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

An opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to join the new NELFT Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) service as part of an exciting expansion of CAMHS specialist services within NCEL that align closely to national, regional and local health and care goals and objectives. The role is a 1-year fixed term opportunity (or possible secondment) with the aim of securing further extension into a permanent role with the successful implementation of the service. The post holder will work closely with the DBT Therapists, clinicians and managers across Tier 4 units, CAMHS and crisis teams, the NCEL Provider collaborative and other stakeholders. 

Main duties of the job

The Post holder will support the DBT service aims in providing young people with a consistent, evidence-based therapeutic approach, reduce inpatient admissions and bed days, reduce crisis presentation, reduce incidences of self-harm and suicidal ideation and facilitate smooth transitions from inpatient care back to the DBT Service. The DBT-A service offer would also align the following NCEL core key objectives: 

• Reducing out of area treatment.

• Reducing the length of stay.

• Agreed standards of care and reducing unwarranted variation.

• Identifying need, agreeing new services and procurement.

• To improve the outcome for service users to live life to the best.

The NCEL DBT service offers specialised DBT assessments and interventions to young people and their families referred by CAMHS services. The service is expected to coordinate with CAMHS teams to ensure clear transitions for young people entering or leaving the DBT service and, when appropriate, to support transitions to Adult Services.

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 - London

This post attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,551 and a maximum payment of £5,735 per annum).

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Assisting in the systematic provision of a highly specialised clinical service to service users of the NCEL DBT Service to children and families under the direction of the supervising clinical psychologist. To be responsible for the planning and prioritisation of own workload and activities following the direction and guidelines given by the supervising clinical psychologist. To undertake assessments for the NCEL DBT-A Service delivered from a central base in Barking and Dagenham with potential outreach to Community CAMHS clinics in various localities as required. Act as a fully integrated member of the DBT Service multidisciplinary team (MDT) and contributing to the collaborative care of service users. To work within guidelines given by the supervising DBT Therapist and Principal DBT Therapist

Joining the NELFT's newly established DBT-A team means your expertise and abilities will be highly appreciated. NELFT, recognized in 2021 as a 'Working Families Top Ten Employer' and a RIDI Award winner for 'Making a Difference – Public Sector,' invites you to become part of our team.

We offer the following benefits:

- Structured education, training, and development programs

- Opportunities for leadership, coaching, and mentoring

- An internal lateral transfer scheme

- Flexible and agile working arrangements

- Family-friendly policies and procedures

- A range of staff benefits

- Support and resources for personal health, emotional wellbeing, and work-life balance

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working with children in a professional capacity Previous experience of working with clients within a clinical, social care or educational setting, undertaking therapeutic work or involvement in developmental assessments

Desirable criteria

Previous experience of work with children, young people and their families within more than one clinical social care or educational setting Substantial experience of working therapeutically with children and adolescents Experience working within a multi-disciplinary therapy service under supervision

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Undergraduate level knowledge of psychology including some knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology and models of psychopathology Some knowledge and understanding of the client group with whom the post holder will be working Undergraduate level knowledge of research design and methodology Communication & Relationship Skills Ability to use of interpersonal and communication skills to convey and receive sensitive information effectively, requiring empathy and reassurance, and the ability to overcome barriers to understanding Planning and Organisational Skills Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals

Skills

Essential criteria

To be able to work independently and under supervision in a variety of settings Ability to form therapeutic relationships with children, parents and carers Effective communication skills, verbal and written Ability to work as an effective team member

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.