Job summaryThe SLaM Psychology in Hostels (PIH) Service is an innovative, multi award-winning specialist homeless psychology service. For 13 years, PIH has led the development and delivery of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs), trauma-informed approaches and best practice for working with excluded and multiply disadvantaged populations in partnership with the third sector.
Our client population has high levels of complex trauma, substance misuse, neurological issues, risk-taking behaviour and contact with the criminal justice system, creating multiple exclusions, and significant barriers to accessing mainstream services.
We are recruiting to 2.8 WTE Band 7 posts: one fixed-term post, one fixed-term maternity cover post and one fixed-term secondment/backfill post. Each contract ends on 31 March 2027, with possible extension for the fixed-term post subject to further funding.
These posts will support PIE delivery across Westminster as the embedded clinicians within one or more third-sector service.
PIEs integrate psychological and trauma-informed approaches into service delivery, including staff support, assessment and treatment. PIH uses an equity-centred trauma-informed model, drawing on DBT, CBT, psychodynamic, systemic and community psychology. Working creatively with third-sector partners, we support staff and client recovery by improving mental health and wellbeing, reducing substance use, increasing engagement, and reducing evictions and other negative outcomes.
Main duties of the jobThis role will be based in one or more of Westminster's Rough Sleeping services. The role will support PIH PIE hub hostel sites in developing integrated trauma-informed PIE services.
The post holders will -
- Work closely with housing partners and other therapists to develop PIE approaches.
- Support and train third sector partners and the wider network.
- Offer individual and group clinical work to clients.
- Support assessment and onwards referral to mainstream services.
This Westminster role will sit within a wider Psychology in Hostels team based across Westminster and Lambeth, which includes: Consultant Clinical Lead, a Principal grade psychologist, an administrator, five Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologists and Psychotherapists, eight Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologists and Psychotherapists, a Nurse Psychotherapist, an Art Psychotherapist, neuro-homeless GP specialist and several Trainee Clinical Psychologists. This post will be supervised by one of the senior clinicians in the team and the service is also supported by SLaM operational and management structures.
About usThis post will be based across third sector run accommodation sites within the borough of Westminster and has a team admin base in Brixton close to Brixton Underground Station.
Our Trust headquarters are 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, feel valued and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance.
Some of our benefits include:- Generous pay, pensions and leave packages dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and supporting a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
- Career development with plenty CPD opportunities such as mentoring, coaching, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
- Accommodation, our staff benefit fromkeyworker housing at selected sites.
- NHS discounts via theHealth Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
- Long service awards
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
Job responsibilitiesTo provide a specialist psychological service to adult clients resident in homeless hostels including specialist assessment, psychological therapy, trauma specific interventions, rehabilitation, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:Clinical- To provide psychological support to people experiencing multiple exclusion homelessness (incl. people within homeless accommodation pathway and rough sleepers).
- To provide specialist assessment and clinical formulation to clients with a wide range of mental health needs, including complex trauma, personality disorder, anxiety and depression, addictions, learning difficulties and psychosis.
- To select and deliver evidence-based specialist psychological treatments, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions, drawing on a range of theoretical options.
- To advise other team members and partner services on specialist psychological care of clients.
Teaching, training, and supervision- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior clinician according to Professional and Trust guidelines.
- To provide specialist training in psychological and trauma-informed approaches to care for other professionals as appropriate, particularly to third sector staff, peer support workers, project MDT working with ex-rough sleeper hostels.
- To provide clinical supervision for psychological work undertaken by assistant psychologists, placement students, trainee psychologists and the MDT team as appropriate.
Management, recruitment, policy and service development- To identify any aspects of the service which could be improved and contribute to the service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
- To manage own workload and the agreed workload of junior staff, as required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
- To participate in clinical governance initiatives as agreed by the Directorate clinical governance committee and team.
Research and service evaluation- To lead, support and/or participate in service evaluation, including gathering and analysing output and outcome data, as required.
- To carry out appropriate research to improve the quality of care and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research within the service.
General Responsibilities- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with Professional and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements.
A full Job Description and Person Specification is attached to the advert.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession 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.
- Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline HCPC/APC/ BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP/ADMP-UK
Desirable- Additional training in relevant specialist psychological models (Psychodynamic, MBT, DBT, CAT, Systemic, Narrative).
ExperienceEssential- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in adult mental health (e.g. Addictions/ homelessness /complex trauma/ personality disorder/ mood disorder).
- Experience of engagement of hard-to-reach clients
- Experience of providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- Experience of managing and responding to high levels of risk
- Experience of Complex MDT and Advocacy work
Desirable- Experience of working with homeless people
- Experience of specialist work with trauma and complex trauma.
- Experience of work with substance misuse.
KnowledgeEssential- Awareness of racial diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care.
- Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics (incl. selecting, administering and interpreting neuropsychological tests).
Desirable- Specialist knowledge relevant to work in supported housing settings.
- Masters or Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
Skills and AbilitiesEssential- Ability to work flexibly and creatively to engage clients in hostel settings.
- Highly developed verbal and written communication skills (incl. delivering complex and sensitive information to clients, families and staff).
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision.
- Specialist practitioner skills at level 3 in at least one model of psychotherapy or psychological therapy (CBT, Psychodynamic, MBT, systemic, CAT).
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 (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).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
