We are looking for an 8c Consultant Psychologist, registered Approved Clinician to join the leadership of the new regional Learning Disability and Autism Unit.

You will be a senior part of the Devon LD Clinical Psychology team while working in and sharing the clinical leadership of the regional LDA Unit. You will be part of a rich multi-disciplinary team, and provide a Clinical Psychology service via complex assessment, intervention, training, consultation and supervision, while also acting as the Approved Clinician for a number of inpatients. Our teams are experienced, cohesive and mutually supportive.

Psychology is highly valued in the Learning Disability service. We have a caring and mutually supportive culture that is a vital foundation for the challenging but rewarding work that we do. Your LDAU role will be part of a wider Clinical Psychology team covering the LDAU and the Learning Disability Teams across Devon. We will link you in with inpatient psychologists across DPT and the UK.

As a key part of the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team, psychology is committed to compassionate, respectful and equitable care for people with Learning Disabilities and autistic people using a biopsychosocial model that is trauma-informed and sensitive to the individual contexts in which distress arises We have close links with Plymouth and Exeter Doctoral Programmes.

Interviews will be held in Exeter and are scheduled to take place on Wedbesday 5th February 2025

Main duties of the job

1. Ensuring the systematic provision of a high quality psychological service to people with Learning Disabilities or autistic people who are admitted into the LDA Unit..

2. Providing clinical leadership, co-ordination and supervision for staff, trainees and volunteers employed by or attached to the psychology service.

3. Taking a leadership role in the development and delivery of psychological interventions for people with Learning Disabilities or autistic people.

4. Overseeing the delivery of psychological support of the patients on the unit, and providing advice and consultancy to patients and professionals.

5. To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.

6. The post holder will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the Health Professions Council/British Psychological Society.

7. Contributing to the management of psychology services within the unit.

8. Contributing to the leadership of the Regional Clinical Pathway which compromises 2 regional LDAUs with a single front door and their outreach services.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile making time for people challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

• To act across the South West Regional LDND Inpatient care pathway to improve patient care and the psychological health & wellbeing of people within the post holders specialist field of practice.
• Act as Responsible Clinician for patients detained under the MHA, 1983, and hold accountability for the delivery of care and clinical decisions made.
• The Approved/Responsible Clinician will provide highly specialised care within the regional networks and local in-patient settings, using advanced clinical knowledge that is evidenced based.
• To improve the quality of care delivered by providing highly specialist assessment of clients with severe and enduring conditions based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources. The Approved/Responsible Clinician will function independently and within a clinical team and will demonstrate competence in the delivery of care.
• Provide expert advice to ensure the needs of the patient are met by leading, challenging and changing practice within the clinical setting.
• To facilitate the development of an environment that encourages continuous clinical improvement and problem solving by practitioners within the organisation.
• To work together with the Strategic Lead to support the continual development and embedding of Multi-disciplinary Approved Clinician (MD AC) roles in the Trust and provision of guidance and support for the education and development of trainee MD ACs working to achieve Approved/Responsible Clinician status.
• To provide clinical and operational leadership to clinicians delivering psychosocial assessments, interventions and support working in Adult LDND Inpatient Services.
• To improve access to evidence-based psychological interventions across urgent and inpatient services.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within professional and Trust guidelines interpreting and implementing policies as Professional Lead for Inpatient LDND Psychology.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Practitioner Psychologist currently registered with the HCPC and trained to Doctoral level or equivalent.
• .Trained and registered as an Approved Clinician
• Further training or experience of working in Inpatient Mental Health settings

Desirable

• Advanced physical healthcare assessment qualification
• Further training in at least one psychological therapy
• Further training or experience in clinical and service leadership

Knowldege

Essential

• Knowledge of various approaches to mental health assessment
• Knowledge of the principles of Care Co-ordination
• Extensive knowledge of the application of psychology in the context of complex mental health problems and inpatient services
• Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services and professional guidelines. Awareness of harassment, social exclusion issues and the effects of person and institutional discrimination
• Knowledge/awareness of relevant legislation and guidance including the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Mental Health Act
• 1983 (as amended), Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), The Community Care Act (1990), The Human Rights Act (1998), The National Service Framework and Clinical Governance
• Skills in assessing, planning and evaluating mental health care/treatment interventions
• Expertise in psychosocial interventions, including relapse signatures and relapse prevention plans
• Skills in interacting therapeutically with patients who have a range of presenting problems
• Skills in co-ordinating complex care packages
• An ability to coordinate and deliver teaching programs and skills in teaching and assessing
• An ability to work independently and within a team
• An ability to use the internet, email and basic word-processing skills.

Experience

Essential

• Significant and in-depth post qualifying clinical experience, minimum of 5 years post professional qualifying clinical experience at a senior position
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of people with complex mental health needs across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community and inpatient.
• Experience of working with a range of statutory and non-statutory agencies
• Experience of engaging in service development activities
• Evidence of promoting research, evidence based practice, clinical excellence and quality approaches to support outcome focussed care
• Experience in facilitating learning within clinical practice Experience of managing, supervising and supporting teams
• Ability to clinically assess mental disorder and to knowledgeably apply the statutory criteria for the key decision reserved to the RC

Desirable

• Evidence of leading effectively at a senior level in a multi-disciplinary health and social care setting (mental health)

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

The Brook

Exeter Rd

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9369-25-0018