Job summary
We are pleased to be able to offer the opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 7 Practitioner Psychologist to join the Gloucestershire Recovery in Psychosis (GRIP) team, as part of a small and supportive team of psychological therapists working in the wider team.
We are looking for this post to start in the Autumn 2025 and we would welcome applications from those currently in training.
GRIP is a county-wide Early Intervention in Psychosis team, that provides care to people experiencing their First Episode of Psychosis or those at risk of developing psychosis. The team works intensively over a period of up to three years with clients, their families and the wider community to provide the best possible outcomes for people experiencing psychosis, and to mitigate the long-term effects of serious mental illness.
This role is for 30 hours per week - we are open to discussion with the successful candidate on how these hours can be worked across the week.
We are a dynamic, expanding multi-disciplinary team with a strong focus on taking a flexible, compassionate and person-centred approach to working with people at a difficult stage in their lives, and promoting hope for the patient and their family.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will have post graduate training to doctoral level, and be able to demonstrate appropriate skills and experience in the area of assessment and treatment in order to provide evidence-based interventions to people experiencing their first episode of psychosis and their families. They will also be able to demonstrate appropriate levels of research and audit skills, an interest in contributing to service development and the ability to provide supervision and consultation to other members of the team.
The ideal candidate will show a keen interest in working in line with the principles of Early Intervention to deliver specialist care that reflects the principles of recovery and social inclusion. It is essential that the candidate is willing to undertake further training as necessary in Family Interventions in Psychosis and CBTp. There are good opportunities to link with psychological practitioners in different areas across the trust, and to contribute to local continuing professional development.
Interviews will be held on March 20th 2025.
The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.
About us
We have in excess of 5000 staff working over 50 sites, providing a diverse range of services. We strive to support an organisational culture that is welcoming, builds and celebrates inclusivity and diversity and provides a sense of belonging and trust.
The annual NHS Staff Surveygives our people the opportunity to tell us about their experience working at the Trust. For the 2023 survey just over 2800 colleagues gave us their views (58.5%). It was great to see from the results that colleagues are saying that:
- 89.7% believe they are making a positive difference to patients/service users;
- 73.3% would recommend the organisation as a place to work;
- 82.4% agree that care of patients and service users is the organisations priority;
- 76.7% would be happy with the standard of care for a friend or relative
Our results put us as 5th nationally as a Community, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Employer of Choice and 1st equal amongst all NHS Provider Trusts in the South West. However, we know we have more to do and will continue to drive forward our commitment to making GHC a Great Place to Work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To be responsible for promoting the psychological health and well-being of clients in the EarlyIntervention Team within the Trust.
- To directly provide specialist psychological assessment and intervention services to individuals/ groups/organisations, using a variety of applied psychology models.
- To provide clinical supervision of junior staff.
- To participate in relevant research and audit activity.
- To provide clinical services within the service area covered by the countywide early Intervention Team.
- The team comprises 2 qualified Psychologists and around 17 WTE multi-disciplinary staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To be responsible for promoting the psychological health and well-being of clients in the EarlyIntervention Team within the Trust.
- To directly provide specialist psychological assessment and intervention services to individuals/ groups/organisations, using a variety of applied psychology models.
- To provide clinical supervision of junior staff.
- To participate in relevant research and audit activity.
- To provide clinical services within the service area covered by the countywide early Intervention Team.
- The team comprises 2 qualified Psychologists and around 17 WTE multi-disciplinary staff.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate doctoral level of training in clinical psychology, or counselling psychology, as accredited by the professional body
- Eligible for chartered status
- HCPC registered
Desirable
- Membership of specialist interest groups relevant to client group
Length and/or nature of experience
Essential
- Experience of maintaining working relationships and a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical aggression.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside of the NHS
- Evidence of maintaining effective communication when there are barriers to understanding and in circumstances where hostility, manipulation, conflict and antagonism are present.
