An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 8b Principal Applied Psychologist to play a key leadership role within the Secure Inpatient Psychology Service within Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust. We are searching for committed and enthusiastic Registered Practitioner Psychologist who have substantial experience of working in secure mental health/prison settings to support the development of the psychology service.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of therapeutic interventions and programmes and be able to offer assurance regarding completion of treatment in line with and to support estimated dates for discharge. You will also work with the locality lead consultant psychologist to support the governance and assurance of psychological assessment and treatment in the service.

A key role will be to support the development and delivery of evidence based governed psychological therapies and support development of the psychology staff as scientist-practitioners through evaluation, audit and research.

This a great opportunity to take a strategic position to lead within a specialism across the service.

Main duties of the job

You will possess highly developed clinical and leadership skills have a commitment to successfully delivering compassionate, trauma informed and recovery focused care. You will be expected to support the development of all staff within the psychology service and deliver on the key performance indicators working under the line management of the Service Manager, Locality Lead Consultant Psychologist and within professional expectations as outlined by the Professional Lead for Psychology . Understanding and experience of governed psychological therapies is essential. The successful candidates will manage their own case load, and undertake individual assessment and intervention with sensitivity and compassion.

The post-holder will support the wider team to develop skills, knowledge and expertise in therapeutic approaches, offering training, consultation and reflective supervision to staff from a range of professional groups. The post-holder will be expected to provide professional supervision to trainee and assistant psychologists and Band 7/8A applied psychologists and be able to demonstrate effectiveness and compliance with governance structures within this service through evaluation and continuous service improvement. The post-holder will lead the development of a high quality experience for service users and will guide and inform the senior leaders to develop a culture that is progressive, trauma-informed, and proactively supports the promotion of recovery.

About us

The Secure Inpatient Service provides a specialist service for adults with a mental health disorder, learning disability or autism who exhibit behaviours of concern to others and to themselves. The service provides individualised, comprehensive packages of care within Medium and Low Secure inpatient settings and has links to High Secure services and prisons.

The ethos of the service is to work collaboratively with service users and carers in the completion of assessments, treatment, intervention planning and rehabilitation to enable a person-centered recovery-focused approach to care, meeting their needs in a holistic manner.

I have to say every single member of the team are glowing with trust values. They strongly live the values of the trust, in their dedication to respect for everyone, service users and staff and their attitude to quality of care is to give 110%. - Greatix from a former team member.

Job description Job responsibilities

Provides highly specialist psychological assessment of clients with highly complex and contentious conditions based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources.

Responsible for recognising the potential for or signs of client harm, abuse or neglect, including poor clinical practice, reporting all such concerns and taking all reasonable steps to protect the client. Responsible for identifying and reporting concerns regarding the safeguarding of children who may be at risk.

Undertakes risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and provides highly specialist advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management and the high physical risks inherent in the client group.

Formulates plans for highly specialist psychological therapy and/or management of clients mental health conditions based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and evidence-based practice. Negotiates the implementation of such plans with clients and/or their carers.

Implements a range of highly specialist psychological therapies for individual clients, carers, families and groups, adjusting and refining psychological formulations as required. Undertakes highly skilled evaluations and makes decisions about treatment options. Provides highly specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other staff contributing directly to clients diagnosis, formulation and intervention plan. Facilitates decision-making by planning and mapping processes/interventions with members of the team to determine the most appropriate treatment modality or service for clients.

Leads the multi-disciplinary care team in the development and implementation of multi-disciplinary care plans where appropriate. Monitors progress during the course of multidisciplinary interventions. May be required to provide a specialist clinical lead for specific service initiatives

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
• Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Desirable

• Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees
• Chartership with the BPS

Experience Essential

• Substantial experience of working as a qualified practitioner within forensic services
• Experience of working within a relational model
• Research and development in forensic services

Desirable

• Project management

Knowledge Essential

• Evidence- based practice relevant to the role
• Risk assessment and risk management
• Knowledge and practical experience of managing governance issues
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to the client group and mental health and its implications for clinical practice

Desirable

• Highly developed knowledge and skills in the care of difficult to treat groups

Skills Essential

• Communicate highly complex, highly sensitive and contentious information effectively to a wide range of people
• Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties / learning disabilities
• Undertake complex multi-agency working and liaise within multiple systems
• Provide effective teaching, training and supervision to a wide range of members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours

Personal Attributes Essential

• Able to actively engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in highly distressing and challenging circumstances
• Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently
• Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

346-FMH-142-22