Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. Post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical psychology (or equivalent).

2. Registered and accredited with Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) or UKCP/BPC

3. Evidence of post-doctoral specialist training to accreditable level in at least 2 areas of psychological practice directly related to the clinical requirements of this post.

4. Leadership experience and a successful track record in leading service delivery and contributing to service transformation

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and Other Ethnic Groups.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Mel Jarvis telephone number 07795366676 or email Mel.Jarvis@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Interview will be held on 13th Feb 2025

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

• For Clinical/Counselling Psychologist : Post graduate doctoral qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996 or for those who completed their training overseas) which provides eligibility for Chartered Membership of the BPS (British Psychological Society).
• For Clinical/Counselling Psychologist : Registered and accredited with Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist
• For Psychotherapist: Recognised master's level qualification in psychodynamic psychotherapy or equivalent.
• For Psychotherapist: Registered and accredited with UKCP as a psychotherapist or with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).
• For Clinical Neuropsychology: Registered with the HCPC as a Clinical Psychologist or Practitioner Psychologist (with additional qualifications in Neuropsychology) and eligible for Chartered Membership status with the BPS.
• For Clinical Neuropsychology: Completion of (or working towards/willing to undertake) the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (QiCN).
• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist : Post graduate qualification in relevant mental health or social care related discipline or equivalent. (E.G. Clinical psychology registered with HCPC, or Registered Mental Health Nurse (NMC), or Occupational Therapy degree level and registered with HCPC, or Registered Social Worker registered with HCPC or qualified Psychotherapist registered with professional body ACP or equivalent)
• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist : Master's level qualification or equivalent in family and systemic psychotherapy or equivalent qualification accredited by AFT.
• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist : Registered as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist : Post-graduate qualification in systemic supervision and registered as an AFT-approved systemic supervisor
• Additional accreditations (or working towards these) to reflect to post qualification specialist training (e.g., BABCP, UKCP, ACAT, BPS).
• Proven ability in teaching and formal training in professional/clinical supervision.

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

• Evidence of substantial post-doctoral training, experience and expert knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches with an evidence base within the area of specialism OR Evidence of post qualification or specialist training to accreditable level in at least two areas of psychological/psychotherapy practice directly related to the clinical requirements of this post and clinical supervision.
• Clinical supervision training for psychological therapy trainees and qualified staff or a nationally recognised psychotherapy training (UKCP - PP section or BPC) with supervision training for psychotherapy trainees on placement.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience working as a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist/psychotherapist/family systemic therapist, neuropsychologist, including demonstrable post qualification experience at a highly specialist level in the related specialisms.
• Significant experience of working in evidence-based ways with service users (and their carers/ families) presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the range of care settings, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse, and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of dealing with highly distressing or emotional circumstances, such as serious mental illness, child and sexual abuse, exploitation, and complex family dynamics.
• Experience of teaching and professional/clinical supervision, as well as experience of developing and leading the delivery of training programmes and supervision.
• Experience of service evaluation and implementing change from a national and local health or social care change agenda that impacts across services and professions.
• Experience of working with, and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with diversity, multiculturalism and equality of access to services

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Able to manage a demanding and complex caseload while supporting junior colleagues.
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers, and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
• Detailed and advanced knowledge of a range of evidence-based assessments and therapeutic interventions within designated clinical area
• Exceptional interpersonal and highly effective communication skills with the ability to support, engage and lead patients, clinicians and other stakeholder groups in change, development, and improvement.
• Advanced IT skills and the ability to navigate various systems and software packages (such as RiO, Outlook, databases, MS office/Teams, and the internet).

Additional requirements

Essential

• Demonstrates the ability to respond to people's needs sensitively, particularly with reference to all aspects of diversity.
• Able to work flexibly as required and to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position.

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).