Job Description
The SLaM Psychology in Hostels (PIH) Service is an innovative multi award-winning specialist homeless psychology service. For 12 years PIH has led in the development of ‘Psychologically Informed Environments’ (PIEs) delivering ‘Trauma Informed Approaches’ and developing best practice for working with excluded and multiply disadvantaged populations across Lambeth and Westminster in partnership with the third sector.
The client population have high levels of multiple needs including cmplex trauma, substance misuse, neurological issues, risk-taking behaviour and contact wiht the criminal justice system. This complex combination of needs leads to multiple social exclusion and barriers accessing mainstream services.
We are recruiting to a Band 7 Psychology / Psychotherapy roles who will support the delivery of PIE services and if it was of interest have the opportunity to be part of the newpioneering Homeless Neuropsychology Pathway we are developing (optional / dependant on interest and experience).
A PIE is any service that integrates a psychologically and trauma-informed approaches into its model (incl. staff support, psychological assessment and treatment). PIH PIE model adopts an Mentalization-Based Treatment approaches as well as other evidence-based approaches (Incl. DBT, CBT, Psychodynamic, Systemic). Here we aim to facilitate recovery by improving MH and wellbeing, reduce substance use, support engagement, reduce evictions and other negative outcomes.
This role will be based in Westminster’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Pathway. 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 psychologists 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, eight Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologists, a Nurse Psychotherapist, an Art Therapist, neuro-homeless GP specialist and several Trainee Clinical Psychologists. This post will be supervised by one of the senior psychologists in the team and the service is also supported by SLaM operational and management structures.
This 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 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, 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 from keyworker housing at selected sites.
- NHS discounts via the Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Counselling services
- Wellbeing events
- Long service awards
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
To provide a specialist psychology 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 expertise in a specialist clinical area, the psychological needs of those experiencing complex needs and multiple disadvantage (incl. homeless people, 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, administer and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological tests, involving skilled manipulation of test materials and high-level analysis of findings from the assessments.
- 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 psychologist or psychotherapist according to HCPC 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 HCPC, BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements.
A full Job Description and Person Specification is attached to the advert.