Principal Practitioner Psychologist

Job summary

Join Our Dynamic Team: Principal Psychologist Opportunity

Position: Band 8b Principal Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling)

Hours: 30 hours per week (minimum 3 days)

Location: Eastbourne Assessment & Treatment Service, St Mary's House

Are you a passionate and experienced HCPC-registered Practitioner Psychologist ready to take on a leadership role? We invite you to join our vibrant and dedicated team at the Eastbourne Assessment and Treatment Service (ATS). This is an exciting opportunity to work with a diverse group of professionals committed to providing exceptional care to those with severe and complex mental health needs.

Why Join Us?

At Eastbourne ATS, you'll be part of an innovative team that embraces transformation and strives to deliver high-quality treatments. You'll collaborate with a multi-professional team and have the chance to lead and inspire a group of psychologists, therapists, and trainees. Our service values compassionate care and supports a psychologically safe work environment, ensuring that you feel valued and supported.

Main duties of the job

What You'll Do:

- Provide operational leadership alongside the Consultant Lead Psychologist.

- Oversee MDT referrals and manage service capacity.

- Supervise and support a team of psychology professionals.

- Maintain and enhance our established Psychology meeting structures.

- Conduct direct clinical work, delivering NICE-recommended evidence-based care.

- Contribute to training, supervision, and the development of psychological practice within the team.

Your Skills and Experience

We seek confident, creative, and enthusiastic individuals with significant experience in handling severe and complex mental health presentations, such as Complex Emotional Needs, Psychosis, trauma, and mood disorders. Experience in consultation, team formulation, and supervising psychology colleagues is essential. We also welcome applications from those at the 8a level seeking career progression, with support for your development provided.

About us

What We Offer:

- Flexible Working: We support a healthy work/life balance with options for home-working, part-time hours, and flexible start/finish times.

- Career Development: Engage in professional supervision, ongoing training, and opportunities for career growth within our Trust.

- Benefits: Enjoy an excellent NHS pension, generous holiday entitlement, access to NHS discount schemes, free on-site parking, and full psychological support from our wellbeing team.

- Inclusive Environment: We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that everyone can belong and thrive in their career with us.

Living and Working in Sussex:

Sussex offers the perfect blend of coastal charm and city convenience. With easy access to London, major airports, and beautiful countryside, it's an ideal place to call home. Whether you're relocating or already live locally, we'll support you every step of the way.

Join Us in Making a Difference:

Be a part of our mission to champion the rights of people with mental health difficulties and contribute to sustainable healthcare. If you are ready to take on a leadership role in a supportive and innovative environment, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and take the next step in your career with Eastbourne ATS. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be someone who can contribute at a senior level to the vision for the ATS as it undertakes transformation towards an improved service model. This post is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner seeking to advance their career and take up leadership responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or outside the UK] as approved by the HPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HPC)

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

Significant assessed experience of working as a qualified psychologist. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings 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 clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan. Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group. Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups. Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies. Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HPC. Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.

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