Job summary
EQUIP provides an assertive and responsive service to adults aged 18 - 65 for up to 3 years during their recovery from a first episode of psychosis. The service covers the City of London and London Borough of Hackney. Emphasis is placed on maximising wellbeing and on social, psychological, physical and educational/vocational recovery. The team works to standards set for early intervention in psychosis teams and participates in the annual National Clinical Audit on Psychosis. The team also works closely with the early detection team, HEADS UP, which provides support to those who are at risk of developing psychosis, and actively connects with local community groups in order to improve detection rates of this group.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work alongside clinical psychologists already in post to support individuals and their families in line with NICE guidelines for psychosis and schizophrenia. The post holder will be part of the EQUIP Team and will receive support from senior psychologists within the team as well as the wider City and Hackney psychology department.

About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist clinical/counselling psychology service to EQUIP patients, providing psychological assessment and therapy at the same time as offering advice, supervision, training and consultation on patients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other workers; working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the service/team.

Qualifications
Essential

• Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by BPS or Doctorate in Counselling Psychology
• Registered with Health Professions Council as a (Clinical/Counselling) Psychologist

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups across the whole life course and presenting problems which reflect the full range of clinical severity.
• Experience of work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters. Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering CBT-based psychological assessment and intervention with clients experiencing a range of complex needs, within the context of at-risk mental state and/or early intervention for psychosis
• Experience of working with families and carers, and of delivering family therapy following a theoretical model
• Experience of working with people experiencing psychosis

Knowledge
Essential

• Evidence of CPD as recommended by the BPS
• Knowledge of legislation in relation mental health

Desirable

• Highly-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies - preferably CBT and one other

Skills
Essential

• Highly developed skills in the effective communication of highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide variety of recipients in a range of settings within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce comprehensive and coherent letters, reports and associated documentation
• Skills in working in multidisciplinary settings
• Ability to provide a culturally competent and non-stigmatising service including an awareness of the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours
• Demonstrably respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, other professional contacts. Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionally.

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.

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. 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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.