Would you like to join an enthusiastic and supportive multi-disciplinary team in an award winning service with a global reputation for research and innovation in the treatment of people with eating disorders?
We would like to invite applications for the post of Assistant Psychologist in the Eating Disorders Inpatient Service. The inpatient service is expected to move to a brand-new purpose-built ward at the Maudsley Hospital later this year, however please note it is currently based at the Bethlem Hospital.
Applicants need a graduate Psychology degree (ideally an MSc) qualifying for Graduate Basis for Registration of the British Psychological Society, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a thorough knowledge of data management and statistical analysis using, for example, Microsoft Office and SPSS. It is preferable if you have some experience of clinical research, and working with people with serious mental illness, especially eating disorders.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, driven, sensitive, responsible individual, with a solid background in psychology and eating disorders to fulfil this role.
To assist practitioner psychologists in the delivery of a specialist applied psychology service at the adult inpatient eating disorder service at the Maudsley Hospital.
To provide clinical work as required by the service, under the direct guidance, close clinical and professional supervision of a qualified psychological therapist.
To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, organising weekly psychology meetings, chairing community weekly meetings on rotation bases, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, assisting in teaching and project work.
To support the role of PEACE pathway champion; co-ordinating and chairing weekly PEACE huddles, focussing on adaptations for neurodivergent patients (this includes conducting and scoring self reported questionnaires, supporting team with case presentations (e.g preparing slides and circulating to multidisciplinary team); participating and supporting organisation of PEACE annual conference (for detailed information see www.peacepathway.org ).
To work following clinical guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, while closely supervised and regularly seeking help from clinical/professional supervisor or manager.
As one of the few Trusts in London, we are proud to offer flexible working and are happy to Discuss this at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 9am to 5pm, giving you the very best of good work life balance.
The inpatient unit is an 18 bed all gender unit Research underpins service protocols which are continuously reviewed according to new developments. The inpatient unit has developed its own novel adjunct therapies including Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT), Cognitive Remediation and Emotion Skills Training (CREST), and evidence informed group therapy program. We are accredited with The Quality Network for Eating Disorders (QED) and the National Autism Society, the first service in the UK to achieve this. The wider Eating Disorders Service has pioneered treatments for eating disorders and are the developers of MANTRA, now recommended as part of NICE 2017 guidelines for the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa, and of FREED.
We offer opportunities for ongoing training and collaboration with colleagues across the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences at King’s College London.
Maudsley Hospital (headquarters)
Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from the beautiful green spaces of Ruskin Park and the vibrant high-street.

JOB PURPOSE:

• To assist practitioner psychologists in the delivery of a specialist applied psychology service at the adult inpatient eating disorder service at the Maudsley Hospital.
• To provide clinical work as required by the service, under the direct guidance, close clinical and professional supervision of a qualified psychological therapist.
• To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, organising weekly psychology meetings, chairing community weekly meetings on rotation bases, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, assisting in teaching and project work.
• To support the role of PEACE pathway champion; co-ordinating and chairing weekly PEACE huddles, focussing on adaptations for patients with neurodiversity (this includes conducting and scoring self reported questionnaires, supporting team with case presentations (e.g preparing slides and circulating to multidisciplinary team); participating and supporting organisation of PEACE annual conference (for detailed information see www.peacepathway.org).
• To work following clinical guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, while closely supervised and regularly seeking help from clinical/professional supervisor or manager.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

• To provide psychological assessments for inpatients under the close supervision of a qualified psychological therapist including psychometrics, neuropsychological profiles and patient histories.
• To provide protocol based (manualised) individual psychological interventions for inpatients including Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) and Cognitive Remediation Therapy and Emotion Skills Training (CREST), under close supervision.
• To arrange, schedule and co-facilitate protocol based group psychological interventions for inpatients on topics including flexibility, emotion regulation, positive communication, body image, self-esteem, perfectionism, sensory wellbeing, and to contribute to virtual Carers’ Workshops.
• To assist the psychological therapy team in the development/preparation of individual or group clinical materials or training materials.
• To support patients to gain confidence in eating meals/snacks in the community and with their loved ones.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

• To contribute to the effective working of the inpatient eating disorder service (creating databases to track processes or progress through pathways and keeping them up-to-date; contributing to the training and support of other staff in developing and providing psychological care of patients).
• To act in a manner that supports a psychologically informed framework for the service.
• To participate in the team or service’s delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

KR 3 Policy and service development

• To follow policies and procedures in own area of work
• To participate in 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 carefully, the Trust’s equipment and physical resources.
• To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting supplies as needed.
• To be responsible for the safe-keeping of databases of outcome data, SPSS licence update, preparing copies of outcome measures ready for admissions and discharges. The post holder will be responsible for informing the supervising psychologist or manager when stock requires replenishing (e.g. psychometric tests, specialised stationery etc.).

KR 5 Teaching and Training

• To participate in demonstrating work methods to newly recruited Assistant Psychologists and to support their development of necessary skills.
• To assist/disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations or published articles co-authored with other clinical/research colleagues.
• To support the role of PEACE pathway champion, co-ordinating and chairing weekly PEACE huddle (our pathway for patients with comorbid autism or autism spectrum traits) and to contribute case studies to discuss treatment adaptations within the team and wider ED service.

KR 6 Record-keeping and Information Governance

• To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
• Under the supervision of a qualified psychological therapy practitioner to maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
• To maintain data bases and enter data and perform analyses and produce reports.

KR 7 Research and development

• To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects to inform the service, psychologist and others in the development of Trust psychology and other services, training provision and research activities.
• To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
• To assist submitting forms for service innovation projects to clinical governance committee.
• To support ongoing co production work with the patients and families. To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist in the development in the Trust of evidence-based practice.
• Under guidance to conduct surveys with service users and carers to gather views on service provision

KR 8 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

• To receive regular clinical and professional supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post-holder is employed.
• To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
• To undertake personal training relevant to the post in agreement with the supervising psychological therapist and the manager.

KR 9 General

• To travel to Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience King’s College London and Maudsley hospital as well as other clinics 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, in particular distress around eating and feeding, trauma, deliberate self-harm as well as the interpersonal difficulties demonstrated by patients and to support others involved in such situations.
• To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late working if appropriate, within the overall Job Plan.