Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job overview

The Havens is the London’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and we are a longstanding partnership initiative between the Mayors' Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and NHS England to improve the care offered to victims of sexual assault and rape. The service is provided by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The Havens provide comprehensive forensic, medical, advocacy and psychological therapy aftercare services to complainants of serious sexual assault.

We are looking to recruit an experienced, enthusiastic and highly motivated Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join our dedicated, dynamic and growing multidisciplinary team.

The post is suitable for HCPC accredited Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with a proven track record in the provision of clinical supervision in the field of sexual trauma and experience in line managing members of staff.

We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups in the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist field (such as people with disabilities, professionals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds).

The applicant must be available to work on Tuesdays (Haven Therapies Team Day) and also to be able to travel pan London, offer occasional out of hours appointment and possibly also Saturday clinic.

It is also essential to be able to work on-line, via phone as well as in-person on our sites.

Main duties of the job

As a senior member of the Havens therapies team, you will help contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive psychological service and ensure the systematic provision of a high quality specialist therapeutic service to adults who have experienced sexual assault and/or rape alongside external statutory and non-statutory agencies.

The successful candidate will have experience in a comprehensive range of psychological therapies, risk assessment, consultation and training. You will need the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. You will be responsible for providing clinical supervision and line managing members of the team.

The post holder will help develop the Havens therapies service and ensure the development of strong inter-agency relationships is established.

The successful candidate will utilise doctoral level Clinical/Counselling Psychology knowledge in contributing to the development, implementation and review of services for clients and staff. You will work closely and will advise the team, lead psychologists and the Head of the Havens therapies team on aspects of service delivery. You will have a high degree of professional autonomy, enthusiasm, self-management, possessing strong communication and clinical skills.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• To provide highly specialist psychological assessments of patients referred to the Havens, based
  upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources
  including psychological (and neuropsychological) tests, self-report measures, rating scales direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients and other professionals involved in the patient’s care.
• To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans. To provide both general
  and specialist advice on psychological aspects of risk identification and management to the clinical
  team.
• To formulate plans for psychological treatment and/or management, drawing upon an appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy and including CBT models of PTSD and complex trauma. Adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.
• To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals as
  appropriate for problems such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, impulsive behaviour, relationship
  difficulties, sexual dysfunction and other psychological sequelae of sexual assault. Therapy
  approaches will include specialised PTSD therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy, EMDR, systemic
  approaches, psychosexual therapy, communication skills training in the context of reducing
  vulnerability and risk.
• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of
  patients from the therapies service, ensuring appropriate assessment, formulation and interventions,
  communicating with the referral agent and others involved with the patient’s care including the MPS
  and CPS on a regular basis.
• When necessary, provide crisis intervention for those suffering severe emotional and psychological
  reactions to sexual assault and those who are expressing suicidal thoughts or harm related to others
  or themselves.
• To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment,
  formulation and treatment plans of patients and to monitor and evaluate progress.
• To provide an environment that is non-judgemental, sensitive and confidential and to ensure the
  integrity of the psychologist/patient relationship by being a member of a professional organisation
  e.g. HCPC abiding by their Code of Ethics.
• 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 more junior
  psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist.
• To supervise trainee and assistant psychologists.
• To provide line management and contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists.
• To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
• To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
• To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical/counselling psychologist.
  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 contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Havens by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and the Havens and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
• To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published
  articles.
• To continue to gain experience of clinical/counselling psychology including specialist experience
  and skills relevant to sexual assault, sexual health, risk and trauma, as agreed with the Head of
  Havens Therapies.
• To undertake teaching of other health professionals, students and new members of staff.
• To participate in public education, e.g. GPs, medical students, postgraduate doctors, universities,
  community based groups and other professional groups or bodies requesting teaching and training.
• 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 contribute to the effective working of the team and to a psychologically informed framework for
  the service.
• To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent
  services.
• To advise other members of the service on specialist psychology.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or awarded the Statement of Equivalence in Clinical Psychology by the BPS or successful completion of the HCPC Period of Adaptation in Clinical Psychology) including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or experience of providing clinical supervision

Desirable criteria

• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological (relevant to working with sexual trauma) 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.
• Training in the delivery of pre-trial therapy
• Trained in EMDR therapy
• Accredited EMDR Practitioner

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Highly developed knowledge of models of therapy for complex trauma including CBT.
• Ability to manage a broad range of complex clinical work
• Experience of working as a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist in the field of sexual trauma.
• Knowledge of acute (e.g. recent) sexual assault and rape, and issues relevant within this context (including but not limited to safeguarding, criminal justice system / pre-trial therapy, individual and systemic psychosocial needs).
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients who have experienced rape/sexual assault with a wide range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care co-ordinator and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan.
• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in childhood sexual abuse / exploitation.
• Experience of professional and clinical supervision of other clinical psychologists and professional staff.
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, in-patient and out-patient care settings including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups.
• Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.
• Experience of line managing staff

Desirable criteria

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of young people (<18 years old)
• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in patients with physical health problems
• Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area.
• Record of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment including risk assessment and on-referral, intervention and management.
• Therapeutic skills relevant to the evidence-based management of complex trauma including CBT for PTSD.
• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
• 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.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical/counselling psychology.
• 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.
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.

Desirable criteria

• Therapeutic skills and accreditation in EMDR relevant to the evidence-based treatment for PTSD.

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• 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 including entry and analysis of research data.

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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