Specialist Psychologist/Psychological Therapist/Psychotherapist

Job summary

o We are seeking a motivated and skilled Band 7 clinician to join the Parenting Well with Psychosis Project (PWP), a 3 year partnership funded by the Maudsley Charity as part of their Living Well with Psychosis Programme. This is a new exciting opportunity to make a difference and shape future service deliveryo The PWP project aims to bridge the gap between CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and Adult Mental Health services by bringing together the Helping Families Team and SLAM's Early Intervention Psychosis teams across Croydon, Lewisham, Lambeth, and Southwark, with the goal of providing integrated care and support for parents with first episode psychosis.o Partnership working with Peer Supporters and lived experience networks in project development, delivery and evaluationo Delivery of evidence-based parenting interventions for parents with mental illness.o Delivery of co-delivered professional training in "Think Family" principles, focusing on the needs of children and young people impacted by parental mental illnesso Deliver specialist parenting group interventionso You will be a compassionate and motivating team member with some supervisory responsibilities of junior colleagueso You will enable staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to contributing to a psychologically safe environment.

Main duties of the job

o To provide a specialist psychological assessment and interventions for parents experiencing mental illness, including psychosis, within the HFT.o Confident and skilled in engaging with parents who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties and are likely to have had significant input from a range of services over a long period of time.o Contribute to creating culturally-sensitive frameworks to ensure Black and other communities are invited to contribute meaningfully to the project.o Ability to create supportive, connected, facilitative, influential and purposeful partnerships with families, colleagues and multi-agencies.o Ability to assess, manage clinical risk, and child and adult safeguarding.o Delivery of specialist co-led parenting group interventionso To promote psychological support for carers (or families as appropriate) of referred clients.o Contribution to service evaluation, audit and researcho Contribute to reporting to Maudsley Charity and Stakeholders.

About us

About our locations: Maudsley Hospital (headquarters) Helping Families Team are based in the Michael Rutter Centre on the Maudsley Hospital site. Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from the beautiful green spaces of Ruskin Park and the vibrant high-street that offers great shopping opportunities and with a wide range of restaurants. We provide services across the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham, Croydon and Southwark. (Due to move to the Pears Maudsley Children and Young People (PMCYP) at the Maudsley Hospital in early 2026)Early Intervention Services: Within the Trust, each of the four boroughs has a stand-alone Early Intervention service (Lewisham: LEIS; Southwark: STEP; Croydon: COAST; Lambeth: LEO). The teams are located in different sites.

Flexible working:As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 8am to 6pm giving you the very best of good work life balance. (this may include working early mornings, late evenings or some Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post)

Details

Date posted

18 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

36 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7619847

Job locations

Michael Rutter Centre

DeCrespigny Park

London

SE5 8AZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Parenting Well with Psychosis Project has been funded by the Maudsley Charitys Living Well with Psychosis Programme which funds initiatives and research to improve the treatment and support the recovery of people affected by psychosis. The Charity also has a focus on work that supports families and carers, and addresses inequalities in the experiences of racialised communities with mental health services. Social deprivation, discrimination and racial trauma are all linked to an increased likelihood of developing a psychotic illness. In southeast London, rates of psychosis are up to two times higher than the UK national average, some of the highest rates in Europe with Black men and women disproportionately affected both in prevalence and in their experience of mental health services and treatment. The clinician will contribute to the development and co-ordination of the provision of the culturally-sensitive Parenting Well with Psychosis project. The clinician will work clinically within the Helping Families Team and within the partnership holding a caseload The team will be an example of the Trust Think Family Strategy in practice where integrated care and partnership working are fundamental to whole family assessment, intervention and change. The post-holder will develop excellent working partnerships with the four Early Intervention services across the Trust The program emphasizes diversity and inclusion, promoting access to parenting resources for marginalized communities. The project will commit to ensuring families from local Black communities, who are disproportionately affected by a diagnosis of psychosis, are invited to contribute to the design, delivery, evaluation as well as be in receipt of the programme as part of their care plan. We employ the Family Partnership Model as a framework to create partnerships, to promote respectful and honest engagement with families and professionals. Support the development of the Think Family professional training focusing on empowering practitioners to consider the needs of children and young people impacted by parental mental illness. Co-delivery of Being a Parent-Enjoying Family Life parenting groups, an evidence-based, 10-week parenting group intervention for parents dealing with mental health difficulties co-delivered by peer supporters and clinicians. The intervention will empower parents by building family resilience, supporting them to mentalise their experiences of being a parent and increasing their confidence in parenting their children. Attend group and individual clinical supervision and team reflective practice. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment Contribute to the evaluation of the project alongside peer supporters and service users. To follow systems that are in place to support the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychologists and multi-disciplinary colleagues within the Parenting Well team Be able to follow National and Trust child and adult safeguarding guidance and manage clinical risk of families being supported by the project. To contribute to various stages of the project implementation and evaluate through focus groups, interviews, and quantitative measures, with the aim of fostering long-term change and integrated care across mental health services.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Parenting Well with Psychosis Project has been funded by the Maudsley Charitys Living Well with Psychosis Programme which funds initiatives and research to improve the treatment and support the recovery of people affected by psychosis. The Charity also has a focus on work that supports families and carers, and addresses inequalities in the experiences of racialised communities with mental health services. Social deprivation, discrimination and racial trauma are all linked to an increased likelihood of developing a psychotic illness. In southeast London, rates of psychosis are up to two times higher than the UK national average, some of the highest rates in Europe with Black men and women disproportionately affected both in prevalence and in their experience of mental health services and treatment. The clinician will contribute to the development and co-ordination of the provision of the culturally-sensitive Parenting Well with Psychosis project. The clinician will work clinically within the Helping Families Team and within the partnership holding a caseload The team will be an example of the Trust Think Family Strategy in practice where integrated care and partnership working are fundamental to whole family assessment, intervention and change. The post-holder will develop excellent working partnerships with the four Early Intervention services across the Trust The program emphasizes diversity and inclusion, promoting access to parenting resources for marginalized communities. The project will commit to ensuring families from local Black communities, who are disproportionately affected by a diagnosis of psychosis, are invited to contribute to the design, delivery, evaluation as well as be in receipt of the programme as part of their care plan. We employ the Family Partnership Model as a framework to create partnerships, to promote respectful and honest engagement with families and professionals. Support the development of the Think Family professional training focusing on empowering practitioners to consider the needs of children and young people impacted by parental mental illness. Co-delivery of Being a Parent-Enjoying Family Life parenting groups, an evidence-based, 10-week parenting group intervention for parents dealing with mental health difficulties co-delivered by peer supporters and clinicians. The intervention will empower parents by building family resilience, supporting them to mentalise their experiences of being a parent and increasing their confidence in parenting their children. Attend group and individual clinical supervision and team reflective practice. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment Contribute to the evaluation of the project alongside peer supporters and service users. To follow systems that are in place to support the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychologists and multi-disciplinary colleagues within the Parenting Well team Be able to follow National and Trust child and adult safeguarding guidance and manage clinical risk of families being supported by the project. To contribute to various stages of the project implementation and evaluate through focus groups, interviews, and quantitative measures, with the aim of fostering long-term change and integrated care across mental health services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
• Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration. (A/I)

