Therapist

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Therapist to join our Homelessness and Complex Needs service in Brent.

£36,335.10 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

This innovative role has been created to respond to recent demands for an integrative approach into support delivery of vulnerable adults presenting a severe and enduring mental illness and/or a forensic background, at times in combination with substance misuse.

The post holder will lead on creating a therapeutically informed programme in order to develop a Psychological Informed Environment in the service.

The role would suit an experienced counsellor/psychotherapist who will lead in facilitating therapeutic groups and individual counselling /therapy for service users. On the other side provide support to the staff team in developing their psychological understanding and raising awareness in the emotional impact of working with this client group.

The Therapist will work with the service users in order to improve engagement with support services as well as providing in depth sessions with them with the desired outcome of supporting them to better manage the psychological distress and to have a clearer insight into their own emotional wellbeing.

Key information and documentation will be kept up to the required standard as expected between a therapist and a client and the post holder will adhere to all relevant legislation that governs these professional relationships.

The post holder will work flexibly across the service and will use technology were appropriate to ensure time is effectively used across the service provision.

9am- 5pm Monday-Friday

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

What you'll do:

Adopt and implement a Psychological informed Environment in the service.
To support the team in carrying out holistic assessments on appropriate support plans, and comprehensive risk assessments in full consultation with service-users, their families/carers and other agencies.
To liaise with the multi-disciplinary team working collaboratively to ensure that full information is given (in case of risk) to enable a robust assessment of service-users.
To ensure recovery focused support plans are reviewed, evaluated and amended in accordance with changing needs, presenting risks and individual preferences to promote recovery with an attitude of 'positive risk taking'.
To provide recovery focused support to achieve personal goals/aspirations in partnership with service-users, family members and statutory agencies. To work with service-users on a one-to-one basis to achieve positive outcomes within a given service timeframe.
Provide structured support and guidance to other front-line staff in their area of expertise, building capacity and skills within the team, and contribute to the relevant internal specialist forum.
Lead on external relationships with Mental Health professionals, including the North and South CMHT, the Forensic Team, the EIS and the HTT, maintaining excellent relationships with them.
Develop and maintain links with key agencies and service providers in the local community.
Demonstrate a commitment to the empowerment of service-users and a strong interest in co production and promoting people's rights.
Knowledge and practical experience of using person centred tools to support recovery and development of service-users.
To lead groups and activities - offering a range of appropriate therapeutic, psycho-educational and recovery focused interactions and activities including art/dance/movement therapy
Undertake administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive service-user records to professional standards.
To adhere to Look Ahead's Policies and Procedures.
To adhere to at least one Code of Ethics of a recognized professional body.
To participate to peer supervision groups and therapy delivery improvement groups with other Look Ahead therapists;
To engage in external clinical supervision to maintain high clinical standards
To engage in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills.
To advocate assertively to statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that service-users' needs are met
To maintain good relationships with all involved professionals and agencies.
To maintain good liaison with the service-users' immediate community and family.

About you:

Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage service-user involvement
Approachable and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours
What you'll bring:

Essential:

Degree level qualification in counselling or psychotherapy
Minimum of 2 year's experience in working in a mental health setting or other specialist social care services
Demonstrable experience of support work with people with support needss

Desirable:

Knowledge of group therapy;
Experience of working with vulnerable adults who are undergoing a period of crisis
Bring expertise in specialist areas such as dual diagnosis, substance misuse, hoarding or therapeutic interventions.

For our full job description please visit our website.