Job summary
We are seeking a Principal Clinical Psychologisteither at Band 7 or Band 8a depending on level of experience. This post could be configured for newly qualified psychologists, with CPD and wide areas of supervision provided.
The successful applicant will be joining a supportive and innovative team. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about working with adults with learning disabilities and their networks of support.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work alongside experienced and enthusiastic multi-disciplinary team colleagues in a Community Learning Disabilities team. The post-holder will be responsible for providing a high quality clinical psychological service to people with learning disabilities in the South Somerset area. There is a strong emphasis on working alongside colleagues to help develop formulations and support staff to implement psychologically informed interventions for people with learning disabilities. This post also involves delivering highly specialist psychological therapy and neuropsychological assessment.
This post is part of a well-established Learning Disabilities Clinical Psychology Service in Somerset which employs 6 qualified Clinical Psychologists, two Clinical Associate Psychologists, three Assistant Psychologists and hosts 5-6 Trainee Clinical Psychologists each academic year. There also are good links with other psychology colleagues working across other specialisms.
The successful candidate will have an interest and enthusiasm for working with adults with learning disabilities. They will be resilient, confident, and well organised and able to communicate effectively with people from a range of backgrounds. They will be able to integrate information from a range of sources and provide practical and psychologically informed advice and support to staff, service users, their families, and carers.
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
Planning and Organisation
- To provide psychological assessment, formulation, and interventions across a number of clinical care pathways for people with learning disabilities.
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions and planning meetings.
Responsibility for Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
- Responsible for providing autonomous and systematic clinical psychology service, highly specialised psychological assessment and therapy
- To work with and support families and carers
- To provide a consultancy service for the staff members of the CTALD, and other professionals in the care network
- To advise on the development of evidence based psychological programmes
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions and planning meetings
- To be responsible for own caseload, work and interventions with even the most complex presentations and for interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner and to seek consultation and supervision appropriately from peers, and the Head of LD Psychology
Please see JD for further information
Job description
Job responsibilities
Planning and Organisation
- To provide psychological assessment, formulation, and interventions across a number of clinical care pathways for people with learning disabilities.
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions and planning meetings.
Responsibility for Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
- Responsible for providing autonomous and systematic clinical psychology service, highly specialised psychological assessment and therapy
- To work with and support families and carers
- To provide a consultancy service for the staff members of the CTALD, and other professionals in the care network
- To advise on the development of evidence based psychological programmes
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions and planning meetings
- To be responsible for own caseload, work and interventions with even the most complex presentations and for interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner and to seek consultation and supervision appropriately from peers, and the Head of LD Psychology
Please see JD for further information
Person Specification
BEHAVIOURS ALIGNED WITH TRUST VALUES
Essential
- Outstanding care
- Listening and leading
- Working together
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential
- Doctorate Clinical Psychology or equivalent
- Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status
Desirable
- Relevant specialist training in Neuropsychology, Psychological Therapy, Supervision, and Research Methods
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialist psychological therapies, and their application and adaptation in LD Psychology
- Knowledge of clinical application of the Mental Capacity Act and other relevant legislation
- Specialist training in PBS
- Evidence of on-going CPD in relevant fields
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology including complex multivariate analysis applicable to clinical psychology
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Clinical and audit work in LD
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Teaching and training psychologists and other professional staff
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Supervision with a range of staff
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Consultancy in a range of settings
- Significant postdoctoral experience of working in multi-professional/multiagency settings
Desirable
- Research and development work in area relevant to people with LD
- Experience of providing a psychological service in the community
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
- Skills in the use of complex methods and tests in psychological and neuropsychological assessment frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Skill in providing consultation and training to other professionals and non-professionals
- Ability to provide rapid psychological assessment and brief psychological interventions, especially in the management of risk.
- Ability to contain and work with stress and harrowing situations and make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues
Desirable
- Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
OTHER
Essential
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive, sometimes emotive and potentially distressing information to clients, their families and other professionals both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to organise own time effectively and efficiently to manage own case load, work with the CTALD and other responsibilities in sometimes pressured, stressful and harrowing situations
- Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
- Car driver with valid driving licence and insurance
Person Specification
BEHAVIOURS ALIGNED WITH TRUST VALUES
Essential
- Outstanding care
- Listening and leading
- Working together
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential
- Doctorate Clinical Psychology or equivalent
- Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status
Desirable
- Relevant specialist training in Neuropsychology, Psychological Therapy, Supervision, and Research Methods
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialist psychological therapies, and their application and adaptation in LD Psychology
- Knowledge of clinical application of the Mental Capacity Act and other relevant legislation
- Specialist training in PBS
- Evidence of on-going CPD in relevant fields
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology including complex multivariate analysis applicable to clinical psychology
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Clinical and audit work in LD
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Teaching and training psychologists and other professional staff
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Supervision with a range of staff
- Significant postdoctoral experience of Consultancy in a range of settings
- Significant postdoctoral experience of working in multi-professional/multiagency settings
Desirable
- Research and development work in area relevant to people with LD
- Experience of providing a psychological service in the community
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
- Skills in the use of complex methods and tests in psychological and neuropsychological assessment frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Skill in providing consultation and training to other professionals and non-professionals
- Ability to provide rapid psychological assessment and brief psychological interventions, especially in the management of risk.
- Ability to contain and work with stress and harrowing situations and make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues
Desirable
- Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
OTHER
Essential
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive, sometimes emotive and potentially distressing information to clients, their families and other professionals both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to organise own time effectively and efficiently to manage own case load, work with the CTALD and other responsibilities in sometimes pressured, stressful and harrowing situations
- Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
- Car driver with valid driving licence and insurance
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).
