Applied Psychologist Walsall LD-CAMHS

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is growing and changing. We provide specialist mental health, learning disability and community services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, and we're hiring people who want to shape what comes next.

Formed on 1 April 2020 through the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, we're now focused on the future with a new Trust Strategy and our Best for the Black Country programme.

What we do

·       Adult and older adult mental health

·       Children and young people's mental health

·       Specialist learning disability services

·       Community healthcare for children, young people and families in Dudley

Why join now

·       We've got real momentum right now. New strategy, clear priorities and our Best for the Black Country work mean things are moving in the right way, fast.

·       Our values aren't just posters. People are genuinely compassionate, take responsibility, treat you with respect and help you feel confident and empowered.

·       You'll be looked after. Flexible working, family-friendly policies, supportive teams, proper wellbeing support and chances to learn with coaching and development.

·       There's room to grow. Loads of services to explore and real space to try ideas and be heard.

·       It's a good place to live. Friendly diverse communities, easy transport, good schools and colleges, shopping, food, lots to do, plenty of green space and a lower cost of living than many other city regions.

What it's like to work here

You'll join friendly, skilled teams who look out for each other. We plan together, share caseload pressures, and celebrate wins. New starters get a warm welcome and clear induction; early careers colleagues have preceptorship and buddying; experienced staff can lead, teach and innovate. You'll have space to do good work, speak up, and see the difference you make.

Who we are

We're 4,000+ colleagues from many backgrounds, committed to improving health and wellbeing for our communities and for each other. If you're excited about the role but don't tick every box, please apply. We value potential and transferable experience.

Applied Psychologist Walsall LD-CAMHS

(Development Post)

Backcountry Healthcare Foundation Trust (BCHFT)

Band 8a. Newly qualified applicants at Band 7 seeking development opportunities would be welcome.  Full time.

This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative and dynamic Applied Psychologist who enjoys working collaboratively with other multi agency partners, children, young people and their families.  We are pleased to offer the opportunity for newly qualified Psychologists to develop their career within our friendly, multi-disciplinary LD CAMHS team.

About us

We are a team that provides services to children and young people with moderate to severe learning disability who are experiencing a range of mental health needs and/ or displaying significant behavioural distress. 

The team is led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and supported by an Assistant Psychologist with links to the wider network of Clinical Psychologists in other LD-CAMHS teams across the Trust.

The LD-CAMHS team is part of the wider CAMHS service and has active links with the Intensive Support Team, Key Worker Team and the Disabled Children and Young People's Team.

 Job summary

You will offer leadership and clinical expertise within a small team in which psychology is highly valued. The psychologists in LD-CAMHS have a varied caseload and offer a range of specialist assessments and therapeutic interventions. We work closely with other multi-agency teams and in a range of community settings where psychological expertise is also highly valued. 

Main Duties of the job

You will provide a full range of assessments, interventions, support, training and advice to individuals, their families, carers and the network of multi-agency stakeholders who are involved in supporting young people with learning disability who are experiencing complex behavioural and/or emotional distress. Where appropriate, assessment of ASC and ADHD forms part of our wider mental health and behavioural assessment process.

Development opportunities

BCHFT has an established development procedure in place that would support you to develop your skills and progress from band 7 to band 8a Senior Psychologist.  Support will be given through regular supervision to guide the post holder through an agreed action plan which is regularly reviewed. Progression from band 7 to 8a is subject to being able to evidence that all criteria required for the role have been met. Should competencies not be achieved, you will remain in the post at band 7.

We are committed to investing in our psychologists and you will have access to a psychology specific dedicated CPD budget to support professional growth. We have a peer support group for newly qualified psychologists and an annual 'Enhanced Connections' network meeting for all psychological therapists across the Trust.

Psychological therapists throughout all our learning disability services have good links with the local Doctoral Psychology courses at the Universities of Birmingham.

Please use this link to watch our video about working as a Psychologist at BCHFT Welcome to Psychology in the Black Country

Please see job description and person specification for full details.

Main duties/responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities - you will provide highly specialist psychological assessment and plan and implement highly specialist psychological therapy/management of clients with highly complex conditions 

Supervisory/professional responsibility - you will provide supervision to Trainee and Applied Assistant Psychologists

Multi-disciplinary training and development - you will provide highly specialist advice, consultation and training to other direct care staff in the MDT. 

Applying and timelines
We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so please apply soon. We shortlist after the closing date and will contact shortlisted candidates usually within two weeks. If you haven't heard by then, you haven't been shortlisted. Please check your email for updates and contact Recruitment for feedback.

Pay and contracts

Most NHS roles are paid under NHS Agenda for Change. With us - your starting point is set against the advertised band and your relevant NHS service, with progression through annual increments.

Medical and Very Senior Manager roles follow separate national pay frameworks, not Agenda for Change. Details are provided in each advert and during recruitment.

Standards and checks

·       Clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the Care Certificate. If you don't have it yet, we'll support you to complete it in post.

·       Some roles require a Standard or Enhanced DBS check under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record won't automatically prevent employment. We consider the role and individual circumstances.

·       We are an equal opportunities employer, offer flexible working, and are a smoke free Trust.

Inclusion, equality and adjustments

·       We are an equal opportunities employer and offer flexible working.

·       We are an anti-racist, disability-inclusive and LGBTQ+-inclusive Trust.

·       We welcome applications from under-represented groups and people with lived experience relevant to our services, including Black and Asian colleagues, Disabled people (including non-visible disabilities such as neurodiversity and mental health) and LGBTQ+ people.

·       Disabled applicants can request consideration under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme where essential criteria are met. You can ask for reasonable adjustments at every stage of the process.

Our culture and values
Best for the Black Country is our improvement journey. We share a clear vision and values, lead with compassion and visibility, listen to every voice, keep improving what we do and take ownership for delivery. You'll feel it in how teams support each other and in the impact your work has on local people. If you want to contribute, learn and progress, this is a great time to join us.