Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

at  South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Clinical To provide specialist assessments of clients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and management of a childs difficulties and distress, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the childs problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy. To be responsible for implementing a range of therapeutic interventions employed individually and in synthesis, maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses, adjusting and refining formulations or understandings, drawing upon different explanatory models and employing methods of intervention that are based upon evidence of efficacy. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options in line with relevant theoretical and therapeutic models and the factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual.
To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of an individual case load that can include individual, family, and group-based treatment. To provide specialist clinical advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to a childs formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual children and to provide advice to other teams and services on specialist risk assessment and risk management for this client group.
To act as care coordinator, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans including children, their carers, referring agents and others involved the network of care. To communicate, in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of children to parents and carers. To ensure effective communication within the team and share relevant information as required. To implement and participate in crisis intervention measures with families in conjunction with other agencies.
Teaching, Training, and Supervision To participate in individual and team-based clinical supervision as required. To receive regular operational, clinical and professional supervision as appropriate. To provide clinical supervision to trainee psychologists or psychotherapists as appropriate to discipline. To contribute to pre- and post-qualification teaching.
To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings. Training and Development To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy. To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual Performance Appraisal and Development Review (PADR). To undertake personal development as identified in the Personal Development Plan (PDP).
Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological, psychotherapeutic, and organisational matters need addressing. To be involved in recruitment including short listing and interviewing of candidates. To contribute to a culture that is therapeutic, accessible, inclusive and flexible to meet the needs of the local population.
Research and Service Evaluation To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members. To undertake research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research as required. To undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to develop service provision. Other To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders professional and service manager(s).
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice and Trust policies and procedures. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health. To work within policy, professional and legal frameworks at all times and have a clear understanding of ones Code of Professional Conduct, risk assessment and child protection protocols, Mental Health Act and CPA, and Trust clinical policies

Please refer the Job description for details