Principal Practitioner Psychologist
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience
YOUR APPLICATION
We can provide all our job application materials in alternative formats so that these are accessible to everyone. Should you require any documents within this job pack in an alternative format, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
PLEASE NOTE: If you use a hotmail, msn or yahoo e-mail account, you will need to check your "junk" mail regularly as these email providers will divert any communication from this Trust/NHS JOBS straight into your " junk" inbox.
Please note, NSFT uses tools to screen any applications generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Job overview
Are you a skilled and experienced Practitioner Psychologist looking to lead and shape psychological services within acute adult mental health pathways? This role offers an exciting opportunity to provide high-quality psychological care, innovate clinical pathways, and support staff and service users on an acute inpatient ward and in CRHT services at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth.
Working alongside a diverse team, including a principal psychotherapist and a DBT therapist, you will be at the forefront of driving service excellence and creating a lasting impact. This role is designed for a 0.8 WTE Band 8b Principal Practitioner Psychologist, with flexibility to consider applications from full-time Band 8a Practitioner Psychologists who are eager to develop their skills and expertise within this role.
Main duties of the job
Clinical Leadership: Provide strategic clinical leadership across CRHT and an acute inpatient ward, ensuring high standards of psychological care.
Service Development: Expanding access to psychological assessment, formulation, and evidence-based interventions, enhancing collaboration, treatment choice, and effectiveness.
Supervision & Line Management: Offer supervision / line management to psychological professionals and trainees, fostering a culture of learning and excellence within acute services.
Training & Development: Implementing a comprehensive training strategy to embed psychologically informed practices within multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), supporting a stepped care model of psychological care.
Staff Wellbeing & Resilience: Promote staff wellbeing by leading reflective supervision and post-incident support enhancing resilience and retention in challenging environments.
Clinical Practice: Maintain a clinical caseload, delivering high-quality psychological interventions within CRHT and the acute inpatient ward.
Service User Engagement: Lead co-produced service development, empowering service users to actively shape psychological services through meaningful collaboration.
Innovation & Research: Collaborate with local universities to support teaching, supervise doctoral trainees. Contribute to research and quality improvement initiatives.
Working for our organisation
At Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), we are proud of our commitment to delivering innovative, compassionate, and person-centered care. Our team is dedicated to upholding the TALK values: Teamwork, Accountability, Learning, and Kindness, creating an environment where service users and staff thrive.
We value diversity and inclusion, and actively welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to supporting the growth and development of psychological professionals through strong partnerships with local universities, offering opportunities for teaching, research, and supervision of doctoral trainees.
You’ll be joining a forward-thinking team where innovation is encouraged, and quality improvement is a priority. Together, we aim to provide safer, kinder, and better care to our communities. If you’re ready to make a difference, we want to hear from you!
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This post attracts a recruitment premium of £3000 for external staff only. This is a one off payment with half paid on appointment and half paid after the completion of a satisfactory probation period (6 months). The premium is taxable. Please note that should you leave employment, or choose to move to an alternative post within the Trust that does not attract this recruitment premium, you will be required to reimburse all or some it, as follows: 100% of the value of the premium in the first 12 months; 50% of the value of the premium in the period 12 months to 2 years following appointment.
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for the Band 8b role for a detailed breakdown of responsibilities and key requirements. The Band 8a Job Description is available upon request.
For an informal discussion or further information, please contact the Locality Director of Psychology, Dr. Marco Pellegrini ([email protected])
If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and lead with impact, click APPLY today!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology, or its equivalent, including eligibility for chartered status with the BPS
- Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Evidence of CPD in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
Experience
Essential criteria- Specialist complex psychological assessment and treatment of people with a wide range of mental health problems, of varying severity and complexity.
- Extensive experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist and evidence of specialist knowledge gained through practice and ongoing training
- Teaching, training and delivering clinical supervision.
- Experience leading services
Skills
Essential criteria- Assessment, evaluation and management of risk associated with mental ill health and related psychopathology
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis, people with additional disabilities etc.)
- Practitioner level knowledge of at least two models of psychological therapy
Other
Desirable criteria- Experience of providing specific support intervention and strategy for staff
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification).. We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.
DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (formerly CRB)
FOR POSTS WITH DIRECT SERVICE USER CONTACT - Please be advised that due to recent changes in the DBS Service, organisations no longer receive copies of DBS Disclosures – these are sent directly to candidates only. Therefore, it will be your responsibility, if successful, to ensure that this is taken to the appointing officer as soon as you receive it.
Alternatively, if you have subscribed to the update service, we will be able to check your status once we have your authority to do so.
The Trust has now introduced a DBS Update Service which is a contractual requirement. You need to subscribe when you have applied for your DBS clearance and there is a time limit to subscribe of 19 days after receipt of your DBS disclosure. Please ensure that this is completed within the set time scale.
This update service is an annual subscription at a cost of £16 to you. This will enable the Trust to have instant online access to your DBS record, with your consent, and so will remove the need for you to have to apply for this repeat check again.