Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychotherapist

Job summary

This post is for an 8b SLaM AVATAR therapy Training Lead for a new Wellcome funded study, AVATAR-RWE (Real World Evidence).The successful candidate will work as part of an NHS implementation study of AVATAR therapy, a blended digital intervention for distressing voices in psychosis. Having tested efficacy in rigorous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and with replication emerging from independent research groups, our focus is on national and international implementation of AVATAR therapy. In March 2024 AVATAR therapy received a NICE-Early Value Assessment recommendation for deployment in the NHS for the purpose of real-world evidence generation.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

The post holder will:

Lead on training and supervision of therapists in SLaM.

Supervise the Assistant Psychologist, to support data collection to a high standard, in line with study protocols.

Oversee reporting and transfer of research data to project leads, in line with research governance approvals.

Support the optimisation of AVATAR therapy software and training resources

Support the KCL-based Researchers in development of study materials.

The post holder may be asked to contribute to training and supervision beyond SLaM (i.e. other trusts/ clinical settings) to support the wider roll-out of AVATAR therapy

The post holder will support Dr Tom Ward and Dr Clem Edwards in the delivery of these aims. The job purpose will focus on leadership in the training and supervision of AVATAR therapy delivered within SLaM alongside the real-world data collection.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

About us

About South London and Maudsley:

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

Job responsibilities

This post is for an 8b SLaM AVATAR therapy Training Lead for a new Wellcome funded study, AVATAR-RWE (Real World Evidence). The successful candidate will work as part of an NHS implementation study of AVATAR therapy, a blended digital intervention for distressing voices in psychosis. Please see attached Job description for further information