The role

• Are you someone looking for a career in one of the UK's most respected mental health and learning disability trusts?
• Would you like to be part of a dedicated team committed to making a difference to people’s lives to enjoy a better future?

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Principal Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the West of England Specialist Gender Identity Clinic (WESGIC) on a full time basis.

£47,126 - £53,219 (Band 8a)

The WESGIC is nationally commissioned by NHS England and is the only service of its kind based in the South West. The service receives referrals from the geographical area covered by NHS England. Patients in receipt of a service from the SGIC experience a sense of gender diversity or incongruence between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity resulting in significant level of distress and discomfort and some impairment in psychological wellbeing and social functioning.

This is an exciting time to begin working in Transgender Health Care. An increased prevalence of diversity of gender identity and expression has been observed here in the UK and elsewhere in recent times. In addition there is greater awareness and some improvement in understanding, increased tolerance and acceptance with regard to this diversity in our society. There has also been a dramatic increase in referrals to gender identity clinics in the UK over the last decade resulting in long waiting times for referred patients. In response the clinic has worked closely with the other six gender clinics and NHS England to develop a National Service Specification. This is designed to improve accessibility, quality and consistency of provision across the country and will be used to direct the expansion of services nationwide.

The post holder will be supported by the Professional Lead and employed as part of the Specific Psychological Interventions team and will contribute to the leadership, development and delivery of psychological services at the SGIC. They will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team which provides specialist assessment, physiological, psychological and social interventions to patients within the service and consultation to professionals and significant others outside of the service. The service aims to alleviate patients’ distress, help them achieve a greater sense of gender comfort and in turn improve psychological wellbeing and social functioning.

The post holder will receive specialist training and supervision from senior clinicians in the service and will join the Gender Psychologists Peer Group with membership from around the UK. In addition NHS England and the University of London have developed a Post Graduate Diploma in Gender Identity Healthcare and members of the team are supported to pursue this qualification. Completion of this training along with relevant specialist experience should enable the post holder to register as a Gender Specialist Psychologist with the BPS. The Trust has strong links with Exeter University and provides placements for the local clinical psychology courses.
About You
The post would suit someone with an interest and wish to develop specialist knowledge and skills in this growing area of practice. It would suit someone with significant post qualification experience in delivering psychological services in another setting(s) in the NHS, including child, adolescent and adult mental health, acute physical health, or neurodevelopmental difference and diversity. In addition the post would suit someone with training and experience in clinical supervision and an interest in and experience of service development, evaluation and research.

We advise that you contact Dr Sarah James, Professional Lead, to arrange a visit to the clinic before making your application.
Our Offer to You
Benefits of working at Devon Partnership NHS Trust include:

• Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
• 27 days of annual leave per year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years’ service withtheNHS so you can really enjoy what Devon has to offer
• Individual personal development plans and a commitment to ongoing training
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
• Health service discounts and online benefits
• Incremental pay progression
• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
• Access to our staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities
• Cycle to Work Scheme and reduced public transport rates
• Structured learning and development opportunities.

Living here
Devon offers beautiful coastal and countryside locations with a wide range of social & leisure opportunities. This ranges from some of the best beaches in the Country, The Moors, Canals and rivers all of which can be accessed easily via foot, car, bike or boat.

Great place to work. Great place to live

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

369-A-22-84928