Job summary
Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist Band 7
We are looking for a creative, forward thinking and motivated psychologist to join our friendly and professional multi-disciplinary teams based in Luton and Dunstable. The position is funded to band 8A but also available for less experienced psychologists on a preceptorship basis, paid at band 7 until two years post qualified. Support and funding for training will be provided to a band 7 to enable the move to band 8A at that time.
0.5 WTE is available in each of the Dunstable and Luton CAMHS Emotional and Behaviour Teams, with the option of combining these into a full time role if desired. The teams are part of a broader South Bedfordshire CAMHS service offering a community mental health service to a fast growing, vibrant multi-ethnic community across the south of the county.
The Emotional and Behaviour teams work alongside other teams which offer specialist support, for example for clients in crisis, or those with eating disorders or learning disabilities. We also work closely with our growing local community teams which have staff working in schools, GP practices and Early Help teams.
Main duties of the job
You will be supported by regular clinical and management supervision sessions, access to a variety of CPD sessions, and annual performance appraisals. Both Clinical Team Leads are Consultant Clinical Psychologists, able to offer clinical supervision, including specialist CBT supervision if required for BABCP registration. You will also participate in weekly clinical discussions with the teams, monthly complex case discussions and a bimonthly reflective space.
The vacancy has arisen due to the promotion of a clinical psychologist within the trust. The team leaders are committed to staff development: there are regular opportunities for staff to apply for appropriate training courses in the last year, staff in our teams have attended many courses including CBT, EMDR, NVR and DBT. We are also passionate about service user participation with opportunities to get involved in groups and encouragement to work with service users, for example in evaluation of groups and service development. Our teams benefit from a strong relationship with Hertfordshire University and we support up to 3 clinical psychology doctorate trainees.
About us
The Luton post is based in central Luton. The Dunstable post is based close to the M1 and easily reached by car from North London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. The clinic also has the added benefit of free parking and all clinicians are supported by very dedicated and efficient administrative staff.
Most of the work will be based in the clinic when not remote working, but access to a car is helpful in Dunstable. The Trust has an arrangement for 50% discount on season ticket fares with Thameslink, the rail provider, for its staff. A generous relocation package is available if you need to move to access this job.
There are also frequent new developments in the service, offering staff the chance to work at a higher banding during the time of the project. As part of the East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), there are a significant number of positions in the trust for clinicians up to band 8D, opening up paths for promotion for ambitious members of staff. ELFT also prioritizes staff wellbeing and we have introduced a range of staff wellbeing initiatives to support this.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Within the core team, the post-holder will be offering assessments and treatments to young people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties, involving parent/carers, schools and other agencies as appropriate. The post-holder will require a high degree of professional autonomy and self-management, and the ability to work well in a team. If Band 8A, you will be clinically supervising other trainee and qualified clinical psychologists and offering line management support to other members of the team as needed. You will also offer training and consultation to staff and other professionals and have the opportunity to work on service development and Quality Improvement projects; including current initiatives in developing practice and skills in trauma informed care across the service and local area.
You will be supported by regular clinical and management supervision sessions, access to a variety of CPD sessions, and annual performance appraisals. Both Clinical Team Leads are Consultant Clinical Psychologists, able to offer clinical supervision, including specialist CBT supervision if required for BABCP registration. You will also participate in weekly clinical discussions with the teams, monthly complex case discussions and a bimonthly reflective space.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Within the core team, the post-holder will be offering assessments and treatments to young people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties, involving parent/carers, schools and other agencies as appropriate. The post-holder will require a high degree of professional autonomy and self-management, and the ability to work well in a team. If Band 8A, you will be clinically supervising other trainee and qualified clinical psychologists and offering line management support to other members of the team as needed. You will also offer training and consultation to staff and other professionals and have the opportunity to work on service development and Quality Improvement projects; including current initiatives in developing practice and skills in trauma informed care across the service and local area.
You will be supported by regular clinical and management supervision sessions, access to a variety of CPD sessions, and annual performance appraisals. Both Clinical Team Leads are Consultant Clinical Psychologists, able to offer clinical supervision, including specialist CBT supervision if required for BABCP registration. You will also participate in weekly clinical discussions with the teams, monthly complex case discussions and a bimonthly reflective space.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Minimum: First degree in Psychology (BSc).
- Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology OR Counselling Psychology OR Health Psychology OR Education Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the HCPC.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing care coordination
- Experience of providing a direct clinical service, including specialist assessment, psychological formulation of problems and intervention (minimum 500 hours supervised practice), offering interventions in an individual, family-based and group-based format.
- Relevant experience with young people and their families/ carers and wider professional network with severe and complex adolescent mental health difficulties
- Experience of participating in Quality Improvement, audit, evaluation and research activities.
- Additional relevant clinical and / or managerial knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self study or experience (or a combination of these).
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to provide a specialist / highly specialist clinical service, including specialist assessments, formulation and therapy from at least two therapeutic modalities.
- Able to design and deliver teaching/training programmes to a range of staff groups.
- Knowledge of the Children's Act, Mental Health Act, CPA legislation and national treatment guidelines
- Communication & Relationship skills: Able to provide & receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a range of relationships and settings including emergencies. Able to use highly specialist skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
- Analytical & judgemental skills: Able to draw upon a broad theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of highly complex facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations. Able to compare and select from a range of treatment options, based on a contextualised formulation.
- Planning and organisational skills: Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Minimum: First degree in Psychology (BSc).
- Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology OR Counselling Psychology OR Health Psychology OR Education Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the HCPC.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing care coordination
- Experience of providing a direct clinical service, including specialist assessment, psychological formulation of problems and intervention (minimum 500 hours supervised practice), offering interventions in an individual, family-based and group-based format.
- Relevant experience with young people and their families/ carers and wider professional network with severe and complex adolescent mental health difficulties
- Experience of participating in Quality Improvement, audit, evaluation and research activities.
- Additional relevant clinical and / or managerial knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self study or experience (or a combination of these).
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to provide a specialist / highly specialist clinical service, including specialist assessments, formulation and therapy from at least two therapeutic modalities.
- Able to design and deliver teaching/training programmes to a range of staff groups.
- Knowledge of the Children's Act, Mental Health Act, CPA legislation and national treatment guidelines
- Communication & Relationship skills: Able to provide & receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a range of relationships and settings including emergencies. Able to use highly specialist skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
- Analytical & judgemental skills: Able to draw upon a broad theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of highly complex facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations. Able to compare and select from a range of treatment options, based on a contextualised formulation.
- Planning and organisational skills: Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload.
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).
