists, therapists, clinical associates in psychology, and dietitians.
The post will support people meeting diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder whose relationship with food, eating and body image significantly affects their health and wellbeing. The role will focus on those with moderate impact on physical health.
The successful candidate will take a senior role in daily service operations: screening referrals, completing assessments, developing treatment plans, holding a caseload, and supporting the team. They will contribute to the development and management of a FREED-informed model of care across East London, working into IAPT services, supporting primary care networks, and liaising with St Ann's Specialist Eating Disorders Service.
This is a leadership role within a vibrant, progressive team. Applicants should have experience supporting people with eating difficulties, but we are equally interested in your unique skills and qualities. We warmly welcome applications from people with lived experience of mental health services, carers, or those with strong connections to the boroughs we serve.
Main duties of the job
1. To oversee a senior role in the daily operations of the eating disorder service, supporting the team in screening referrals, conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, and managing a clinical caseload effectively.
2. To manage all referrals coming through our self-referral portal, providing updates to the Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders (Adults) on its progress, while identifying areas for improvement and opportunities for further service enhancements.
3. To ensure the production of accurate and timely documentation, overseeing the maintenance of comprehensive records for all service users in accordance with your Professional Code of Conduct and Trust policies.
4. To take the lead in the ongoing development of a high-quality service, contributing to local emergency plans and team risk assessments, all grounded in evidence-based practice, care pathways, and adhering to NICE and Department of Health Guidance.
5. To work closely with the Service Lead in the development and implementation of operational and clinical policies, contributing to the formulation and review of appropriate guidelines.
6. To maintain a clinical caseload, delivering evidence-based therapies in line with NICE guidelines.
7. To provide clinical supervision and line management to team members, including psychologists, therapists, clinical associates in psychology, and peer support workers.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description Job responsibilities
To hold a senior position in the daily operation of the eating disorder service and to support the team in screening referrals, carrying out assessments, developing treatment plans and maintaining a clinical caseload. 2. To manage all referrals accessing the service through our self-referrals portal (both FREED and non-FREED cases), and to continuously review the implementation of the FREED-informed service model and care package, advising the Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders (Adults) on its progress, and identifying any areas for improvement or opportunities for further service development
3. To produce accurate and timely documentation, conduct and manage the maintenance of accurate and timely documentation / records on all service users in line with your Professional Code of Conduct and Trust policy
4. Lead in the continuing development of a high quality service and contribute to local emergency plan, team risk assessment etc. that is underpinned by evidence based practice, care pathways / packages and NICE and DH Guidance
5. Work closely with and assist the Service Lead with development and implementation of operational / clinical policies contributing to the formulation and review of appropriate policies
6. Responsible for the coordination and management of the FREED and Community project in providing a safe, effective and therapeutic clinical service, ensuring the delivery of high quality community mental health care packages.
7. To hold a clinical caseload and to offer evidence based therapies in line with NICE guidelines.
8. To provide clinical supervision and line management for other members of staff such as psychologists, therapists, clinical associates in psychology and peer support workers.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training Essential
Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and able to demonstrate eligibility for BPS CPsychol (Chartered Psychologist) Or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) or BPS statement of Equivalence and able to demonstrate eligibility for BPS CPsychol (Chartered Psychologist) Or Accredited training as a CBT Therapist, and Core mental health profession, or a demonstrable working knowledge of NHS values, clinical structures in secondary mental health care, referral pathways, how services are funded and the roles of NHS professionals Registration: Full registration with one of: 1. HCPC (Psychologists and Arts Therapists) 2. BABCP 3. UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
Desirable
Further training or qualifications in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice relevant to the post, eg supervision, therapeutic models used in eating disorder etc
Experience Essential
Substantial experience of specialist assessment, formulation and treatment of clients experiencing eating disorders. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the range of care settings, including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the treat of physical abuse. Experience in working in multidisciplinary settings and representing a psychological perspective in teams and services.
Desirable
Experience of the application of psychological interventions in different cultural contexts. Experience in contributing to service development, redesign and improvements in secondary mental health services. Experience working in the NHS.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
To be able to deliver highly specialist therapy using two or more relevant models, from amongst the following, in order of preference: 1.CBT-E 2.MANTRA, SSCM or FPT 3.Other models used on complex eating disorders, eg CFT, DBT, CAT, Schema, IPT Able to draw upon a theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of highly complex facts and situations, requiring sustained and intense concentration, to arrive at appropriate formulation and compare and select from a range of treatment options. An in depth knowledge and skills in applying clinical risk assessment and management in own and others' clinical caseload, including eating disorder related risk. Able to communicate at a high level verbally and in writing highly complex, technical and sensitive information to clients, families, carers, and a range of professionals and lay people within and outside the NHS. Interpersonal and communication skills to facilitate forming effective collaborative networks within the trust and with external agencies in the interests of client care.
Desirable
Highly developed knowledge of the theory and delivery of highly specialised psychological practice relevant to eating disorders.
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 East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address Mile End Hospital
1st Floor Burdett House,
Mile End, London
E1 4DG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)