Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Psychologist to work within our older persons mental health inpatient wards.
The post involves providing a psychology service to the two older person's wards in Taunton, whichcater for both people with dementia and people with acute mental health difficulties. Work will involve a mixture of individual work, group work, consultation, training, and supervision.
We're interested in hearing from people who have an interest and enthusiasm for working with older people. You'll be resilient, confident and well organised and able to communicate effectively with people from a range of backgrounds. We are also able to consider a band 7 preceptorship to develop into a band 8a.
The post is full time but we also welcome applications from people who may wish to work part- time or job share.
Main duties of the job
As this is a new role there will be significant opportunities for service development. You can be confident that you'll be supported by a senior member of the Older People's Psychology Services to establish a robust and evidence based psychological service. The department has good links with local doctoral training courses and there will be opportunities for teaching as well as for audit and research.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To undertake highly specialist psychological assessments based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
- To formulate and implement plans in conjunction with services within the Inpatient MDT for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and current evidence-based best practice, taking into account the current NICE guidelines.
- To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups. And to be able to adjust and refine psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.
- To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for psychological assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
-
To provide specialist psychological advice guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. This will include the training and clinical supervision of Inpatient MDT practitioners specialising in psychosocial interventions / basic psychological interventions. This will include advice and intervention with respect to clients with behaviours which challenge.
-
To provide specialist psychological advice guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. This will include the training and clinical supervision of Inpatient MDT practitioners specialising in psychosocial interventions / basic psychological interventions. This will include advice and intervention with respect to clients with behaviours which challenge.
-
To contribute directly and indirectlyto a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group. All clinical input will be in accordance with the philosophy, policies and standing operating procedure of the inpatient service.
-
To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients in accordance with Trust policy and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
-
To operate appropriately within other legal frameworks such as the Mental Health and Mental Capacity Acts, including undertaking/advising about capacity assessments where appropriate
- To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.
-
To contribute towards effective discharge planning, liaising with a range of statutory and non-statutory providers as required. This is likely to include CMHTs, care agencies and care homes, primary care providers, day service providers, informal carers and family members.
- To develop effective links with the range of agencies, statutory and non-statutory, involved in providing care and support to clients and families / support networks
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To undertake highly specialist psychological assessments based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
- To formulate and implement plans in conjunction with services within the Inpatient MDT for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and current evidence-based best practice, taking into account the current NICE guidelines.
- To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups. And to be able to adjust and refine psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.
- To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for psychological assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
-
To provide specialist psychological advice guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. This will include the training and clinical supervision of Inpatient MDT practitioners specialising in psychosocial interventions / basic psychological interventions. This will include advice and intervention with respect to clients with behaviours which challenge.
-
To provide specialist psychological advice guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. This will include the training and clinical supervision of Inpatient MDT practitioners specialising in psychosocial interventions / basic psychological interventions. This will include advice and intervention with respect to clients with behaviours which challenge.
-
To contribute directly and indirectlyto a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group. All clinical input will be in accordance with the philosophy, policies and standing operating procedure of the inpatient service.
-
To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients in accordance with Trust policy and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
-
To operate appropriately within other legal frameworks such as the Mental Health and Mental Capacity Acts, including undertaking/advising about capacity assessments where appropriate
- To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.
-
To contribute towards effective discharge planning, liaising with a range of statutory and non-statutory providers as required. This is likely to include CMHTs, care agencies and care homes, primary care providers, day service providers, informal carers and family members.
- To develop effective links with the range of agencies, statutory and non-statutory, involved in providing care and support to clients and families / support networks
Person Specification
qualifications & Training
Essential
- o Professional qualification in Clinical Psychology at doctoral level or equivalent & eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status in the British Psychological Society. o Registered with HCPC as a qualified Clinical Psychologist
Desirable
- o Further training in at least one or more additional specialised area of psychological relevance (e.g. neuropsychology, staff training, research methodology, and/ or psychological therapy).
Knowledge
Essential
- o Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology. o Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies. o Knowledge of clinical applications of the Mental Capacity Act and other relevant legislation within a relevant service. o Knowledge of the range of mental health difficulties which impact on people in Older Adult, including mood related difficulties, dementia and psychosis. o Evidence of CPD as by HCPC and the BPS
Experience
Essential
- o Previous experience of neuropsychological and psychological assessment with clients with dementia. o Previous experience of delivering individual and group based structured psychological interventions to clients with severe and complex mental health problems. Experience in risk assessment, formulation and management particularly important. o Experience of working with behaviours that challenge. o Experience of working with a range of complex presentations and a good understanding of the complexities and challenges of working with an Older Adult population. This includes maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. o Experience of working as a clinical psychologist demonstrating competencies relevant to the position required for Band 8a. o Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan. o Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team o Experience of providing supervision and training.
Desirable
- o Experience of working with families. o Experience of working in inpatient settings. o Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency contexts. o Experience of working with complex trauma and with systems working around people who have experienced trauma.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- o Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. o Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. o Ability to organise time effectively. o Ability to use own initiative and to work under supervision where appropriate. o Skills in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups. o Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team. o Ability to provide rapid psychological assessment and brief psychological interventions, especially in the management of risk. o Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. o Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty.
Communication Skills
Essential
- o Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
Physical Skills
Essential
- o Ability to sit in constrained positions for extended periods.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- o Ability to contain and work with stress and harrowing situations. o Ability to make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues. o Ability to maintain intense concentration for complex interaction with patients
Other
Essential
- o Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients o Car driver with a valid driving licence and have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust
Person Specification
qualifications & Training
Essential
- o Professional qualification in Clinical Psychology at doctoral level or equivalent & eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status in the British Psychological Society. o Registered with HCPC as a qualified Clinical Psychologist
Desirable
- o Further training in at least one or more additional specialised area of psychological relevance (e.g. neuropsychology, staff training, research methodology, and/ or psychological therapy).
Knowledge
Essential
- o Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology. o Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies. o Knowledge of clinical applications of the Mental Capacity Act and other relevant legislation within a relevant service. o Knowledge of the range of mental health difficulties which impact on people in Older Adult, including mood related difficulties, dementia and psychosis. o Evidence of CPD as by HCPC and the BPS
Experience
Essential
- o Previous experience of neuropsychological and psychological assessment with clients with dementia. o Previous experience of delivering individual and group based structured psychological interventions to clients with severe and complex mental health problems. Experience in risk assessment, formulation and management particularly important. o Experience of working with behaviours that challenge. o Experience of working with a range of complex presentations and a good understanding of the complexities and challenges of working with an Older Adult population. This includes maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. o Experience of working as a clinical psychologist demonstrating competencies relevant to the position required for Band 8a. o Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan. o Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team o Experience of providing supervision and training.
Desirable
- o Experience of working with families. o Experience of working in inpatient settings. o Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency contexts. o Experience of working with complex trauma and with systems working around people who have experienced trauma.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- o Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. o Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. o Ability to organise time effectively. o Ability to use own initiative and to work under supervision where appropriate. o Skills in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups. o Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team. o Ability to provide rapid psychological assessment and brief psychological interventions, especially in the management of risk. o Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. o Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty.
Communication Skills
Essential
- o Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
Physical Skills
Essential
- o Ability to sit in constrained positions for extended periods.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- o Ability to contain and work with stress and harrowing situations. o Ability to make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues. o Ability to maintain intense concentration for complex interaction with patients
Other
Essential
- o Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients o Car driver with a valid driving licence and have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust
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.
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
