Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist, Band 8a

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose for both posts:

• To provide a highly specialist psychology service for older people and their carers, as part of the Aubrey Lewis 1 and/or Hayworth Ward including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
• To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.
• To take a lead in developing specialist care practice to incorporate new ways of working using best practice and NICE guidelines.
• To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
• To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
• To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

Detailed Key Responsibilities and Job Description for all posts are attached to this Advert

Band 8a Psychologist Qualifications

Essential

• oEntry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I)
• oRegistered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. (A/I)

Desirable

• oAdditional training in a specialised area of psychological practice relevant to older peoples mental health through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice relevant to older peoples mental health, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I/R)
• oPost qualification training in Clinical Neuropsychology or evidence of supervised clinical practice.
• oCompleted training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)

Band 8a Psychologist Experience

Essential

• oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in health services relevant to older people's mental health services. (A/I)
• oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature relevant to older people's mental health. (A/I)
• oExperience of offering supervision to Assistant or Trainee Psychologists or other professional groups (A/I)
• oPost-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
• oExperience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)

Desirable

• oExperience of working in acute mental health care settings
• oExperience of the design, delivery and evaluation of psychological interventions using groups.
• oExperience of using psychological formulations for the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
• oCompetency in the selection, administration, scoring, interpretation and dissemination of neuropsychological assessments in relation to neurodegenerative disorders and evidence of regular supervised practice in these. (A/I/R)

Band 8a Psychologist Knowledge

Essential

• oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for older people's mental health (A/I/R)
• oTheoretical knowledge of psychopathologies in later life and the evidence base for their treatment (A/I/R)
• oAdvanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics as applied to neurodegenerative disorders associated with later life. (A/I/R)
• oKnowledge of legislation in relation to older adults and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
• oDoctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. (A/I/R)
• oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I/R)

Band 8a Psychologist Skills

Essential

• oTo deliver psychological assessments and interventions to older people across cultural and other differences.
• oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• oTo communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• oTo plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
• oTo determine caseload and time allocation according to clinical/service priorities and to plan the allocation of tasks to trainees and assistant psychologists.
• oTo be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials. (A/I/R)
• oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. (A/I/R)
• oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups (A/I/R).

Band 8a Psychologist Abilities

Essential

• oAbility to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I/R)
• oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. (A/I/R)
• oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I/R)
• oAbility to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these. (A/I)
• oAbility to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour. (A/I)
• oAbility to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self. (A/I)

Band 7 Preceptorship Qualifications

Essential

• oEntry-level qualification in Applied Clinical Psychology (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I)
• oRegistered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. (A/I)

Band 7 Preceptorship Experience

Essential

• oExperience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs. (A/I)
• oExperience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature (A/I)
• oExperience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience. (A/I)
• oExperience of developing and carrying out research projects. (A/I)

Desirable

• oClinical training placement working with older people

Band 7 Preceptorship Knowledge

Essential

• oTheoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment. (A/I/R)
• oKnowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I/R)
• oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
• oDoctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. (A/I/R)
• oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. (A/I/R)
• oTo deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/I/R)
• oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources. (A/I/R)

Band 7 Preceptorship Skills

Essential

• oTo communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information. (A/I/R)
• oTo plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPA and case reviews. (A/I/R)oTo plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPA and case reviews. (A/I/R)
• oTo plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists. (A/I/R)
• oTo be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials. (A/I/R)
• oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. (A/I/R)

Desirable

• oTo plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists. (A/I/R)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).