NHS
Psychotherapist, Practitioner Psychologist & Psychological Therapist
This job is now closed
Job Description
- Req#: C9334-25-0828?language=en&page=46&sort=publicationDateDesc
- Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration
- Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice relevant to older peoples mental health 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 relevant to older peoples mental health, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
- Completed training course in clinical supervision
- Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline eg HCPC/UKCP/ACP/BABCP and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in older people's mental health service
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in older people's mental health
- Competency in the selection, administration, scoring, interpretation and dissemination of neuropsychological assessments in relation to neurodegenerative disorders and evidence of regular supervised practice in these
- 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
- Experience of using psychological formulations for the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for older people's mental health
- Specialist knowledge and understanding of theory and practice of assessment and intervention with Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathologies in later life and the evidence base for their treatment
- Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics as applied to neurodegenerative disorders associated with later life
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to older adults 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
- To deliver psychological assessments and interventions to older people 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 services users and groups and carers, and for meetings
- Consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups and sensitively managing, a number of people's needs simultaneously within the context of therapeutic work/consultation
- To determine caseload and time allocation according to clinical/service priorities and to plan the allocation of tasks to trainees and assistant psychologists
- Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- 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
- Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration
- Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice relevant to older peoples mental health 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 relevant to older peoples mental health, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
- Completed training course in clinical supervision
- Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline eg HCPC/UKCP/ACP/BABCP and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in older people's mental health service
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in older people's mental health
- Competency in the selection, administration, scoring, interpretation and dissemination of neuropsychological assessments in relation to neurodegenerative disorders and evidence of regular supervised practice in these
- 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
- Experience of using psychological formulations for the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for older people's mental health
- Specialist knowledge and understanding of theory and practice of assessment and intervention with Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathologies in later life and the evidence base for their treatment
- Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics as applied to neurodegenerative disorders associated with later life
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to older adults 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
- To deliver psychological assessments and interventions to older people 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 services users and groups and carers, and for meetings
- Consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups and sensitively managing, a number of people's needs simultaneously within the context of therapeutic work/consultation
- To determine caseload and time allocation according to clinical/service priorities and to plan the allocation of tasks to trainees and assistant psychologists
- Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- 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
Job summary
Are you passionate about promoting psychological approaches to care? Do you have a genuine interest in improving the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers? Do you want to join a dementia pathway where 95% of patients and carers rate their experience as good or very good?
We have two posts available in our dementia pathway for a specialist and highly specialist psychologist or psychological therapist. These posts will play a key role in strengthening our interventions for behaviours that challenge (behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and ensuring that all service users and carers on the pathway are offered a range of psychological approaches tailored to their needs.
Both posts benefit from strong clinical and professional support and we will seek to provide training opportunities for successful candidates who are enthusiastic and keen to develop their skills.
This post is an 8A post and will work across the Care Home Intervention and Community Mental health Teams in Croydon, also supporting service development in these pathways.
You may also be interested in applying for a band 7 post (see separate ad) which will work across the Care Home Intervention and Community Mental Health Teams in Lambeth and Southwark
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide specialist skills to their respective Care Home Intervention multi-disciplinary team, supporting the implementation of an evidence-based approach to understanding and addressing BPSD.
They will undertake clinical work in care homes in the respective boroughs, supporting assessment and formulation of the needs of care home residents referred to the team and working collaboratively with care home staff to implement and evaluate care plans. This will include support with training and upskilling of care home staff, and systemic approaches to improving the quality of care for care home residents
In the CMHTs the postholder will lead and support the care pathway that describes a stepped approach to understanding and addressing BPSD for people living in their own homes. This will include skill development across the wider MDT, as well as consultation and direct work on more complex presentations. The post will include supervision responsibilities for more junior psychological practitioners.
The CHIT and CMHTs are operational Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm, although we can offer some flexibility around working hours. Onsite working and community visits are required for this role.
