Senior Psychologist – Brief Interventions to Reduce Self Harm - Lead

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Emergency Department Psychiatric Liaison Service (EDPS) in Oxfordshire, delivering vital mental health support within a dynamic and highly rewarding clinical environment.

The EDPS works at the frontline of acute care in the OUH Emergency Departments. The post holder will lead the Brief Interventions for Repeat Self-Harm (BIRSH) service within EDPS, which offers psychological assessment and brief, evidence-based interventions for young people and adults presenting following self-harm or suicide attempts.

In this role, you will play a central part in supporting people at a point of acute distress. You will deliver short-term psychological interventions aimed at reducing distress, supporting recovery and stabilisation. Alongside your clinical work, this post offers a significant opportunity to shape and develop the service:

• Take a lead role in the ongoing development of the BIRSH service, shaping innovative approaches to post-crisis psychological care
• Champion and embed psychologically informed practice across EDPS and the wider Emergency Department
• Contribute to a culture of reflective, trauma-informed care within a high-pressure acute setting

The post sits within a research-active team with strong links to the Oxford Centre for Suicide Research. There is a supportive network of urgent care psychologists who engage in regular peer supervision and development sessions.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the role include:

• Supporting and supervising EDPS frontline staff, qualified psychologists, and trainee psychologists in delivering BIRSH follow-up outpatient work
• Holding a clinical caseload of follow-up cases
• Delivering quarterly teaching to Emergency Department colleagues on mental health presentations
• Providing reflective practice and clinical supervision for EDPS staff and other urgent care services
• Contributing as part of the EDPS leadership team to ongoing service development, including expanding reflective practice opportunities within the Emergency Department

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Person specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, day services and in patient settings
• Training and experience in delivering clinical supervision to clinicians

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with severe and/or complex mental health difficulties

Personal Qualities

Essential

• An interest in and positive approach towards working with people with severe and/or complex mental health difficulties.

Desirable

• An awareness of own strengths and limitations

Qualification

Essential

• HCPC registration

Knowledge

Essential

• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.

Desirable

• Qualifications / training in clinical supervision
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies with people with severe and/or complex mental health difficulties