Job summary
We are looking for a highly skilled, compassionate, experienced Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychologist to join us in Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Low Secure Services, which form part of the Rehabilitation and High Support (RHS) Care hub. The post will suit an enthusiastic Psychologist with an interest in developing skills across a wide range of therapeutic approaches and consultation skills, combined with a desire to work within a low secure setting.
Prospect Place is part of the Rehabilitation and High Support Care Hub in Pennine Care. Prospect Place is a 45-bed low secure unit that opened in 2011 and is based on the site of Birch Hill Hospital in Rochdale. The unit is for men aged 18 to 65 years, who have a diagnosed psychotic disorder, and have been detained under the Mental Health Act. Alcohol and drug misuse are often a part of the problems faced by patients. A secure setting may be required to help address challenges around the patient's view of their illness and the vulnerabilities and risks to themselves and others that may result from this.
There is free parking at Birch Hill Hospital site and allocated office space. We would welcome applications for flexible working patterns.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the promotion and management of high-quality psychology input at Prospect Place. The post holder will be part of a respected psychology team that includes a Principal Forensic Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists. They will work as part of a wider team of other Psychologists within RHS. Supervision will be provided by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist/ Clinical Lead in RHS.
The post will require you to provide psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to service users who present with complex mental health problems, including psychosis, alongside a possible history of trauma, substance misuse and forensic histories. The post holder will provide direct face-to-face clinical sessions and support the psychosocial intervention work of colleagues. The post-holder will support the ongoing work in RHS on trauma informed care and reducing restrictive practices.
The post holder would be joining the MDT at Prospect Place. You will be expected to attend MDT meetings and to facilitate regular regular reflective groups to offer the MDT reflective space, develop psychological formulations and provide bespoke training. In addition, you will provide one-to-one clinical supervision to Psychologists and other members of the MDT as appropriate. The post will require you to be involved in service developments, Quality Improvement projects and governance within the service as required.
About us
We support staff to work flexibly and recognise and respect the roles our colleagues hold outside of their working hours.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We believe that a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone's value should be recognised and respected.
We proactively challenge injustices, and are the only Trust in the North West to publicly recognise our commitment to becoming anti-racist and supporting our transgender and non-binary colleagues. We also have thriving staff networks to make sure everyone has a voice.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our#PennineCarePeopleand do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.
We are committed to staff development through shared learning, training and peer supervision. We are working hard in the Rehabilitation and High Support Care Hub to reduce restrictive practices, and to provide trauma-informed care.
Our trust values are:
Kindness
Fairness
Ingenuity
Determination
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.
For further details, discussion or to arrange an informal visit please contact Dr Louisa McNair, Consultant Clinical Psychologist on 07917 503634 or louisa.mcnair@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.
For further details, discussion or to arrange an informal visit please contact Dr Louisa McNair, Consultant Clinical Psychologist on 07917 503634 or louisa.mcnair@nhs.net
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychological assessments, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan development psychology as accredited by the BPS) or postgraduate training in Forensic Psychology or Counselling Psychology
- Current registration as a Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Desirable
- Completion of further post qualification training within psychological therapies (e.g., DBT, CBT, CAT, CFT, MBT etc)
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable post-qualification experience of specialist assessment and treatment of adult clients and those with psychological difficulties in an inpatient setting.
- Demonstrable post-qualification experience of working with complex mental health problems, including distressing psychosis, problems associated with complex relational and emotional needs, and severe depression, anxiety and trauma.
- Demonstratable experience of working with people experiencing a suicidal crisis
- Demonstrable experience of working within inpatient adult multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience of clinical leadership within a previous role
- Demonstratable experience of providing clinical supervision to psychologists, psychological practitioners or other core health professions
- Demonstratable experience of providing teaching/ training upon clinical interventions.
- Demonstratable experience of managing demand for psychological services within a form of stepped-care framework (i.e., an approach based upon the provision of direct care, and supporting other professionals in their provision of psychosocial work)
Desirable
- Experience of clinical leadership
- Ability to demonstrate further specialist clinical experience and training
- Experience of audit and service evaluation within psychological therapy services
- Research experience within an area relevant to work within an adult service
- Demonstratable experience of the application of psychological therapy in diverse cultural and ethnic contexts
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the national and regional legislation, guidance and policy directives in relation to the development and delivery of psychological therapies within inpatient services.
- Evidence of post-qualification CPD as recommended by the HCPC and, or BPS, or other professional body.
- Up to date knowledge of the needs of people with complex mental health problems, and of psychological approaches to recovery.
- Awareness of the principles of a trauma informed care approach.
