Practitioner Psychologist, Psychotherapist & Psychological Therapist

We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time permanent Principal Psychologist based in the Lewisham Intensive Support Team (0.6 wte) and MHLD Team (0.4wte). We are looking for an experienced psychologist to develop and lead a small multi-professional pathway as part of the Lewisham Intensive Support Team, with some time to work across MHLD as well. This newly developed pathway will work quickly, flexibly and intensively at times of crisis, working closely with service users and their networks. The IST works in conjunction with the wider borough MHLD team sharing decision making about stepping up and stepping down care so that people get the right support at the right time. As the Lead Psychologist you will have the opportunity to develop this service, manage and clinically supervise a small MDT (comprising Behaviour Support Practitioner, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapy and Trainee Clinical Psychologist). You will also have an important role working with the Borough
Lead Psychologist, commissioners and stakeholders to help shape service design and delivery for local adults with learning disabilities and complex behaviour at high risk of placement breakdown. The work is varied and fulfilling, with scope to inform what services look like for local people, and opportunities to work creatively and proactively. You will be be supervised and managed by the MHLD Borough Lead Consultant Psychologist., To develop, co-ordinate and oversee the provision of a MDT service at the Intensive Support Team (IST) and provide highly specialist clinical input in terms of psychological and behavioural support.

To contribute to enabling 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 in working with adults with learning disabilities who require an intensive support provision.

To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychological practitioners within the IST.

To promote service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.

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.

The multi-disciplinary IST pathway provides intensive support to adults with Learning Disabilities, whose behaviour places them at risk of hospital admission, or placement breakdown. The team sits within community Mental Health Learning Disability (MHLD) service in South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and works closely with the community learning disabilities team and other agencies in the borough. The MHLD service is part of the wider Neurodevelopmental Services which is part of the Psychological Medicine and Older Adults (PMOA) Directorate, alongside a range of specialist and local services. You will work closely with Allied Health Professional Leads in Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust, who are involved in the management and professional supervision of the AHPs within the IST.