Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job summary

We have a vacancy for a Band 7 Psychologist that will be of interest both to final year trainees looking for their first post-qualification post or established Band 7 Psychologists looking for a change and with established interests in clinical neuropsychology.

Our team is small with a varied caseload of people referred with cognitive difficulties requiring specialist neuropsychological assessment and, in some cases, psychoeducation and cognitive rehabilitation. We also provide specialist support to other services that may be working with people with compromised cognitive functioning. The size of the team means that there are frequent opportunities to show initiative, get involved with non-clinical work on behalf of the team and the Trust, and provide training and consultation. We work closely with our colleagues in the MPFT Physical Health Psychology team, which facilitates cross-service learning, support and training.

Main duties of the job

You will join a friendly and supportive team that is increasingly well integrated with teams across the Trust.Shared learning and clinical supervision are valued and prioritised with, for example, journal clubs and safeguarding supervision taking place regularly. There are good links with the local DClinPsy course and there will be the opportunity to get involved with supervising trainees and, potentially, MSc students on placements.

This is great opportunity to become a member of an enthusiastic, well-respected and progressive service where team support is key and opportunities are varied.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

Before applying for this rewarding and varied role, we encourage you to view the attached job description and person specification.

To provide a specialist neuropsychological service to people referred to Clinical Neuropsychology, including the use of detailed cognitive assessments; to formulate and provide appropriate interventions including psychoeducation and rehabilitative strategies. To offer advice and consultation to professional colleagues and to families / carers. To work autonomously within service and professional guidelines and within the framework of the Trusts policies and procedures.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential

• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and is eligible for registration as a Chartered Clinical / Counselling Psychologist
• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or it's equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS including two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology
• Good undergraduate degree
• Current registration/accreditation with appropriate body with current practising certificate
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by relevant professional body

Desirable

• Post-graduate training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including those with physical health conditions, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of occasional highly emotive and distressing material or presentations, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

Desirable

• Experience of working within a multicultural framework
• Supervised experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist
• Experience of working in a clinical neuropsychology setting
• Experience of assessing and treating clients across the full range of care settings
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
• Experience of teaching, training and provision of professional and clinical supervision
• Experience of working clinically with people with behaviours that challenge and/or people with communication difficulties

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
• Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
• Ability to meet the travelling requirements of the job

Desirable

• Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
• A working knowledge of principles of neuropsychological assessment and commonly used test batteries