Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Highly Specialist Psychological Therapist to join our complex emotional needs therapies service. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an established therapies team, in addition the role also expands to working closely with Lewisham community teams to develop stepped care programmes and integrate Trauma informed approaches in how we deliver mental health care.

Main duties of the job
To manage and supervise junior psychological therapists, to offer highly specialised psychological assessments and treatments. To develop and lead in stepped care and trauma informed approaches with community mental health teams.

About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role.We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.

Details
Date posted: 07 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £66,274 to £73,496 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 334-CLI-8082724
Job locations: The Lind Clinic, Grove Street, London, SE8 3RA, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To provide a highly specialist psychological interventions using CAT/Schema/HI CBT/EMDR/Psychodynamic modalities, etc working with those presenting with complex emotional mental health needs. Including carrying out specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
• To manage band 7/6/5 psychological therapists.
• To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist for HI therapies pathway.
• To promote service evaluation, audit and research.
• To lead and work collaboratively with community MDTs in implementing stepped care for complex presentations.
• To lead and work collaboratively with community MDTs to invest in a culture and practice of Trauma informed care frameworks and principles.
• To 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 interpreting policies within defined parameters.
• To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.
• To 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.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• For Psychologists: . Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.For Psychotherapists: Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the APC/BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP (specify which, according to nature of post) for purposes of professional registration.

Desirable

• Further training in CAT, Schema, EMDR,

Experience
Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
• Experience of supervising assistants, trainees and junior qualified clinicians; having completed the relevant supervisors training
• Experience in working with community mental health teams and other stakeholders
• Experience in implementing stepped care for complex presentations in community teams
• Experience in implement TiC framework and principles in community teams

Desirable

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist in a specialist therapy modality such as CAT, High intensity CBT, Schema, etc.

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care. To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for those presenting with complex emotional needs. Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and it's therapeutic application. Associated awareness of assessment
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• Knowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to working with complex emotional needs population
• oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.

Desirable

• Knowledge of TiC framework and principles
• Knowledge about rolling out stepped care for complex presentations

Skills
Essential

• To select and administer specialist 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
• 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

Desirable

• Demonstrates skills in their ability to implement TiC framework and principles
• Demonstrates skills in rolling out stepped care for complex presentations

Ability
Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team role
• 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 identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of staff support eg provision of reflective practice and formulation groups for multi-disciplinary teams

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 contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Principal Counselling Psychologist
Rukeya Khanam
rukeya.khanam@slam.nhs.uk