Clinical/Counselling Psychologist (Development Role)

Job summary

We would like to appoint a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to work in the Adult Mental Health (AMH) Neighbourhood Mental Health Services (NMHS) in Worcestershire to particularly work with people who present with Psychosis and Bipolar. The NMHS teams have integrated psychological pathways for individuals who present with moderate/severe, severe/enduring, psychosis/bipolar and emotional regulation difficulties. We aspire to encourage a sense of empowerment in our service users through working with trauma informed service delivery.

The post holder will deliver Clinical or Counselling Psychology core values and clinical practice, will work with a diverse service user group presenting with Psychosis or Bipolar with a range of complex mental health needs.

The post holder will have the opportunity to input into teaching, training, research and supervision. We have excellent links with the local doctorate training courses and offer training placements.

This post is a Band 7, development role, which will move to a Band 8a upon successful completion of a development plan. We welcome applications for full time working but would be happy to discuss part time. The post will be based at Studdert Kennedy House, Worcester or Newbrook, Bromsgrove.

Applicants must read the attached guidance notes before submitting your application for full understanding of Trust requirements.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an integral member of the NMHS, working with other psychologists and mental health professionals. They will be a valued member of the psychology provision within the Trust. As a development role supported personal and professional development will be a priority.

The post holder would work individually, providing psychological assessments and formulations with individuals presenting with Psychosis or Bipolar with complex psychological presentations. They would also be involved with Group work. The post holder would be supported to provide team consultation, reflective practice, supervision, research and teaching as appropriate for the working hours. We provide both in person and virtual interventions alongside applied psychological ways of working with MDT colleagues.

The post holder will receive both clinical supervision and line management. Priority will be given to wellbeing and personal and professional development.

About us

At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.

What we offer;

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website Staff benefits | Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Sharing your data -As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trusts understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Job responsibilities

The development role would commence on a Band 7 moving to a Band 8a on successful completion of the development plan. Copies of both job descriptions are included in the supporting documents.

Alongside the Band 7 Job Description and Person Specification. The post holder will also:

• Behave consistently with and promote the values of the Trust
• Adhere to HCPC practice guidelines
• Implement the psychology provision guidelines and Trust policies

Evaluate referrals, undertake the assessment, treatment, and management of patients with psychological difficulties with a varying range of complexity and aetiology with reference to clinical need and service capacity

Meet and maintain targets within the psychology provision

For full details of the duties and criteria for the post please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc/BA Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology
• Post graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
• Evidence of regular continuing professional development through further professional training and experience, as required by the HCPC and the BPS
• Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling) by the BPS
• Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Experience

Essential

• Experience required specific to the role and clinical area
• Experience of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
• Experience of conducting clinically relevant research
• Significant experience of supervised practice including working with families and care organisations
• Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of psychological interventions to a wide range of patients presenting with a full range of clinical severity
• Experience of exercising clinical responsibility for a patient's psychological care and treatment

Desirable

• Experience in appropriate and up to date methods in dealing with patients who may be very distressed, have cognitive impairment, may be aggressive, or have a history of developmental trauma
• Experience of strategic planning and service development
• Experience of providing clinical supervision to trainees, assistant psychologists and/or other professionals
• Experience of teaching and training psychologists and other multi-disciplinary staff

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge required specific to the role and clinical area
• Advanced theoretical and applied knowledge of psychological approaches and assessment for people with psychological problems, including specialised psychological assessments and interventions
• Evidence of regular professional training and experience as required by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to maintain exceptionally specialist skills in psychotherapy
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and national guidance and their implications for clinical practice

Desirable

• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including the use and limitations of complex multivariate data analysis and qualitative methods as practiced within the field of Clinical /Counselling Psychology.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Able to meet the travel requirements of the role

Desirable

• Previous publications in either peer reviewed academic or professional journal and/or books