Trainee Counselling Psychologist

The Bedfordshire and Luton Early Intervention Team have an exciting opportunity for a part-time 6 month fixed term post for an enthusiastic and reflective Trainee Counselling Psychologist to work in this busy specialist multi-disciplinary team. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Doctoral level Counselling Psychology course. The team provide specialist care for people who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis or at high risk of developing psychosis. The multidisciplinary team consists of a variety of professionals, including Administrators, Consultant Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Mental Health Nurses and Social Workers as well as an Operational Managers.

The post holder will work under supervision of a qualified Psychologist to provide specialist psychological input to secondary mental health services. This includes provision of psychological assessments, psychological formulations and delivery of psychological interventions to service users. Service users seen by the post holder will include people who have experienced high levels of distress and complex mental health difficulties. Service users may present with a high level of risk to both themselves and sometimes to other people. Assessments and interventions will be primarily delivered within the CMHT setting and occasional delivery of services in community-based settings as required.

The post holder will be concurrently undertaking a programme of training described in the associated Person Specification, and must be making satisfactory progress in this training to be able to work as a trainee therapist at the same time.

Under supervision of a qualified Psychologist, the post holder will also provide consultation to the multi-disciplinary community team and support in the development of care plans for service users, and contribute to service development initiatives, audit and research. With guidance from their supervisor and the Psychology Lead, the post holder will meet and liaise closely with Psychologists and psychological therapists working in other teams to develop and maintain a high standard of professional practice across the service.

Assessments and interventions will be delivered at a variety of sites around the area and the post holder will be expected to travel and provide services at a variety of sites.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy for more information.