Band 8b - Clinical/Counselling Psychologist Inpatient and Acute - Bath

NHS; Swindon; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job description

Job summary

It is an exciting time to join us and help shape our response to the national aspiration to transform inpatient care. We are recruiting for two new posts to help shape our response to this key area of mental health, supporting the delivery of our strategic plans. The roles are a key enabler in the development and delivery of our inpatient transformation programme and will be supported by the Divisional Director of Therapies, locality psychology services and the wider transformation team. You will be able to shape delivery of services and contribute to ongoing quality improvement and research.

You will need to be an experienced psychologist with a track record of delivering and supporting transformation and improvement in the acute pathway (home treatment/inpatient). You will have in depth knowledge of what it takes to provide psychologically and trauma informed services and experience of working in acute settings. You will be joining a division that has a clear vision and mandate to expand and improve psychological provision. We have been successful in securing increased investment into our therapy services and have excellent opportunities for career development and CPD. We provide opportunities for leadership training, training in Quality Improvement methodologies and model specific training. We also have a strong research focus and are currently hosting numerous research trials.

Main duties of the job

1. To develop, co-ordinate and ensure the provision of psychological provision across the acute pathway.
2. To personally provide highly specialist clinical input through carrying a small caseload managed in partnership with the Multi-Disciplinary team (MDT).
3. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
4. To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the acute pathway.
5. To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychological practitioners in the teams.
6. To promote service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Date posted: 15 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £62,215 to £72,293 a year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 342-BNS026-0425

Job locations: Bath NHS House/Sandalwood Court, Swindon/Green Lane Hospital, Devizes

Bath or Swindon and Devizes, BA1 3QE

Person Specification

Education and Qualification Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology qualification or equivalent qualification in Clinical Psychology
• Registered by the HCPC.
• Relevant Specialist CPD training

Experience Essential

• Substantial post qualification experience
• Experience of Lecturing/Teaching/Training Psychologists and other professions
• Supervision experience with Trainee Clinical Psychologists
• Supervision experience with other professions
• Care Co-ordination or equivalent role
• R&D relevant to role
• Service development/project leadership/ clinical leadership

Desirable

• Experience of working in an Acute pathway (home treatment/Inpatients)

Specialised Knowledge Essential

• Extensive knowledge of specialist therapeutic interventions with client group
• Specialist assessment and formulation skills
• Expert in analysis and differential formulation of highly complex case information
• Specialist training in clinical supervision

Desirable

• Ability to use computer spreadsheets for data analysis
• Ability to use computer software to perform specialist / advanced data analysis of clinical data.

Skills and personal attributes Essential

• Effective team player with good communication and liaison skills
• Advanced skills at engaging with/communicating sensitively to clients who exhibit severe problems of interpersonal relating
• Ability to cope with workload pressure/prioritise workload
• Self-awareness and emotional resilience
• Skills in personal supervision
• Ability to cope with the stress of working with a difficult, potentially hostile, emotionally and behaviourally disturbed client group

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name: Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address: Bath NHS House/Sandalwood Court, Swindon/Green Lane Hospital, Devizes, Bath or Swindon and Devizes, BA1 3QE

Employer's website: http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/