Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Bentley House CMHH works closely with the rest of the Harrow mental health system (including the Home Treatment and Inpatient teams) to provide holistic intervention to adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. The post holder will join an expanding therapies team, committed to providing highly specialist and trauma-informed psychological care. They will work closely with the full range of MDT professionals, including psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy and peer support. They will play a key role in assessment and formulation, the development of creative multi-disciplinary care plans, and the provision of psychological intervention that follows service users across the Harrow system.

The post-holder will be expected to work as a senior member of the MDT, including the provision of consultation, co-working, teaching, training, supervision and research as well as developing specific training to enhance the systematic provision of psychological interventions offered to service users by all members of the team within a 'stepped-care' framework. They will make a leading contribution to the learning culture of the team and wider service, and play an integral role in the further development and embedding of TIA.

To provide a specialist psychology service to service users of Bentley House Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH), including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the CMHH.

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.

To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients under the care of Bentley House CMHH.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the team or 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.

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 service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

KR 4 Management and supervision

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.

To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.

KR 5 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 the team by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and acute mental health, and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.

KR 6 Record-keeping and Information Governance

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

We are delighted that you are interested in working with us here at CNWL. At CNWL, we work in collaboration with our multidisciplinary colleagues and value the lived experiences of both our staff and service users. CNWL is recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ in line with our values, our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

• A Trust committed to staff personal development, with a trust wide culture change and leadership programme that has staff wellbeing at its core.
• Flexible working.
• Variety of work.
• Access to a variety of CPD opportunities.

Central and North West London (CNWL) Trust is pioneering in its Trauma-Informed Approach (TIA) which focuses on Power Threat Meaning Framework Team Formulation (PTMF), manualised stabilisation interventions and staff training. Over the last year, our CMHH has rolled-out TIA, and the Assistant Psychologists will play an important role in the ongoing development of this work. This project builds on Harrow's innovative TIA work in its acute services over the last six years and is now also influencing National Policy (see NHSE Guidelines for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care for Adults and Older Adults, 2023).

Essential: - Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.; - Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice 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, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.; - Completed training course in clinical supervision.; - Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.

Desirable: - Post-qualification training in supervision and management.

Essential: - Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision.; - Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.; - Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training; - Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.; - Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.

Essential: - Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for acute and crisis presentations; - Theoretical knowledge of psychological presentations and the evidence base for the relevant treatment; - Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.; - Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.; - Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.; - Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Desirable: - High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.

Essential: - To deliver psychological therapy 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 plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.; - To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.; - Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.; - Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups

Essential: - Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.; - Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.; - Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings; - 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.; - 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.; - Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.