Applications are invited from suitably qualified psychologists or psychological therapists with the experience, skills and competencies to undertake the duties and responsibilities of the above post in adult mental health. The post is primarily to provide assessment, psychological therapy and consultation for the care of service users within the Blackburn with Darwen areas.

The teams provide services to people with complex mental health needs. Psychological therapies and psychologically informed care are valued within the teams and network, and are fully integrated within mainstream adult mental health services. The post holder will be operationally managed within the teams as a core team member, while strong professional leadership works alongside operational management to support the role.

An interest in working with individuals experiencing significant levels of complexity and personality difficulties will be essential. Good team working skills are also essential, as are abilities in providing consultation / supervision to team colleagues and other psychological therapists. Skills in group approaches, or an interest in developing these, would be an asset.

Clinical and professional supervision is provided, and a growing network of complex case fora and psychological therapy models afford excellent opportunities for the post holder to develop their skills in multidisciplinary team working and psychologically informed care.

Main duties of the job

Senior Clinical Psychologist

To provide a qualified Clinical Psychology Service to patients of the nominated team(s) including the provision of enhanced specialist psychological assessment and therapy, working within the policies, procedures and protocols applicable to the service.

To offer advice and consultation on patients' psychological care to psychology and non-psychology colleagues and to other, non-professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures. To develop advanced skills in consultancy by implementing formal systems of consultancy within the nominated team(s), as directed and guided by your Locality Professional Lead and his/her deputies.

To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area in which the postholder works.

Psychological Therapist

To provide a qualified psychological therapy (including either Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - CBT) or Cognitive Analytic Therapy - CAT) service to patients of the nominated team(s) including the provision of enhanced specialist psychological assessment and therapy, working within the policies, procedures and protocols applicable to the service.

The post holder will develop links with psychological therapists within other CMHTs and specialist networks.

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

Qualifications

Essential

• Core professional qualification in a relevant field e.g. Nursing to degree level (as recognized by BABCP or ACAT)
• Formal training in supervision of other psychological Therapists.
• Either Recognised qualification in CBT to post graduate level And BABCP Accreditation (either full or provisional, but not simply 'membership') Or Full CAT Practitioner Training And ACAT registration

Knowledge

Essential

• Further advanced and highly specialised knowledge relevant to this post equivalent to a post-graduate diploma (in addition to entry level qualification)
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the accrediting body.
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to the patient group

Experience

Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of patients across a range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of patient 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.
• Demonstrable evidence of a continuing commitment to developing expertise in psychological assessment and intervention

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Daisyfield Mill

Blackburn

BB1 3BL

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

351-PEN541-EB-B