Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Psychological Therapist

Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Psychological Therapist Band 8b

Main area: Community mental health

Grade: Band 8b

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (or secondment)

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref: 176-CMH

Site: Memorial Hospital

Town: London

Salary: £67,950 - £78,028 pa inc

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 09/03/:59

Job overview

We are looking for a highly skilled, innovative, and experienced Principal Clinical, Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist, to provide clinical and professional leadership to the Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) pathway. The CEN pathway is an innovative and developing multidisciplinary team for individuals who require secondary care community mental health support across the boroughs of Greenwich, Bexley, and Bromley.

The CEN service provides focused, therapeutic interventions to adults who require enhanced care and treatment for Complex Emotional Needs, specifically for people diagnosed with personality disorder and/or complex trauma. The focus is on supporting service-users to achieve stability and wellbeing in the community.

The CEN service forms part of a planned and integrated whole system approach to service users' care, delivered in conjunction with Acute and Crisis, Secondary Care Mental Health Services, and other specialist services. The postholder will support the development of the service, in collaboration with the operational lead and Consultant Psychologist.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide skilled and experienced clinical leadership to the multi-disciplinary team and work closely with the operational lead to oversee the provision and development of the service, including presenting data to commissioners and other key stakeholders. They will ensure the systematic provision of high-quality specialist psychological therapies and psychologically-informed practice, supervising and supporting the psychological assessment and therapy provided by other psychological therapists, trainees, and clinicians.

To provide consultation and reflective practice to the service and facilitate team working, psychologically informed practice, trauma-informed care, and appropriate treatment pathways to optimize service user journey and experience across service transitions. The post will also involve close organizational liaison with other teams within Oxleas and other agencies, including consultation on the management of service-users with complex needs.

The postholder will be expected to work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service/teams.

See attached job description for full list.

Working for our organisation

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities, and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing, and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils, and the voluntary sector. Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Management responsibilities

1. To exercise delegated responsibility for managing the psychological resources available within the service area.
2. To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service.
3. To participate in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panels.
4. To provide clinical leadership to the CEN MDT.
5. To be an authorised signatory for staff-related expenses.
6. To contribute to the overall development and functioning of the service.

Leadership

1. To provide clinical placements for trainee clinical and/or counselling psychologists and trainee psychological therapists.
2. To provide post-qualification training (CPD) and clinical professional supervision to qualified clinical and/or counselling psychologists.
3. To provide advice, consultation, and training to other members of the service.

Clinical

1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the service.
2. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a client's mental health problems.
3. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families, and groups.
4. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options.
5. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment, and discharge of clients.
6. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance, and consultation to other professionals.

Research

1. To take the psychology lead in the evaluation, monitoring, and development of the team's operational policies.
2. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature, and research to support evidence-based practice.

Communication

1. To maintain registration with appropriate professional body (HCPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP).
2. To ensure the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice.

Person specification

• Registered with professional body or regulatory body as appropriate to psychological therapy discipline.
• Considerable experience of working as a clinical or counselling psychologist or psychological therapist.
• Experience of teaching, training, and professional and clinical supervision.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.