Principal Clinical Psychologist

Job overview

Over recent months our teams have been re-shaping the way care is delivered within secondary care mental health, to offer evidence based clinical pathways and improve access to psychological therapies for those with complex mental health difficulties, including complex trauma, interpersonal difficulties and psychosis.

The post is based at the Sutherland Centre in Dresden and offers opportunity to develop skills in leadership, supervision and service development, alongside a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and within an integrated MDT. We work closely with other services within the Trust and with VCSE partners to ensure that service users’ needs are met in a timely way and to minimise unhelpful gaps between services.

Main duties of the job

We have strong links with the local Clinical Psychology Training course at Staffordshire University and host trainees on placement in the team.

We are supportive of flexible working and would welcome applications from those wishing to blend time at the office with remote working.

Working for our organisation

As a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care.

We pride ourselves on ensuring our team has their wellbeing put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.

As a Trust, you can be assured that we will commit to supporting you in working towards our net zero ambitions, set out in our Green Plan, through our sustainability programme”.

The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under-represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Accountable for own professional practice in the delivery of highly specialist psychological care to clients with highly complex and contentious mental health conditions or learning disabilities which include challenging behaviours and possible risk of physical aggression.

To be compassionate in meeting the needs of clients, their carers and families.

To provide clinical supervision and training to less experienced colleagues within the designated psychology service and to other members of the multidisciplinary team.

To undertake formal research as a major part of the job and act as field supervisor to doctorate trainees.

To be proactive in continual service improvement within own area.

To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental ill health or learning disabilities.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical / counselling psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Experience

• Working as a qualified applied psychologist within the designated service including a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and a range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings.
• Teaching, training, clinical supervision and field supervisor for doctoral theses.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health and its implications for clinical practice.
• Doctoral Level knowledge of Evidence-based practice relevant to the role

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer and values diversity. We offer a variety of flexible working opportunities for both full and part time staff. Job Share applicants will be fully considered and applications are particularly welcomed from current and previous service users

All correspondence at each stage of the process (including any offer packs) will be sent to you via the email address you applied from, please ensure you check your emails regularly.

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• In the event of exceptionally high levels of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated above in order to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable. You are advised to submit your completed application form as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.
• Priority will be given to NHS staff across the region who are at risk of redundancy, where the vacancy is at the same band or one below their current band and candidates meet the essential criteria for this post.
• All employees new to the Trust will be subject to a 6 month probationary period.
• All clinical staff bands 2-4 that are new to the Trust will be required to complete a Care Certificate.

Canvassing of members of the Trust or of any Committee of the Trust directly or indirectly for any appointment under the Trust shall disqualify the candidate for such appointment. The Trust does not pay travel expenses for candidates attending interviews.

ALL POSTS INVOLVING ACCESS TO PERSONS IN RECEIPT OF HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE SUBJECT TO A DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE DISCLOSURE.

Please provide full contact details for all referees, especially their email addresses where possible. Failure to do may result in significant delays in your application. There may also be a requirement to provide additional referee details.