About this role
Job summary
A highly valued and well supported Band 8a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist working on Hayworth and Aubrey Lewis 1 (AL1) acute admission wards for older people.
Main duties of the job
Hayworth (based at Ladywell Unit, Lewisham) and AL1 (based at the Maudsley Hospital) provide multidisciplinary assessment and treatment to older people experiencing acute functional (non-organic) mental health difficulties.
You will provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and therapeutic interventions for clients. Where indicated you will undertake cognitive and neuropsychological assessment. This will involve working closely with your multi-disciplinary colleagues to develop plans that are informed by the evidence base and an understanding and formulation of the person's needs and preferences.
You will work with the carers or families of clients and in this regard, work with your team members to provide a culturally competent and person-centred service.
As a member of the leadership team you will contribute to the effective working of the multi-disciplinary team and to a psychologically informed framework for the service. You will have a key role supporting the wider staff team in response to emotionally distressing situations
You will supervise more junior staff from psychological professions
You will initiate and evaluate service development and evaluation on the unit using appropriate methodology eg QI which you will share internally within SlaM and externally as presentations and publications.
About us
As the psychologist on Hayworth ward and Aubrey Lewis 1 ward you will join a committed multidisciplinary team which include psychological professions, psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. The teams work collaboratively and value the role of psychologists and psychological therapists.
In this role you will also join a committed and friendly group of psychologists and psychological therapists who are passionate about working with older people and their families.
Job description Job responsibilities
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the Aubrey Lewis 1/Hayworth acute ward for older peoples mental health at clinical skills levels expected of an applied psychologist who has achieved the equivalent of a PG Diploma-worth of post-qualification specialist development.
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 act as an integrated member of the wards multidisciplinary team taking clinically autonomous responsibility for ensuring that psychological aspects of patient care are addressed.
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
To contribute to the effective working of the team and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
To contribute to the teams delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
To be proactive in challenging discrimination and to support the development of culturally competent services.
To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.
To liaise with referrers, 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 direct clinical work and work with other team members.
KR 3 Policy and service development
To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and through appropriate governance processes, to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
KR 4 Care or management of resources
To take care of, and use appropriately, 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.
KR 5 Management and supervision
To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist.
To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.
To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
To contribute to the recruitment of junior psychologists, as appropriate.
To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within older adults mental health services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and psychological therapies 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 initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.
To initiate and carry out appropriate and to support/collaborate in wider research aligned with the Older Adults Clinical Academic Group.
To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to older adults mental health.
To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.
To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC 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 the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.
To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
KR10 General
To travel to clinical appointments and service 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 and to support others involved in such situations.
To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics or Saturday working, within the overall Job Plan.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I) Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. (A/I)
Desirable
Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice relevant to older peoples mental health through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice relevant to older peoples mental health, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I/R) Post qualification training in Clinical Neuropsychology or evidence of supervised clinical practice. Completed training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)
Experience Essential
Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in health services relevant to older people's mental health services. (A/I) Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature relevant to older people's mental health. (A/I) Experience of offering supervision to Assistant or Trainee Psychologists or other professional groups (A/I) Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I) Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)
Desirable
Experience of working in acute mental health care settings Experience of the design, delivery and evaluation of psychological interventions using groups. Experience of using psychological formulations for the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia Competency in the selection, administration, scoring, interpretation and dissemination of neuropsychological assessments in relation to neurodegenerative disorders and evidence of regular supervised practice in these. (A/I/R)
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for older people's mental health (A/I/R) Theoretical knowledge of psychopathologies in later life and the evidence base for their treatment (A/I/R) Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics as applied to neurodegenerative disorders associated with later life. (A/I/R) Knowledge of legislation in relation to older adults and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R) Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I/R)
Skills Essential
To deliver psychological assessments and interventions to older people across cultural and other differences. To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. 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. To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews To determine caseload and time allocation according to clinical/service priorities and to plan the allocation of tasks to trainees and assistant psychologists.
Abilities Essential
Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I/R) Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R) Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I/R) 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)
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 Ladywell Unit
Lewisham High Street
London
SE13 6LW
Employer's website https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)