- Proficient in the manipulation of complex psychological test equipment for the use in formal testing situations, including neuropsychological assessment
Desirable
- Is in the process of acquiring clinical experience of an increasingly specialist nature
- Some prior experience of supervising and teaching
- Ability to adapt style and/or assessment and intervention strategies to meet the challenges of complex clients/situations. Experience of working with both young people and adult service users and their families.
- Experience of providing family work in psychosis interventions
- Prior experience of working within the early intervention setting
- Experience of assessing and proving psychological interventions with service users with presenting with a range of difficulties and a range of severities, across a range of setting including community, inpatient and residential based settings.
Professional / Managerial / Specialist knowledge
Essential
- Highly developed knowledge of life span and developmental psychology, models for psychological, psychometrics, up to date practice with client group, and two more psychological therapies.
- Experience of working with individuals with psychotic presentations and applying evidence based interventions with this client group.
- Knowledge of research methodology, research design, and complex multi variate data analysis consistent with chartered psychologist status and as practiced within the chartered psychologist professions.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice for the delivery of EI services for individuals and their families
Desirable
- Experience of multi agency and multi disciplinary working.
- Some prior experience of contributing to service development and thinking strategically about the service requirements.
Personal skills, abilities and attributes
Essential
- Emotional robustness to frequently work with the intense distress of others
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to exercise professional autonomy and clinical responsibility in the multi-disciplinary environment and as a lone worker.
Desirable
- Competence in breakaway techniques (and resistant as necessary) established and maintained via Trust training.
Other requirements
Essential
- Keyboard skills and ability to word-processing, spread sheets and statistical analysis software
- Ability to get to required locations in timely and efficient manner
- Commitment to develop knowledge and practice towards more highly specialist levels through a variety of appropriate methods. (short courses, reading, clinical supervision of practice, on the job learning etc.)
- Ability to travel independently around the country
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate doctoral level of training in clinical psychology, or counselling psychology, as accredited by the professional body
- Eligible for chartered status
- HCPC registered
Desirable
- Membership of specialist interest groups relevant to client group
Length and/or nature of experience
Essential
- Experience of maintaining working relationships and a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical aggression.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside of the NHS
- Evidence of maintaining effective communication when there are barriers to understanding and in circumstances where hostility, manipulation, conflict and antagonism are present.
- Proficient in the manipulation of complex psychological test equipment for the use in formal testing situations, including neuropsychological assessment
Desirable
- Is in the process of acquiring clinical experience of an increasingly specialist nature
- Some prior experience of supervising and teaching
- Ability to adapt style and/or assessment and intervention strategies to meet the challenges of complex clients/situations. Experience of working with both young people and adult service users and their families.
- Experience of providing family work in psychosis interventions
- Prior experience of working within the early intervention setting
- Experience of assessing and proving psychological interventions with service users with presenting with a range of difficulties and a range of severities, across a range of setting including community, inpatient and residential based settings.
Professional / Managerial / Specialist knowledge
Essential
- Highly developed knowledge of life span and developmental psychology, models for psychological, psychometrics, up to date practice with client group, and two more psychological therapies.
- Experience of working with individuals with psychotic presentations and applying evidence based interventions with this client group.
- Knowledge of research methodology, research design, and complex multi variate data analysis consistent with chartered psychologist status and as practiced within the chartered psychologist professions.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice for the delivery of EI services for individuals and their families
Desirable
- Experience of multi agency and multi disciplinary working.
- Some prior experience of contributing to service development and thinking strategically about the service requirements.
Personal skills, abilities and attributes
Essential
- Emotional robustness to frequently work with the intense distress of others
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to exercise professional autonomy and clinical responsibility in the multi-disciplinary environment and as a lone worker.
Desirable
- Competence in breakaway techniques (and resistant as necessary) established and maintained via Trust training.
Other requirements
Essential
- Keyboard skills and ability to word-processing, spread sheets and statistical analysis software
- Ability to get to required locations in timely and efficient manner
- Commitment to develop knowledge and practice towards more highly specialist levels through a variety of appropriate methods. (short courses, reading, clinical supervision of practice, on the job learning etc.)
- Ability to travel independently around the country
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).
