We are seeking a Clinical or Counselling Psychologisteither at Band 7 or Band 8a depending on level of experience. This post could be configured for newly qualified psychologists, with CPD and wide areas of supervision provided.

You'll be joining a supportive and innovative team. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about working with adults with learning disabilities and their networks of support.

We have close relationships with the University of Exeter and in particular their Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology. We are able to make links with university colleagues, and there may be opportunities for this NHS role to be combined with roles at the university.

There is also the opportunity to work from home.

Are you looking to relocate? We offer an excellent relocation package to help with the cost of moving!

We warmly welcome informal discussions prior to applying - so please get in touch!

Main duties of the job

You'll work alongside experienced and enthusiastic multi-disciplinary team colleagues in a Community Learning Disabilities team.

You'll be responsible for providing a high quality clinical psychological service to people with learning disabilities in the South Somerset area. There is a strong emphasis on working alongside colleagues to help develop formulations and support staff to implement psychologically informed interventions for people with learning disabilities.

This post also involves delivering highly specialist psychological therapy and neuropsychological assessment.

This post is part of a well-established Learning Disabilities Clinical Psychology Service in Somerset which employs 6 qualified Clinical Psychologists, two Clinical Associate Psychologists, three Assistant Psychologists and hosts 5-6 Trainee Clinical Psychologists each academic year. There also are good links with other psychology colleagues working across other specialisms.

Ideally you'll have an interest and enthusiasm for working with adults with learning disabilities. You'll be resilient, confident, and well organised and able to communicate effectively with people from a range of backgrounds.

You'll need to integrate information from a range of sources and provide practical and psychologically informed advice and support to staff, service users, their families, and carers.

About us

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, continuing professional development and regular informal conversations around career progression, annual recognition awards to celebrate and recognise our colleagues achievements throughout the year and not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.

We work hard to make sure that inclusion is part of everything we do. We know that true inclusion means we're able to provide the best care for our patients and provide a fulfilling career for all our colleagues.

The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London - there is truly something for everyone!

There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.

We have six active and impactful colleague networks. These networks provide a safe space for colleagues to share their experiences and learn from one another, but also influence change across our trust:

• Multicultural Network
  
• Women's Network
  
• Armed Forces' Network
  
• LGBTQ+ Network
  
• Lived Experience Network, for colleagues living with disabilities
  
• Autistic Colleague Network

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Relationships

• Service Users, families and carers
• Team Leader
• Service Manager
• Head of Division
• Other members of the multi-disciplinary Team
• Members of range of LD teams including inpatient and community teams
• Social Care
• Voluntary and private sector care organisations providing services for people with LD

Planning and Organisation

• To provide psychological assessment, formulation, and interventions across a number of clinical care pathways for people with learning disabilities.
• To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions and planning meetings.

Responsibility for Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

• Responsible for providing autonomous and systematic clinical psychology service, highly specialised psychological assessment and therapy
• To work with and support families and carers
• To provide a consultancy service for the staff members of the CTALD, and other professionals in the care network
• To advise on the development of evidence based psychological programmes
• To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions and planning meetings
• To be responsible for own caseload, work and interventions with even the most complex presentations and for interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner and to seek consultation and supervision appropriately from peers, and the Head of LD Psychology

Please see JD for further information, we warmly welcome informal discussions prior to applying!

Person Specification

BEHAVIOURS ALIGNED WITH TRUST VALUES

Essential

• Kindness
• Respect
• Teamwork

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential

• Doctorate Clinical Psychology or equivalent
• Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
• Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status

Desirable

• Relevant specialist training in Neuropsychology, Psychological Therapy, Supervision, and Research Methods

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialist psychological therapies, and their application and adaptation in LD Psychology
• Knowledge of clinical application of the Mental Capacity Act and other relevant legislation
• Specialist training in PBS
• Evidence of on-going CPD in relevant fields
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology including complex multivariate analysis applicable to clinical psychology

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Significant postdoctoral experience of Clinical and audit work in LD
• Significant postdoctoral experience of Teaching and training psychologists and other professional staff
• Significant postdoctoral experience of Supervision with a range of staff
• Significant postdoctoral experience of Consultancy in a range of settings
• Significant postdoctoral experience of working in multi-professional/multiagency settings

Desirable

• Research and development work in area relevant to people with LD
• Experience of providing a psychological service in the community

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods and tests in psychological and neuropsychological assessment frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
• Skill in providing consultation and training to other professionals and non-professionals
• Ability to provide rapid psychological assessment and brief psychological interventions, especially in the management of risk.
• Ability to contain and work with stress and harrowing situations and make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues

Desirable

• Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.

OTHER

Essential

• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive, sometimes emotive and potentially distressing information to clients, their families and other professionals both within and outside the NHS
• Ability to organise own time effectively and efficiently to manage own case load, work with the CTALD and other responsibilities in sometimes pressured, stressful and harrowing situations
• Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
• Car driver with valid driving licence and insurance

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Holly Court, Summerlands Site

Preston Road

Yeovil

BA20 2BX

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

184-CM5689437-C