Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling/Applied Psychologist

Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling/Applied Psychologist

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

We are pleased to offer this role to an enthusiastic, committed psychologist to contribute to the development and delivery of psychological services in the Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder Pathway in Herefordshire. This will be based partly at the inpatient rehabilitation ward in Hereford (Oak House), and partly in the Herefordshire Assertive Outreach Team (AOT) also based in Hereford city centre.

Herefordshire is at the forefront of Community Transformation, and AOT/Oak House form part of a highly performing Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder Pathway.

Full-time post split across two services, some opportunity for part-time working in one or other of the services might be available.

There is opportunity for some blended working (on site/from home).

The post is offered as a development role if applicants do not meet all criteria for 8b post. (Band 8a to Band 8b) see separate advert. Copies of both job descriptions are included in the supporting documents.

We welcome enquiries so please contact the recruiting manager (details at the top right-hand side of the advert) for informal discussion. Interviews are planned for September 2024.

Main duties of the job

This post is integral to the provision of NICE recommended psychological therapies for people with diagnoses of psychosis or bipolar disorder. You will work alongside the Consultant Clinical Psychologist, as well as inpatient rehabilitation and AOT team colleagues.

The post holder will provide specialist individual interventions (CBTpbd and Family Interventions), alongside other models. The post will involve offering individual and group psychological therapies, individual and group supervision/reflective practice and consultation within the team. There are many opportunities for receiving and providing training, as well as working with colleagues across the pathway more broadly. You will be actively supported to develop service initiatives and trauma informed practice, as well as engaging in audit and research as appropriate, in line with key national and local priorities and with local partners.

We offer a variety of evidence-based psychological models and invest in model specific supervision. Your personal and professional development will be key, fostered within a culture of strong, compassionate working relationships. Leadership skills and experience working in the field of Psychosis/Bipolar Disorder will be an advantage, as well as the ability to work within different MDTs and clinical settings.

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. It's why we were named Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award at the 2022 Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards. 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 staff networks such as LGBT+ and ENRICH (Equality Network for Race Inclusion and Cultural Heritage).
• Health service discounts and online benefits including excellent cycle to work and car salary sacrifice schemes.
• Health and wellbeing opportunities.

If you would like to know more, please visit our careers website.

Job responsibilities

• Behave consistently with and promote the values and beliefs of the organisation.
• Use their initiative, be responsible and accountable for providing a systematic psychology service, specialist psychological interventions, clinical and research supervision and training to other health and care staff as agreed with the service lead/manager.
• Receive and actively participate in regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice.
• Participate in national and regional professional speciality meetings and seminars as appropriate.
• Meet and maintain targets within the Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder Pathway.
• Undertake assessments, formulation, interventions, group, individual and indirect work with clients, staff teams, and families/carers.

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

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 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 British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Post qualification training/ experience in specific, evidence-based techniques for use with clients with complex psychological presentations and/or physical health difficulties, across the age span.
• Evidence of regular further professional training and experience as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the BPS.
• Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling) by the BPS.
• Eligible for registration as a Practitioner member of the BPS Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology.
• Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
• I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.
• Is in the process of acquiring/has acquired clinical experience of an increasingly specialist nature.

Experience

• Experience required specific to the role and clinical area.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience working as a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist within the relevant area.
• Experience of leading in relation to the development and organisation of psychological interventions within a given clinical area.
• Sufficient training and experience to be recognised by the Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology as a suitably qualified psychologist to offer clinical placements to trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists.
• Training and experience in the application of psychological knowledge across range of mental health presentations, including organic illness, functional mental health, and physical health.
• Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of psychological interventions to patients presenting with the full degree of clinical severity and across a range of clinical mental health presentations across the life span and care settings.
• Experience of multi-agency/multidisciplinary working.
• Therapeutic expertise in working with carers/families/couples.
• Experience of conducting clinically relevant research.
• Some prior experience of supervising.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and national guidance and their implication for clinical practice.
• Knowledge required specific to the role and clinical area.

Skills & Abilities

• Highly developed and effective communication skills, both oral and written, including ability to communicate complex, highly personal and sensitive information.

Additional Criteria

• Able to meet the travel requirements of the post.

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.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

£58,972 to £68,525 a year pro rata for part time. Pay Award Pending.