Trainee Psychological Therapist

This is a training role within the Community Adult Eating Disorder Service in west Essex. This role is a two-year, fixed-term appointment in the first instance, to allow the post holder to complete the CBT-ED training course with UCL.

The intention is for the post to convert to a Psychological Therapist at band 7, on successful completion of the postgraduate diploma programme.

The post-holder will work within the Community Adult Eating Disorder Service providing formal psychological interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role. This intensive training post will equip the postholder to provide cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to clients with a range of complex problems for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective, and provide the training and clinical experience necessary to achieve accredited status with the BABCP.

The post-holder will work in the service for 4 days of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme for the other day.
- Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
- Assess clients for suitability for CBT. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriate for a trainee therapist, to refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.
- Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referrer as necessary.
- Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.
- Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying CBT formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
- Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
- Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
- Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
- Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
- Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
- Assess and integrate issues surrounding occupation and employment into the overall therapy process.

Professional
- Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. BPS, UKCP, BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by NHS England and the Department of Health (e.g. relevant Implementation Guidance, NHS Long Term plan, Institute for Health and Care Excellence).
- Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
- Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the field of CBT
- Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
- Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.
- Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
- Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
- Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
- Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
- Assess clients for suitability for CBT. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriate for a trainee therapist, to refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.
- Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referrer as necessary.
- Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.
- Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying CBT formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
- Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
- Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
- Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
- Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
- Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
- Assess and integrate issues surrounding occupation and employment into t