Desirable

• To have post or pre-qualification training in relevant clinical interests: e.g. parenting, parental mental health, early intervention psychosis, family intervention. (A/I)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs. (A/I)
• Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including psychosis and/or parental mental health (A/I)
• Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience. (A/I)

Desirable

• Delivery of therapeutic, evidence-based groups (A/I)
• Post-qualification experience of specialist assessment and intervention for adults with Psychosis; Mood disorders; Personality Disorders and/or parents with neurodivergence (A/I)

Knowledge

Essential

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of psychosis and/or parental mental health (A/I/R)
• To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I/R)
• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline (A/I/R)

Desirable

• Knowledge of Think Family principles (A/I)
• Knowledge of evidence-based Parenting Interventions (A/I)
• Knowledge of Early Intervention for Psychosis including Family Intervention

Skills

Essential

• 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. (A/I/R)
• To plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriates. (A/I/R)
• 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. (A/I/R)

Desirable

• Experience and desire to work alongside and champion colleagues with lived-experience (A/I)
• To be able to adapt evidence-based models to the needs of individuals and communities to promote service-user acceptability (A/I)

Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I/R)
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R)

Desirable

• Ability to work in Partnership with clients and colleagues (A/I)
• Ability to understand and work with marginalised communities and families who have experienced significant levels of grief and trauma (A/I)

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
• Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration. (A/I)

Desirable

• To have post or pre-qualification training in relevant clinical interests: e.g. parenting, parental mental health, early intervention psychosis, family intervention. (A/I)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs. (A/I)
• Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including psychosis and/or parental mental health (A/I)
• Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience. (A/I)

Desirable

• Delivery of therapeutic, evidence-based groups (A/I)
• Post-qualification experience of specialist assessment and intervention for adults with Psychosis; Mood disorders; Personality Disorders and/or parents with neurodivergence (A/I)

Knowledge

Essential

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of psychosis and/or parental mental health (A/I/R)
• To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I/R)
• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to discipline (A/I/R)

Desirable

• Knowledge of Think Family principles (A/I)
• Knowledge of evidence-based Parenting Interventions (A/I)
• Knowledge of Early Intervention for Psychosis including Family Intervention

Skills

Essential

• 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. (A/I/R)
• To plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriates. (A/I/R)
• 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. (A/I/R)

Desirable

• Experience and desire to work alongside and champion colleagues with lived-experience (A/I)
• To be able to adapt evidence-based models to the needs of individuals and communities to promote service-user acceptability (A/I)

Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I/R)
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R)

Desirable

• Ability to work in Partnership with clients and colleagues (A/I)
• Ability to understand and work with marginalised communities and families who have experienced significant levels of grief and trauma (A/I)

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).

Additional information

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 details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Michael Rutter Centre

DeCrespigny Park

London

SE5 8AZ

Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Michael Rutter Centre

DeCrespigny Park

London

SE5 8AZ

Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)