Highly Specialist Applied Psychologist

Search for a new job, career, or opportunity to upskill or change your career direction. Become part of our team at CNWL, where we care for you as much as you care for others.

We are passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe, and effective care. Providing top-quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We are always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams, and the Trust.

We offer a diverse culture and a range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities, and more. With a strong focus on career development, we support our staff by providing opportunities to develop their careers.

Highly Specialist Applied Psychologist NHS AfC: Band 8a

Main area: MK Mental Health, Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8a, Contract: Permanent, Hours: Full-time - 37.5 hours per week, Job ref: 333-D-MK-MH-1258-B.

Site: Neath Hill Health Centre, Town: Milton Keynes, Salary: £53,755 - £60,504 per annum, Salary period: Yearly, Closing: 16/10/:59.

CNWL has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes, and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff, and partner organisations in the way we are run.

We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them and actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We are proud of our diversity and continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, and people with disabilities.

We are recognised locally, nationally, and internationally for providing high-quality, innovative healthcare. Our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles.

Job Overview

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our team. The successful candidate will be passionate about working with service users with psychosis and have experience in Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) or have transferable skills and an interest in developing in this area.

The role will involve acting as a liaison and Principal Investigator for research trials, providing specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation, and monitoring of outcomes. The candidate will also contribute to enabling other staff, service users, and carers to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

Main Duties of the Job

The Milton Keynes Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service is a multi-disciplinary team providing treatment and support for people experiencing symptoms of psychosis for the first time. The service has a strong focus on providing psychological interventions alongside care-coordination, help, advice, and support.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

• Provide a highly specialist psychology service to clients with first-episode psychosis, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation, and monitoring of outcomes.
• Contribute to enabling other staff, service users, and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• Provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in EIP.
• Undertake service evaluation, audit, and research.
• Work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• Entry-level qualification in Applied Clinical or Counselling Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice or model of therapy through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent).
• BABCP Accreditation.
• CBTp training.

Experience

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with psychosis.
• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in EI or acute services.
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit, or service evaluation projects.