Highly Specialist Cognitive Analytic Therapist

NHS

  • Deptford, South East London
  • £64,156-71,148 per year
  • Permanent
  • Part-time
  • 10 hours ago
We are looking to recruit a Senior Cognitive Analytic Therapist (CAT) to lead our CAT pathway. This post plays a pivotal role in delivering specialist psychological care to adults with complex mental health needs. The post is an established position in Lewisham Integrated Therapies (LIT) and CAT has a long and valued history in the borough as well as in the Trust.Main duties of the jobTo lead on Cognitive Analytic Therapy in Lewisham. This involves being responsible for the provision of CAT in Lewisham for complex emotional needs, managing waiting lists, supervising junior staff, conducting assessments and offering Cognitive Analytic therapy. To also work closely with our stakeholders in the community mental health teams.About usSouth 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.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.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 ValuesWe 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.DetailsDate posted03 September 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8aSalary£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inclusive of HCAsContractPermanentWorking patternPart-timeReference number334-CLI-7371000Job locationsThe Lind Clinic DeptfordSt James Road, London SE8LondonSE8 3RAJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see The Job description document for a more detailed description of the roles and responsibilities. Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see The Job description document for a more detailed description of the roles and responsibilities.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • A recognised qualification in a core mental health professions eg. psychiatric nursing or social work, doctoral level clinical or counselling psychology, qualified psychotherapist with demonstrable competence to practice in mental health in the NHS.
  • ACAT accredited CAT Practitioner
Desirable
  • ACAT accredited supervisor
ExperienceEssential
  • oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in Cognitive Analytic Therapy. (A/I)
  • oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Cognitive Analytic Therapy and complex emotional needs. Experience of holding and managing a waiting list.
  • oExperience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training
  • oExperience in offering clinical and managerial supervision to junior therapists.
  • oExperience working with community mental health teams and other stakeholders
KnowledgeEssential
  • oTheoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for those presenting with complex emotional needs.
  • oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
  • oTo deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences
  • oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • oKnowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to CAT discipline
SkillsEssential
  • oTo 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.
  • oTo plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers
  • oTo plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriates
  • oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
  • oConsultation 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.
AbilityEssential
  • oAbility to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
  • oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
  • oAbility 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
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • A recognised qualification in a core mental health professions eg. psychiatric nursing or social work, doctoral level clinical or counselling psychology, qualified psychotherapist with demonstrable competence to practice in mental health in the NHS.
  • ACAT accredited CAT Practitioner
Desirable
  • ACAT accredited supervisor
ExperienceEssential
  • oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in Cognitive Analytic Therapy. (A/I)
  • oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Cognitive Analytic Therapy and complex emotional needs. Experience of holding and managing a waiting list.
  • oExperience of supervising assistants and trainees having completed the relevant training
  • oExperience in offering clinical and managerial supervision to junior therapists.
  • oExperience working with community mental health teams and other stakeholders
KnowledgeEssential
  • oTheoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment for those presenting with complex emotional needs.
  • oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
  • oTo deliver psychological/psychotherapeutic therapy across cultural and other differences
  • oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • oKnowledge of a range of a range of therapeutic ideas/approaches systemic models in assessment and treatment relevant to CAT discipline
SkillsEssential
  • oTo 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.
  • oTo plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers
  • oTo plan allocation of tasks to assistants/trainees as appropriates
  • oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
  • oConsultation 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.
AbilityEssential
  • oAbility to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
  • oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
  • oAbility 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

NHS