Lead Clinical Psychologist

Position Overview

We are pleased to announce an opportunity for a permanent 8b Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling) role to oversee the Bury Secondary Care Psychological Therapies Service (SCPTS). This service collaborates closely with the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) and the Complex Emotional and Relational Needs (CERN) team.

This role presents a unique chance to provide clinical direction to the team, enhancing the clinical delivery framework, offering leadership and supervision to team members, and working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team while integrating trauma-informed care principles.

The Community Mental Health Services are currently undergoing a transformation, providing a significant opportunity for the successful candidate to contribute to the objectives outlined in 'The Community Mental Health Framework', with a particular emphasis on the 'Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems' (PT-SMHP) NHS-E document.

The ideal candidate will be a highly skilled and empathetic Psychologist who thrives in a team environment. The successful applicant will possess training in various therapeutic approaches, consultation skills, and a commitment to guiding a team through periods of change.

There are five Secondary Care Psychology Services within the Pennine Care framework, and you will have the opportunity to collaborate with and receive support from colleagues across these teams. The postholder will also benefit from supervision and support from the Secondary Care Psychology pathway lead (Consultant Clinical Psychologist).

Key Responsibilities

As a Principal Clinical Psychologist/Principal Counselling Psychologist, the incumbent will be accountable for delivering specialized expertise in managing complex and challenging cases within the secondary care adult Psychological Therapies Service.

The postholder will collaborate with the clinical lead for the adult mental health secondary care pathway and the borough leadership group to ensure comprehensive and effective care for service users with complex and/or severe mental health needs.

Additionally, the postholder will play a vital role in developing effective psychological care in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team. A significant aspect of this position will involve providing consultation, support, and, when appropriate, clinical and managerial supervision to other psychological therapy staff.

The postholder will also contribute to the Community Transformation programme, facilitating the integration of new psychological practitioner roles and aligning with the goals of the 'Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems' (PT-SMHP) NHS-E document.

About Our Organization

We prioritize staff well-being and encourage the postholder to engage in special interest groups, establish peer supervision connections, and collaborate closely with community psychology colleagues. Our commitment to staff development is reflected in our extensive psychological therapies training program.

We support flexible working arrangements and acknowledge the importance of our colleagues' roles outside of their professional responsibilities. This approach fosters staff retention and ensures a positive work environment.

Our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is paramount. We believe that fostering a diverse, inclusive, and engaged culture is essential, and that every individual's contributions should be recognized and valued.

Our Core Values:

Kindness

Fairness

Ingenuity

Determination

Job Responsibilities

For further details regarding the role, please refer to the attached job description and personal specification.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Doctorate-level training in clinical or counselling psychology, encompassing specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, multiple psychological therapies, and lifespan developmental psychology accredited by the BPS.
• Registration with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist.
• Additional training and qualifications in various therapeutic models (e.g., CAT, EMDR, psychoanalytic therapies).
• Training in the use of specific psychometric and/or neuropsychological assessment tools.
• Experience in supervising trainee psychologists and other professionals within the multidisciplinary team.

Desirable:

• MBA or other management/leadership qualifications.
• Additional qualifications in clinical supervision.

Experience

Essential:

• Extensive experience as a qualified psychologist.
• Demonstrated experience as a highly specialist psychologist working with complex adult cases.
• Experience with service users facing complex and challenging situations within community or acute care pathways.
• Experience with diverse client groups across various settings, including community, inpatient, acute care, primary care, and residential environments.
• Experience within multidisciplinary services in community and acute care pathways.
• Experience in managing full clinical responsibility for psychological care and treatment as an autonomous practitioner within a multidisciplinary care plan.

Desirable:

• Experience representing psychology in multidisciplinary care contexts.
• Experience in developing research and development initiatives within psychological therapy services.
• Experience in teaching and training qualified psychological therapy staff and non-psychology personnel.
• Experience applying psychological therapy in diverse cultural and ethnic contexts.
• Experience in line management of psychological therapy staff.

Knowledge

Essential:

• Doctoral-level knowledge of research design and methodology, including multivariate data analysis.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development as recommended by the relevant professional body.
• Knowledge of contemporary legislation regarding mental health and psychological service delivery and its implications for clinical practice and professional management.
• Understanding of professional issues in psychology and psychological therapies.
• Knowledge and experience in applying clinical governance and risk management policies to enhance psychological services.

Desirable:

• Advanced knowledge of specialized psychological therapies for difficult-to-treat populations.
• Familiarity with assessment methodologies and specialized psychological therapies.
• Proficiency in computing technology, including spreadsheets and databases.
• Knowledge of statistical software packages such as SPSS.

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, to convey complex and sensitive information to service users, their families, and other professionals.
• Highly developed skills in managing complex, sensitive, or contentious information.
• Ability to communicate effectively in challenging or hostile environments and to address psychological resistance to potentially distressing information.
• Expertise in utilizing complex psychological assessment and intervention methods requiring sustained concentration.
• Advanced skills in providing consultation to other professionals, including medical staff.
• High-level skills in delivering complex clinical and professional supervision.
• Proficient in using word processing, email, and internet software.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Ability to set and pursue agreed goals, regularly reviewed in management supervision.
• Commitment to enhancing psychological services through multi-professional evaluation and audit.
• Ability to engage various professional and non-professional groups in collaborative efforts.
• Capacity to manage organizational stress and support others in coping with stress.
• Ability to maintain prolonged concentration during client sessions, meetings, and computing tasks.
• Ability to transport equipment (including case files and self-help materials) between work settings.
• Ability to work directly with service users in isolated settings, adhering to the Trust's Lone Worker Policy.
• Ability to comply with professional guidelines.

Desirable:

• Record of published research or contributions to academic or professional journals and/or books.

Work-Related Circumstances

Essential:

• Access to a vehicle or means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint as required by service needs.
• Willingness to fulfill all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.
• Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for appointments to regulated and controlled activities.