About us
The care home intervention teams work with people over the age of 65 (or those with younger onset dementia) who are resident in care homes, and who display challenging behaviour in the context of dementia or other mental health difficulties. The teams work on the basis that people's behaviour, even when challenging, can be understood, and this understanding often leads the way in identifying unmet needs and in developing good care planning and practice, involving the use of psychosocial interventions
The Community Mental Health Teams for Older Adults work with people over the age of 65 with mental health problems, including those with dementia. Approximately 35% of the team's caseloads are people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, where there is often risk to harm to self or others, risk of care arrangements breaking down, or other factors which make care arrangements more complex.
The team locations are as follows:
Croydon Care Home Intervention Team: 50 Pampisford Road, CR8 2FD
Croydon CMHT: 122 Selhurst Road, SE25 6LL
Both team locations are easily accessible via public transport so driving is not essential for this role.
Details
Date posted
21 August 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
£61,631 to £68,623 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
334-CLI-7399333
Job locations
Croydon Care Home Intervention Team
50 Pampisford Road
Croydon
CR8 2FD
Job descriptionJob description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for service users with dementia and behaviours that challenge (Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia).
To provide culturally appropriate psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To provide reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users and their families.
To select and deliver evidence-based specialist therapeutic interventions, drawing from a spectrum of ideas and models, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions as necessary, based on the highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, couple, family or group.
To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically/psychotherapeutically informed framework for the service.
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 advise other members of the service on specialist psychological/psychotherapeutic care of clients.
To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
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.
To contribute to 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 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.
KR 5 Management and supervision
To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychological practitioners with support from a more senior practitioner.
To supervise trainee psychological practitioners within own area of specialism having completed the relevant Supervision Training.
To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychological practitioners as appropriate.
To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychological practitioners as appropriate.
To provide supervision for the psychological and/or psychotherapeutic work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychological practitioners, and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within older adults mental health services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychological therapy and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance
To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
KR 8 Research and development
To initiate/undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.
To initiate or support and collaborate in research focussing on behaviours that challenge in dementia.
To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to older adults mental health.
To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychological therapist according to professional body and Trust guidelines.
To maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and professional 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 professional body Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/Standards of Proficiency.
KR10 General
To travel to appointments and serve meetings 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 (such as challenging behaviour, abuse etc) and to support others involved in such situations through Trust-wide approaches including Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve.
To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics or Saturday working, within the overall Job Plan.
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for service users with dementia and behaviours that challenge (Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia).
To provide culturally appropriate psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To provide reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users and their families.
To select and deliver evidence-based specialist therapeutic interventions, drawing from a spectrum of ideas and models, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions as necessary, based on the highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, couple, family or group.
To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically/psychotherapeutically informed framework for the service.
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 advise other members of the service on specialist psychological/psychotherapeutic care of clients.
To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
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.
To contribute to 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 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.
KR 5 Management and supervision
To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychological practitioners with support from a more senior practitioner.
To supervise trainee psychological practitioners within own area of specialism having completed the relevant Supervision Training.
To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychological practitioners as appropriate.
To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychological practitioners as appropriate.
To provide supervision for the psychological and/or psychotherapeutic work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychological practitioners, and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within older adults mental health services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychological therapy and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance
To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
KR 8 Research and development
To initiate/undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.
To initiate or support and collaborate in research focussing on behaviours that challenge in dementia.
To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to older adults mental health.
To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychological therapist according to professional body and Trust guidelines.
To maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and professional 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 professional body Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics/Standards of Proficiency.
KR10 General
To travel to appointments and serve meetings 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 (such as challenging behaviour, abuse etc) and to support others involved in such situations through Trust-wide approaches including Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve.
To work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics or Saturday working, within the overall Job Plan.
Person SpecificationPerson Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
Skills and Abilities
Essential
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
Skills and Abilities
Essential
Additional informationDisclosure 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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Croydon Care Home Intervention Team
50 Pampisford Road
Croydon
CR8 2FD
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Croydon Care Home Intervention Team
50 Pampisford Road
Croydon
CR8 2FD
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
About the company
National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.
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