Job summary
We are seeking to appoint a committed, compassionate and highly skilled psychologist to our Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT).
The successful candidate will be an integral part of the management team providing clinical leadership and expertise in order to provide high quality, psychologically informed and risk managed care for a cohort of patients with complex forensic mental health needs.
The role involves providing psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to complex and challenging clients within the service.
Many of the patients admitted to an SCFT caseload will return to the community under restricted sections of the mental health act and will require intensive MDT support both pre and post discharge.
There will be significant opportunities to contribute to staff development and wellbeing, training and supervision.
The forensic service consists in Somerset the SCFT who gatekeep/ avoid admission to secure care and who keywork patients within the team; Forensic Link Workers who provide forensic advice and support to community mental health services and non secure inpatient settings;ALiaison and Diversion Service within police Custody, locally named ASCC (Advice and Support in Custody and Court); An Offender Personality disorder (OPD) Pathway in conjunction with probation services; andAsh Ward which isa 12 bedded Male, a low secure inpatient ward that is part of the South West Provider Collaborative
Main duties of the job
Please see Job description for full list of duties.
The main duties of the job are:
- Supporting with the development of the service
- Providing specialist risk assessments utilising structured professional judgement tools (e.g. HCR-20) and delivering clinical interventions for the SCFT clinical caseload.
- Providing supervision for the wider MDT
- Supporting Somerset FT colleagues with a forensically minded psychological approach to care planning and risk management.
- Supporting the Trust build our research capacity in due course
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
See detailed job description for full description of responsibilities.
Should you have any queries in relation to the job description or main responsibilities, then please do contact the service manager - details below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See detailed job description for full description of responsibilities.
Should you have any queries in relation to the job description or main responsibilities, then please do contact the service manager - details below.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Doctoral Clinical or Forensic Psychology or equivalent
- Registered with HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Significant experience of working with people with long term mental health problems
- Relevant specialist CPD training in psychological therapy with long term mental health problems
Experience
Essential
- Clinical work with people with long term mental health problems
- Competence in core psychological assessment formulation and skills intervention skills
- Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder
- Experience of teaching and training psychology to staff and other professionals
- Experience of working in a multi-professional/ multi- agency setting
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
- Compassionate - exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives (as appropriate) remaining sensitive and empathetic.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to undertake appropriate PMVA training at the level required for this post.
- Able to travel to locations around the SWPC region as required. Driving licence and access to a vehicle
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Doctoral Clinical or Forensic Psychology or equivalent
- Registered with HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Significant experience of working with people with long term mental health problems
- Relevant specialist CPD training in psychological therapy with long term mental health problems
Experience
Essential
- Clinical work with people with long term mental health problems
- Competence in core psychological assessment formulation and skills intervention skills
- Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder
- Experience of teaching and training psychology to staff and other professionals
- Experience of working in a multi-professional/ multi- agency setting
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
- Compassionate - exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives (as appropriate) remaining sensitive and empathetic.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to undertake appropriate PMVA training at the level required for this post.
- Able to travel to locations around the SWPC region as required. Driving licence and access to a vehicle
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).
