Job summary
- Main area
- Psychological Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 10 months (Post is maternity leave cover)
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week
- Job ref
- 334-CLI-8000142-C
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital
- Town
- Beckenham
- Salary
- £55,524 - £62,652 per annum inclusive of HCAS (outer) pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT) Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 7
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.
Job overview
The Croydon Personality Disorder Service is looking to recruit a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or Psychologist/Psychotherapist to the post of Specialist Psychotherapist. This is a one year contract providing cover for a member of the team whilst on maternity leave.
We are looking for staff with a commitment to working with people with personality disorders and experience working in therapeutic groups.
You will be trained to facilitate SUN groups, which are open-access crisis and emotional support groups in the community in central Croydon and online. You will offer individual MBT treatment to patients on the MBT treatment programmes, as well as facilitating MBT groups.
The Croydon Personality Disorder Service at the Touchstone Centre provides evidence-based interventions for people suffering difficulties associated with a diagnosis of moderate to severe personality disorder. Interventions offered include Tier 3 day hospital psychotherapy, and outpatient Tier 2 MBT service, and a community based appraisal based coping skills development group.
The team is based at The Touchstone Centre – a psychotherapy day hospital combining good psychiatric management, nursing and physical health care, structured clinical management (SCM) and Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) to people who might otherwise spend long periods of time in crisis and in and out of services.
Main duties of the job
We provide specialist, evidence-based, psychotherapeutic day hospital treatment for working-age people with moderate to severe personality disorders. We also run the SUN project, a coping skills development and crisis support group 3 times a week in central Croydon to people with or without a diagnosis of personality disorders. You will work within our team of psychotherapists, doctors, specialist community psychiatric nurses and Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioners.
Working for our organisation
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
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
We offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
Work life balance. Flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
Career development. There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
Care lease. Our staff benefit from competitive deals to lease cars.
Our staff benefit from keyworker housing which is available on selected sites.
NHS discounts. With discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands through Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
Counselling services
Wellbeing events
Long service awards
Cycle to work scheme
Season ticket loan
Staff restaurants
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
Please refer to the attached document for the detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities of the role.
• To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and evidence-based interventions for clients with complex mental health needs.
• To deliver culturally appropriate psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions for clients, carers and families where appropriate.
• To assess, monitor and manage clinical risk, including safeguarding concerns, self-harm and risks to self or others, developing and reviewing risk management plans as required.
• To produce clear, accurate and timely clinical reports, formulations, care plans and professional opinions.
• To provide specialist individual and group psychotherapy using a Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) framework, adapting interventions in line with clinical need and treatment outcomes.
• To promote psychological understanding and support for carers and families.
• To facilitate therapeutic groups, including crisis support groups, and contribute to the delivery of a high-quality psychotherapy service.
• To demonstrate the application of MBT principles through clinical practice, case discussions, documentation and reflective practice activities.
• To participate in regular clinical reviews involving service users, families, carers and other professionals to ensure treatment plans remain effective and person-centred.
• To contribute to maintaining a safe therapeutic environment and support individuals requiring additional or crisis intervention.
• To provide specialist advice, consultation and support to colleagues across community, inpatient and partner services.
• To act as a positive role model for junior staff, promoting high standards of professional practice and supporting effective team working.
KR 2 Contributing to Team or Service Clinical Functioning
• To contribute to the effective functioning of the multidisciplinary team and promote psychologically informed practice across the service.
• To work collaboratively with referrers, GPs, carers, partner agencies and other professionals involved in client care.
• To support the delivery of accessible, inclusive and culturally competent services for diverse communities.
• To challenge discrimination and contribute to the development of equitable and person-centred care pathways.
KR 3 Policy and Service Development
• To implement Trust policies, procedures and professional standards within own area of practice.
• To identify opportunities for service improvement and contribute to the development of effective clinical pathways.
• To support service user engagement and involvement in service planning, evaluation and development.
• To participate in service improvement projects and quality initiatives that enhance patient care and outcomes.
KR 4 Care or Management of Resources
• To use Trust resources responsibly and ensure the safe use, maintenance and storage of therapy materials and equipment.
• To maintain adequate supplies and resources required for clinical practice.
• To ensure materials, equipment and therapeutic resources are managed in accordance with health and safety requirements.
• To maintain the secure and confidential storage of records, therapeutic materials and client-related information in line with professional and Trust standards.
• To contribute to the effective management of resources within agreed budgetary constraints.
KR 5 Management and Supervision
• To provide supervision, support and guidance to junior staff, trainees or students as required.
• To contribute to staff development and promote a supportive learning environment.
• To work under the supervision and guidance of senior colleagues while supporting high standards of clinical practice.
KR 6 Record Keeping and Information Governance
• To maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive clinical records in accordance with Trust policies and professional standards.
• To ensure all clinical activity, assessments, interventions and outcomes are appropriately documented using electronic patient record systems.
• To comply with information governance, confidentiality and data protection requirements.
KR 7 Research and Development
• To participate in clinical audit, research, service evaluation and quality improvement activities.
• To keep up to date with developments in evidence-based practice, personality disorder treatment and Mentalization Based Treatment.
• To contribute to the monitoring of outcomes and use audit findings to support continuous service improvement.
• To actively participate in team learning, research discussions and professional meetings.
KR 8 Maintaining Professional Standards and Continuing Professional Development
• To receive regular clinical, professional and management supervision in accordance with professional body and Trust requirements.
• To maintain Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and professional registration requirements.
• To keep up to date with relevant legislation, guidance, policies and developments in mental health care and psychological therapies.
• To practise in accordance with professional codes of conduct, ethical standards and Trust policies.
KR 9 General
• To travel across Trust sites and other locations as required by the service.
• To work safely and effectively with individuals who may present with complex, challenging or distressing behaviours.
• To respond professionally to crisis situations and support colleagues following significant incidents in line with Trust procedures.
• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post as reasonably requested by the Clinical and Operational Lead.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration.
- • Basic Training in MBT from a trainer accredited by the Anna Freud Centre. Staff without this may be considered for the role if they have other suitable psychotherapeutic training/experience.
- • Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline HCPC/NMC/APC/BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP/ADMP-UK.
Desirable criteria
- Qualifications in group therapeutic work.
- Qualifications in clinical supervision
- Training in Knowledge and Understanding Framework (KUF) in working with personality disorder.
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrable understanding of Mentalization Based Treatment
- • Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
- • Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Personality Disorder.
- • 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.
- • Significant post-qualification/graduation experience including experience of individual and group therapy with people with complex mental health needs.
Desirable criteria
- • A personal therapy experience of sufficient intensity, depth and duration to be able to work psychotherapeutically with difficult and demanding cases.
- • Significant experience of supervising the work of practitioners in delivery of therapeutic interventions in a mental health setting treating people with complex needs.
- • Comprehensive knowledge of personality disorder and current high quality research in this field.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- • Knowledge of the theory of psychological therapy and it’s therapeutic application. Associated awareness of assessment and clinical psychometrics
- • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities
- • Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
- • To deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences
Skills
Essential criteria
- • 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.
- • To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers (and for meetings such as CPA and case reviews where appropriate).
- • Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.
- • 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.
- To select and administer specialist assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
Abilities
Essential criteria
- • Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
- • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
- • Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
- • Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these
- • Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Simon Shaw
- Job title
- Croydon Personality Disorder Service Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02032288541
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