To provide specialist psychological interventions to adults with learning disabilities with additional mental health needs and/or behaviour which challenges, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment and to provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate. The post holder will undertake service evaluation, audit and research and work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor. The post holder will contribute psychological expertise within the wider multi-agency context and be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate.
Provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations, and evidence-based clinical interventions for adults with learning disabilities within the MHLD service, working effectively with individuals who present with complex mental health difficulties and challenging behaviours. Operate within the expected professional limits of a Band 7 role, achievable for newly-qualified psychologists. Expertly select, administer, and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological tests, which requires the skilled manipulation of testing materials alongside the integration of highly complex data. Deliver culturally appropriate therapeutic interventions to clients, families, and care networks. Systematically assess and monitor clinical risks, draw up structured management plans, and produce comprehensive reports to inform referrers, families, and multi-disciplinary networks. Utilise a range of theoretical models to deliver evidence-based therapies, carefully modifying and adapting methods based on individual developmental histories. Work as an autonomous professional within service policies, taking complete responsibility for your own caseload, treatment pathways, and final discharge decisions. Communicate highly complex and sensitive information with exceptional skill, actively overcoming distinct sensory or cultural barriers. Act as care coordinator or CPA coordinator when required, taking full responsibility for planning, reviewing care plans, and leading multi-agency meetings.
The Psychology service operates within the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities (MHLD) Service under the Croydon and Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Directorate. Practitioners work under the strategic leadership of the Consultant Clinical Psychologist and borough Team Leaders. Clinical work is delivered within Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark teams, each managed locally by a Team Leader. Clinicians can contribute to service developments and CPD initiatives across the Trust, as agreed with leadership. Geographically, Lambeth and Southwark teams are based at the Maudsley Hospital, while the Lewisham team is based in Catford, co-located with the Lewisham CTLD and employed by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Each borough team comprises Clinical Psychologists, a Behavioural Support Practitioner, Trainee Psychologists, Psychiatrists, CPNs, and Administrators. Staff work in partnership with CTLD health colleagues and social care partners. Service users live alone, with families, or in supported living. Both direct and indirect psychotherapeutic interventions are provided to reduce challenging behaviour, improve mental health, support recovery, and enhance quality of life. Beyond clinical work, consultation and training form a large part of the role, often delivered with the Estia Centre, the Directorate's training component. Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark are diverse inner London boroughs with significant ethnic minority populations.
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
- To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for adults with learning disabilities seen within the MHLD service, including working with people who have mental health difficulties and/or challenging behaviours and their networks, within limits expected at Band 7, i.e. achievable by newly-qualified psychologists after a few months on-the-job training.
- To select, administer and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological tests, requiring skilled manipulation of test materials, and interpretation and integration of complex data.
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological 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, service users, their families and professional network.
- To select and deliver specialist evidence based therapeutic interventions, drawing on a range of theoretical 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 and their network.
- To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.
- To work as an autonomous professional within professional guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively highly complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues taking account of sensory and cultural barriers to communication.
- To act as care coordinator or CPA co-ordinator if required, taking responsibility for planning and reviewing care plans, CPA co-ordination and meetings as required
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
- To contribute to the effective working of the MHLD service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
- To contribute to the team or service’s 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.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
- To liaise with the service/s MDT and other professionals.
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 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.
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 or ordering supplies as needed.
- To ensure the cleanliness and safe functioning and use of equipment that will be used by clients or other persons.
- To monitor and advise clients on the safe use of materials and processes.
- To ensure adequate confidential and safe storage for artefacts produced during the therapy process in line with professional guidelines.
- To be responsible for obtaining, storing and maintaining all materials and equipment for the provision of therapy in work setting within budgetary constraints.
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KR 5 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 completion of the relevant Training Course’s Supervision Training.
- 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 and staff in local services as appropriate.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychological therapy and learning disabilities 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 undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
- To initiate and carry out appropriate research as agreed.
- To provide research advice to other staff undertaking research within the service.
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 ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with professional body and 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 and ensure professional development in line with these.
KR10 General
- To travel to home visits, community placements, psychology 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.
