Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• To manage the psychology waiting list and the psychology provision at one of the Havens sites, which offers medical care and other follow up services including psychological interventions, to those who have been raped and sexually assaulted.
• To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the CYP Psychology Service at the Havens including:Specialist assessment and clinical formulation of children and adolescents who have experienced sexual assault, rape or who have been sexually exploited.
• To include psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales,direct and indirect structured / semi-structured and unstructured observations and interviews with the client, family members and others involved in their care.
• Specialist evidence-based, medium term, intervention for children and adolescents traumatised by sexual abuse, monitoring outcomes andmodifying / adapting intervention as required and drawing on a range of theoretical options, and supporting their transition to local services where appropriate.
• Undertaking liaison psychology with The Havens and borough services, including:Advocates; local borough CAMHS teams; local charity and third sector services; local early support services; and local IAPTS and school counsellors.
• To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
• To assess risk using standardised tools, and to develop and implement risk management plans on the basis of this information.
• To communicate skilfully, complex and sensitive information with clients, parents, carers, and colleagues taking account of sensory, developmental and cultural barriers to communication.
• To prepare written reports.
• To work as an autonomous professional within Health Professions Council (HPC), BPS and/or BABCP guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.
• To attend regular clinical supervision. Administrative Responsibilities
• To ensure the highest standards of clinical record keeping, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the relevant professional body, e.g. HCPC and Trust policies and local procedures.
• The post holder must maintain the confidentiality about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Code of Confidentiality or Personal Health Data, the professional body Code of Conduct and Trust Policy.
• To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
• To contribute to the maintenance and update of Haven protocols and guidelines, where appropriate. Management and supervision
• To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
• To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism, after 2 years post qualification and upon completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training.
• To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate. Self-Care and Wellbeing
• A key aspect of working with trauma is to attend to our own emotional needs and wellbeing. This can take a variety of forms, both inside and outside work, and is a continuous practice. This would be an important consideration as part of your role and is highlighted in BPS guidelines. Teaching and Training
• To provide occasional specialist training in psychological approaches to care to other professions as appropriate.
• To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
• To continue to gain experience of clinical/counselling psychology (where relevant) including specialist experience and skills relevant to sexual assault, sexual health, risk and trauma, as agreed with the Lead for the Havens Psychology and Counselling service.
• To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues relation to the specific patient group.
• To ensure the development and articulation of best practice in psychology within the service area and contribute across the service by exercising the skills of a reflexive and reflective practitioner and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of psychology and related disciplines. Contributing to the Team
• To work closely with the senior Clinical Psychologists in post within the CYP Psychology Service at the Havens, in addition to the other members of the CYP Psychology Service and CYP Advocacy Service, in the delivery of psychological services.
• To liaise closely with The Havens and local services, in order to: develop, implement and review care plans; advise on the specialist psychological care of clients; contribute to the effective working of the team and to a psychologically informed framework relevant to patient care in a highly specialist forensic medical area.Additionally, to ensure strong inter-agency relationships and communication is developed and maintained.
• To work closely with the senior Clinical Psychologists, other members of the CYP Psychology Service, CYP Advocacy and CYP Medical Service to support the services development of strong advisory, formal consultation and intervention skills.
• To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
• To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
• To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans. Research, Policy and Service Development
• To implement policies and procedures in own area of work.
• To identify any aspects of the service which could be improved and contribute to the service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects, in close collaboration with the senior Clinical Psychologists in post within the CYP Psychology Service, the Head of Havens Therapies Service, and the Havens Senior Management Team.
• To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
• To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
• To further the practice of Clinical Psychology/CBT therapy in Sexual Trauma and Assault through: o Contributing to the development of services through undertaking serviceevaluation and audit.
• Conducting appropriate research to improve the quality of care and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research within the service.
• Contributing to the development of systematic outcome measurement, assessment, and therapeutic intervention, and assisting other staff in the implementation of same.
• Disseminating research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles. Contributing to policy review and development, and clinical governance, as appropriate. Professional Standards and Continuing Professional Development
• To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist within the CYP Psychology Service at the Havens (or from an accredited CBT therapist where relevant).
• To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and/or BABCP 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 or BABCP 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. Care or Management of Resources
• To take care of, and use carefully, 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.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• For Practitioner Psychologists - Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the HCPC/BPS or expect to have registration by commencement of the post, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• For Senior CBT Therapist - Minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology) and/or a registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject (e.g. medicine, psychology, social work) from a UK university or overseas professional qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates without a degree, but with a minimum of three years professional experience in a CAMHS (or equivalent) setting together with a relevant professional qualification will also be considered.
• Postgraduate qualification in cognitive behaviour therapy.
• Full Accreditation with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy.
• Registration with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy.
• Training in evidence-based assessment and intervention for trauma
• Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) or with BABCP

Desirable

• Training in evidence-based risk assessment and management.
• Training in evidence-based assessment and intervention for child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation
• Training in childhood disorders which impact on communication (e.g. neurodevelopmental disorder, developmental disorders, learning disability, speech and language impairment or other communication difficulties

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology commonly found within children and adolescents who have experienced child sexual abuse/assault and exploitation, and the evidence base for treatment of such difficulties.
• Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics, including that relevant for children and adolescents (across the age range) who have experienced child sexual abuse/assault and exploitation.
• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
• Specialist psychological knowledge relevant to working with: child sexual abuse / assault and or exploitation; trauma; and / or risk of harm.
• Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs
• Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature, both at an individual and system (e.g. with parents/carers, schools) level
• Experience of working with children and adolescents whom have experienced child sexual abuse / assault / exploitation
• Experience of completing clinical interviews with children and adolescents across the age range and with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature, including those who have experienced child sexual abuse / assault / exploitation.
• Experience of risk assessment and management.
• Consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups within own service, and other agencies (including the police and Children's Social Care).
• Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment and intervention for trauma.
• Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience

Desirable

• Experience of developing and carrying out service audit and research projects including entry and analysis of research data.
• Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment and intervention for clients presenting following child sexual abuse / assault and exploitation.
• Experience of clinically interviewing children and adolescents who have experienced child sexual abuse / assault or exploitation, or trauma, including adapting communication style and method to facilitate engagement and communication.
• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
• Experience of using structured risk assessment protocols and measures.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Skills in application of psychological assessments and interventions in a specialist area relevant to children and adolescents who have experienced child sexual abuse / assault or exploitation.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment including risk assessment and on-referral, intervention and management.
• 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 high level ability to communicate effectively at both a written and oral level complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS.
• 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.
• Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC/BABCP.
• Ability to plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists
• Skills in the application of evidence-based assessment and intervention for trauma and/or child sexual abuse, i.e. TF-CBT or EMDR
• Therapeutic skills relevant to the evidence-based management of complex trauma including CBT for PTSD.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological phenomena, an interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical/counselling psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services.
• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'hold' the stress of others.
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
• Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
• Well-developed IT skills.

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 .

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 .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Havens Pan London - Camberwell,

Camberwell, Ladbroke Grove, Whitechapel

London

SE5 9RS

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