- Familiarity with computing technology, including keyboard skills and use of word-processing, e-mail and internet software.
Desirable
- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and approaches for adults with complex mental health problems.
- Publication of training, service evaluation, clinical audit and research material
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to work with service users, carers and families to engage with their needs and provide them with appropriate psychological support and intervention
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
- Well developed, effective communication skills, both oral and in writing, enabling complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to be shared with service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues within the NMHS and other agencies
- Ability to prioritise work, operate a waiting list, meet short deadlines and an unpredictable work pattern that requires regular revision of plans
- Ability to sit in a constrained position for service user assessment, formulation and individual and group therapy sessions and for computer work
- Ability to work at a high level of professional autonomy and responsibility, in a collaborative multi-disciplinary environment and also as a lone worker in circumstances where there may be exposure to verbal and sometimes physical aggression.
- Able to sustain the intense concentration necessary for service user assessment and formulation, individual and group therapy sessions
- Ability to work and communicate highly sensitive, contentious information effectively in a highly emotive or hostile atmosphere, and to overcome barriers to acceptance/ psychological resistance to potentially threatening information
- Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to staff and carers exposed to highly distressing situations
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
Desirable
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials, suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
- Ability to demonstrate an area of special interest/ skill in therapeutic intervention
- Ability to move equipment (including case files, neuropsychological tests, self-help materials, audiovisual equipment) between office base and other work settings.
Work related circumstances
Essential
- Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
- Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
- Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychological assessments, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan development psychology as accredited by the BPS) or postgraduate training in Forensic Psychology or Counselling Psychology
- Current registration as a Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Desirable
- Completion of further post qualification training within psychological therapies (e.g., DBT, CBT, CAT, CFT, MBT etc)
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable post-qualification experience of specialist assessment and treatment of adult clients and those with psychological difficulties in an inpatient setting.
- Demonstrable post-qualification experience of working with complex mental health problems, including distressing psychosis, problems associated with complex relational and emotional needs, and severe depression, anxiety and trauma.
- Demonstratable experience of working with people experiencing a suicidal crisis
- Demonstrable experience of working within inpatient adult multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience of clinical leadership within a previous role
- Demonstratable experience of providing clinical supervision to psychologists, psychological practitioners or other core health professions
- Demonstratable experience of providing teaching/ training upon clinical interventions.
- Demonstratable experience of managing demand for psychological services within a form of stepped-care framework (i.e., an approach based upon the provision of direct care, and supporting other professionals in their provision of psychosocial work)
Desirable
- Experience of clinical leadership
- Ability to demonstrate further specialist clinical experience and training
- Experience of audit and service evaluation within psychological therapy services
- Research experience within an area relevant to work within an adult service
- Demonstratable experience of the application of psychological therapy in diverse cultural and ethnic contexts
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the national and regional legislation, guidance and policy directives in relation to the development and delivery of psychological therapies within inpatient services.
- Evidence of post-qualification CPD as recommended by the HCPC and, or BPS, or other professional body.
- Up to date knowledge of the needs of people with complex mental health problems, and of psychological approaches to recovery.
- Awareness of the principles of a trauma informed care approach.
- Familiarity with computing technology, including keyboard skills and use of word-processing, e-mail and internet software.
Desirable
- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and approaches for adults with complex mental health problems.
- Publication of training, service evaluation, clinical audit and research material
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Ability to work with service users, carers and families to engage with their needs and provide them with appropriate psychological support and intervention
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
- Well developed, effective communication skills, both oral and in writing, enabling complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to be shared with service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues within the NMHS and other agencies
- Ability to prioritise work, operate a waiting list, meet short deadlines and an unpredictable work pattern that requires regular revision of plans
- Ability to sit in a constrained position for service user assessment, formulation and individual and group therapy sessions and for computer work
- Ability to work at a high level of professional autonomy and responsibility, in a collaborative multi-disciplinary environment and also as a lone worker in circumstances where there may be exposure to verbal and sometimes physical aggression.
- Able to sustain the intense concentration necessary for service user assessment and formulation, individual and group therapy sessions
- Ability to work and communicate highly sensitive, contentious information effectively in a highly emotive or hostile atmosphere, and to overcome barriers to acceptance/ psychological resistance to potentially threatening information
- Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to staff and carers exposed to highly distressing situations
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
Desirable
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials, suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
- Ability to demonstrate an area of special interest/ skill in therapeutic intervention
- Ability to move equipment (including case files, neuropsychological tests, self-help materials, audiovisual equipment) between office base and other work settings.
Work related circumstances
Essential
- Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
- Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
- Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
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
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).
