Highly Specialist Clinical / Counselling Psychologist / Psychotherapist

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 socially excluded populations across Lambeth and Westminster in partnership with the third sector.
The client group experience multiple disadvantage and have high levels of complex trauma and interpersonal difficulties coupled with substance misuse issues, neuropsychological issues, physical health needs, anti-social behaviour and risk-taking behaviours. This complex combination of needs leads to multiple social exclusion and barriers accessing mainstream services.
The focus of this role is on supporting the development of excellent partnership working across Westminster Local Authority, NHS physical health and mental health services and third sector organisations for adults sleeping rough, resident in homeless hostels, or in mental health accommodation services. The post holder will develop partnerships with key stakeholders to support integration of the Psychology in Hostels team in the Westminster service context. To contribute to the development of new models of best practice in partnership working in this space., The postholder will:
+ Hold an operational leadership role within PIH.
Develop effective relationships with managers and leadership of non-SLAM NHS and Social Services teams in Westminster, supporting the development of new ways of working together and contributing to the development of service level agreements, ensuring high levels of cooperation in the interests of our clients.
Work with the leads/managers of PIH and MDT homeless partners, including CMHTs, acute mental health services and other NHS services to develop care pathways and to plan and deliver services that are integrated around the needs of service users
Take a lead on developing operational policies, procedures, operating and governance structures, service design and embedding., + To provide a high level of clinical expertise in supporting the psychological needs of clients.
+ To ensure services are fair and equitable and meet the needs of the diverse populations we support.
+ To support the development of care pathways for an excluded population.
Teaching, training, and supervision
+ To provide specialist training in psychological and trauma-informed approaches to care for other professionals.
+ To provide clinical supervision for psychological work undertaken by qualified psychologists and others.
Management, recruitment, policy and service development
+ To hold an operational leadership role within PIH.
o To develop effective relationships with managers and leadership of non-SLAM NHS and Social Services teams in Westminster, supporting the development of new ways of working together and contributing to the development of service level agreements, ensuring high levels of cooperation in the interests of our clients.
o To work with the leads/managers of PIH and MDT homeless partners, including CMHTs, acute mental health services and other NHS services to develop care pathways and to plan and deliver services that are integrated around the needs of service users
o To take a lead on developing operational policies, procedures, operating and governance structures, service design and embedding.
o To utilise change management and partnership development models; ensuring rapid and successful development of new services model across sites and partner organisations.
o To identify any aspects of the service which could be improved and contribute to the service development on an ongoing basis.
Research and service evaluation
+ To contribute to the development of services through undertaking service evaluation and audit.
General Responsibilities
+ To ensure own Continuing Professional Development
+ To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of key legislation
A full Job Description and Person Specification is attached to the advert.
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:
+ Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
+ Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
+ We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
Please note:
+ That all applications for this post will need to be made online
+ That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
+ That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
+ That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
+ That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
+ That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
+ That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
+ That we are a smoke-free Trust
SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe'

Band 8a
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

This post will be based across Westminster, working at and within sites operated by our partners delivering homelessness sector services.
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