Principal Psychotherapist / Clinical / Counselling Psychologist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a professionally registered experienced Psychotherapist/Clinical Psychologist/Counselling Psychologist to join the Therapeutic Community team in Folkestone delivering specialist treatment for adults with complex emotional difficulties at Ash Eton Therapeutic Community. We are keen to recruit an analytically trained clinician experienced in conducting therapeutic groups for people with severe and complex emotional needs. Ideally, you will also have experience of working within, or lived experience of being a member of a therapeutic community and/or experience of using a trauma-focused therapy group model.
Ash Eton Therapeutic Community is an established therapeutic community and an accredited member of the Community of Communities under the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The service was Highly Commended in the National Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards 2018. We are actively engaged in peer reviews of other TCs around the country and are members of The Consortium of Therapeutic Communities (TCTC) We regularly present papers, workshops and research on therapeutic communities at conferences. We offer a vibrant and engaging therapeutic programme for those with long term emotional and attachment difficulties, including MBT and small and large psychotherapy groups, as well as a range of verbal and non-verbal therapies including dramatherapy, art psychotherapy, and occupational therapy., This role will involve advising CMHT and MDT teams on appropriate referrals, as well as offering supervision and case consultations. You will offer assessments and run psychodynamic psychotherapy groups with patients in the initial treatment phase before service users join the TC. You will offer small group psychotherapy in the TC and attend community meetings. You will have opportunities to develop co - produced lecturing and training roles., Effectively manage the pathway into treatment so that group spaces are used optimally and patient waiting is minimised.
Undertake high-quality specialist psychological assessment
Deliver MBT-informed/psychodynamic therapy groups in community services to adults with complex emotional difficulties
To be an effective member of the Therapeutic Community MDT, deliver small psychotherapy groups, community meetings and other therapeutic groups
Offer professional consultation regarding complex cases
Build collaborative working relationships with colleagues in CMHT/MHT+
Assess and manage clinical risk
Identify and respond to child and adult safeguarding concerns
Offer group clinical supervision to colleagues in other services

You will be committed to an analytic frame of a democratic TC upholding our relational practice values and principles including co-production and inclusivity. You will be capable of working with transference processes involved in working within this demanding environment. You will also have the capacity to remain reflective and process the complex dynamics that can emerge in both team and community dynamics. You will be confident with managing a caseload of clients with complex needs who may present with significant risk. You will have the ability to organise and plan your workload so that priorities are attended to and quality standards are maintained. You will also have acquired the necessary experience and skills to deputize for the clinical lead as required and to support her and the operational lead in the day-to-day running of the service.

You will be working within a multi-disciplinary service in Folkestone offering exciting opportunities for creative work. The Trust has a second therapeutic community in Maidstone and there will be opportunities for both teams to come together to share learning experiences and work together on service developments. You will receive ongoing group clinical supervision and be part of a staff process group to work through dynamics within the team as well as being offered professional support and development.
Folkestone is well situated for easy motorway access to the M20. High speed rail links connect the town with London and access to the continent via the Euro-Tunnel is only a short drive away. There are excellent schools in the area and Kent has retained its grammar school system. The Trust offers generous relocation packages to eligible staff who would need to move to take up this position
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust serves 1.8 million people. We are rated Good overall by the CQC. We are proud to employ over 3,700 people from 66 nationalities and to serve an increasingly diverse range of communities across rural and urban areas.
Our strategy
Our mission is what we set out to do every day
We deliver brilliant care through brilliant people
Our vision is where we want to be in the future
To provide outstanding care and to work in partnership to deliver this in the right place, for every service user, every time.