Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist

Job summary

We are pleased to be offer this opportunity as part of our partnership with Tees Esk & Wear Valley NHS Trust's Health and Justice Services. An experienced and highly committed candidate is required to provide psychological leadership, direct and indirect intervention, and clinical supervision into the mental health in-reach team at HMP Havrigg. This is a varied position with a range of opportunties for the post holder to deliver interventions that address emotional dysregulation and other personality difficulties arising from developmental trauma, and that address psychosis. Training in, and experience of appying therapeutic models to service users experiencing personality and mental health difficulties would be an advantage. The post holder would be expected to bring a range of experience and skills working with this client group such as in providing training, supervision and consultation to non-psychologists. Experience of the prison system and/or experience of work in secure hospitals across security categories, and some expertise in neurodiversity would also be an advantage.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to provide specialist advice, guidance and consultation to other team members, and to the wider system. They will contribute directly to client's formulation, diagnosis and management and/or treatment plan. Knowledge of and/or experience in using diagnostic assessments for personality and autustic spectrum disorders would be desirable. System level working including training and other methods of workforce development will be a substantial part of the role.

As part of the wider Psychological Services Team in LSCFT, the post holder will be expected to develop expertise in all aspects of forensic/clinical practice across the different services. The team is well integrated with all three North West Dclin prgrammes and hence there will also be opportunities to contribute to teaching and other aspects of the programmes in the chosen area of expertise. The post holder will be directly supported by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Lead for Inpatient Psychology, Secure Services, LSCFT, and will be expected to participate in individual and peer supervision. Applicants for the above vacancy must be fully registered with the HCPC

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualificatins

Essential

Doctoral level training in clinical psychology or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS. HCPC registration Further post qualification training/experience in relevant clinical approaches and specialism including ASC assessment and interventions, psychological approaches in risk and offending behaviour, severe and enduring mental health needs and personality disorder. Qualification and/or extensive experience of the provision of clinical supervision, consultancy and training.

Experience

Essential

A minimum of 4 years experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for client's psychological care and treatment both as a professionally qualified care co-ordinator and also within the context of multidisciplinary care plan. Extensive experience of providing clinical and professional supervision, consultation and leadership regarding psychological model and approaches. Demonstrable experience of conducting complex audit/research and service evaluation Experience of working in environments involving exposure to significant professional, clinical and ethical challenges.

Knowledge

Essential

Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology. Knowledge of legislation, and its implications in relation to the client group and mental health. Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS by completion of CPD log demonstrating a minimum of 40 hours per year. Formal training in supervision of other psychologists Knowledge and advanced skills in utilising and interpreting specialist personality assessment and diagnostic tools.

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