Assistant Psychologist

We are delighted to receive further transformation funding in the Kent and Medway All-Age Eating Disorders Service so we are extending our service offer to include TWO very exciting additions to our portfolio: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterised by a pattern of eating that avoids certain foods or food groups entirely, and/or is restricted in quantity and driven by sensory or avoided consequence factors. There has been increasing acknowledgement of a gap in services for ARFID, or suspected ARFID. As a result, referrals are inconsistently made to a wide range of services, including children and young people community eating disorder services, standard children and young people mental health services, community paediatrics, neurodevelopmental services, dietetic, speech and language, acute paediatric services and adult mental health services.

We are also seeking to develop an intensive home-based eating disorder treatment pathway in the form of an enhanced care pathway (Intensive Care Pathway - ICP). These forms of treatment have the potential to minimise inpatient admissions (including out-of-area placements), reduce length of stay in inpatient settings and improve experience of discharge from inpatient care as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

We are very excited to be developing the ARFID and ICP pathways in Kent and Medway which requires a number of new staff positions.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist role for the All-Age Eating Disorder Service in Kent and Medway. You will be responsible, with all the other Assistant Psychologists in the team, for delivering Guided Self Help, Body Image and CBT-T interventions. You will also support research activities within the team, including the day-to-day collection of Routine Outcome Measures, conducting service evaluation and audit, research delivery and being part of a Kent and Sussex wide research forum in Eating Disorders. You will be closely supervised by a Clinical Psychologist and will access group CBT and systemic supervisions. You will be expected to work in partnership with our supportive and friendly MDT, based across Kent and Medway.

North East London NHS Foundation Trust All-Age Eating Disorder Service is based in the County of Kent. We have a strong focus on training and research and team members benefit from excellent training and CPD opportunities. We have well developed links with Health Education England and access to up-to-date training within Eating Disorders and Leadership. We have close links to Christchurch University and the University of Kent and their Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training and Clinical Apprenticeship Psychologist Masters Programmes respectively. Clinical Psychology Trainees have regular placements in our service.

Probationary Period

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 focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

Who are we seeking?

The All-Age Eating Disorder Service is based across the County of Kent at George Turle House, Canterbury, and The Courtyard, Maidstone, with Specialist support offered to the Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital in Staplehurst. Geographically, we support the County of Kent and Medway, so the ability to travel is essential.

Prospective post holders are encouraged to find out more about this exciting role. Please contact Dr Annie Cardinal in the first instance.