IAPT Lewisham is looking for an enthusiastic, conscientious and creative Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) with excellent clinical skills to join our large, well established service.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Qualified PWP who is proficient in the delivery of telephone triage assessments and CBT-based guided self-help interventions, to pursue special interests, including community based projects, workshops and groups; supported by regular case management supervision from an experienced clinician.
Clinical skills groups providing an opportunity to develop clinically, and a chance to reflect and share experience.
About the team:
We provide Psychological care to an inner-city borough of rich cultural diversity as well as high social and psychological needs and are able to offer our clients a range of modalities as well as CBT, including IPT and DIT.
We aim to provide patient-centred, responsive and high quality psychological health and well-being services; with high quality clinical governance structures and systems to ensure this and support our staff.
We are a friendly and welcoming service and pride ourselves on valuing our team members, listening to their views, drawing upon their skills and strengths and supporting them in their development, through regular CPD events, often jointly with our colleagues in other SLaM IAPT services.
The post-holder will work within the IAPT Lewisham service, providing high volume low intensity interventions, consisting of a range of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based self-management interventions, to clients with anxiety and depression. Interventions will be on an individual basis and in groups.
The post-holder will carry out telephone and face to face assessments; guided self help treatments including cCBT. There will be opportunities to pursue special interests including community based projects, workshops and groups.
The post-holder will work with people of different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities. The post-holder will be based in various sites across the Borough of Lewisham.
This post affords opportunity for involvement in, and contribution to service development.
Trainee PWPS, approaching the end of their training, will also be considered. Proof of successful course completion will be required before progress into the band 5 position is confirmed.
We work from several bases across Lewisham. Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). We also provide services and operate across other locations, such as London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; and substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Lambeth, Greenwich and Wandsworth.
Benefits :
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It’s important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer. Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
Generous pay, pensions and leave
Work life balance
Career development
Car lease
Accommodation
NHS discounts
Job Description and Main Responsibilities:
1) Clinical: To accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service and develop programmes of care. To assess and support people with common mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery. To undertake patient-centred interviews which identify areas where the person wishes to see change and/or recovery and make an accurate assessment of risk to self and others, both face to face and on the
telephone. Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service's referral protocols, referring unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary, or stepping up the person's treatment to high intensity psychological therapy. Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach. To educate and involve family members and others in treatment as
necessary.
2) Provide a range of information and support for evidence based high-volume-lowintensity psychological treatments. This may include guided self-help and computerised CBT. This work may be face to face, telephone or via other media. Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process. Operate at all
times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises and respects diversity.
3) Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient. To attend multidisciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
4) To complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service. To keep up to date, coherent and accurate records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.
5) Prepare and present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to clinical/case management supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the clinical governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are delivered. Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in clinical practice. Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competencies and clinical practice.
6) Professional: Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating body, and keep up to date on new
recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health. Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times. Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in low intensity treatment of common mental health problems.
7) Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development. Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives. Keep up to date records in relation to Continuing Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest low intensity
theoretical and service delivery models/developments. Attend relevant
conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
8) General: To contribute to the development of best practice within the service. To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
9) All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health and safety of colleagues, patients and the general public. All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed by both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and the Security and Confidentiality Policies. It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek
advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.
10) The job description does not provide an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder in the light of service development.
