Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join our dedicated multi-disciplinary North East London NHS Foundation Trust SET CAMHS Community Eating Disorders Service. 

The Eating Disorder service provides the latest in evidence based NICE compliant psychological interventions to children/young people and their families with an Eating Disorder. Unlike many other mental health services we offer specialist assessment within 7 days or 28 days for routine assessment and commence treatment after assessment. 

We welcome applications from psychology graduates who would like to develop their knowledge and skills and have a passion for working with children and young people with eating disorders. 

The successful applicant will be part of an MDT. We are seeking an individual with the knowledge and skills to work as part of a multi-professional team and be innovative in their approach to supporting this client group. The role includes clinical, research and audit aspects.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

To undertake, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, protocol based psychological assessments of clients, including the use of self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care.

To assist in the formulation and delivery of routine care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the direct supervision of a qualified psychologist/psychological therapist.

To manage an ongoing programme of audit of outcomes from treatment involving measures administered to clients and their care givers at multiple stages during their care journey.

To analyse this data and contribute to the production of reports of outcomes for the team and for commissioners.

Working for our organisation

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement – Fringe

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,122 per annum pro rata).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful applicant will contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holder’s professional and team/operational manager(s). The successful applicant will maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.

The post holder is expected to work well within a team setting and operate within recognised professional guidelines and the overall framework of the eating disorder service’s policies and procedures.

There will be an opportunity within this role to support the delivery of evidence based group activities and treatment for clients. We actively encourage a team approach and are interested in informing new treatments for eating disorders.

Please refer to attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based system.

Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Person specification

Assessment Criterions (see JD/PS)

Essential criteria

Essential Knowledge Essential Experience Essential Skills Personal Qualities

Desirable criteria

Desirable Qualif Desirable Skills Desirable Experience

Qualifications

Essential criteria

An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable criteria

Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

Essential criteria

Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities

Desirable criteria

Experience of paid work in direct care provision.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

High level communication skills (written and verbal). Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities. An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of Eating Disorders

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.