Senior Clinical Psychologist

Are you a creative, flexible and innovative Clinical or Counselling Psychologist looking for an exciting opportunity working on our Older Persons' Mental Health Service. We have a substantive 1 WTE working in Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Older Adult CMHT and Memory Service. The post-holder will provide specialist psychological input, be interested in developing and delivering innovative approaches to the provision of psychology services in mental healthcare, and contribute to a positive holistic and person-centred culture within services using Trauma Informed Care ethos. The post holder will be part of a wider Older Person's psychology team who are a supportive, compassionate and collaborative team. We particularly welcome people with an interest in service improvement. As a large Trust across we also have teaching, training and research links with local universities (UH, Bedfordshire, UEL and UCL).

We invite applications from those nearing or newly qualified. Newly qualified psychologists could be appointed at Band 7 preceptorship to work towards requirements for Band 8a, subject to satisfactory completion of the preceptorship. For any newly qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologists who have not met HCPC evidence of qualification by the start date we may appoint on a lower banding. Staff will be required to attain HCPC registration within 6 months of starting in post.

Job share and flexible working patterns can be considered.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for the provision of specialist psychological input to Older People's Mental Health Services in the Central Bedfordshire area, based at the Mid-Bedfordshire Older People's CMHT and Memory Assessment Service based in Biggleswade and CMHT in Bedford.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job responsibilities

This role includes provision of specialist psychological and neuropsychological assessments, psychological formulations and delivery of highly specialist psychological interventions to service users in community, residential and inpatient settings. Service users seen by the post holder will include people who have experienced high levels of distress and complex mental health difficulties, and people presenting with distressed behavior associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Service users may present with a high level of risk to both themselves and sometimes to other people.

The post holder will also provide consultation to the multi-disciplinary community team and Memory Assessment Services in Bedfordshire and support in the development of care plans for service users. Supervision to Assistant and Trainee psychologists as well as Clinical Associates in Psychology forms an important part of the post. Contribution to service development initiatives, audit and research are expected as a senior clinician in the team. With guidance from the Older Peoples Psychology Lead, the postholder will liaise closely with psychologists working in other Older Peoples teams in Luton and Bedfordshire to develop and maintain a high standard of professional practice across the service.

Person Specification

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
• Experience of supervision of assistant psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists
• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, or Equivalent
• HCPC Registration
• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, or Equivalent
• Previous experience of cognitive assessment and working with dementia
• Skills in engaging positively with a wide range of people with respect for diversity and encouraging inclusion
• Experience of working in older adult's services

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.

£57,528 to £64,750 a yearPer Annum (pro rata if Part Time)