This is an exciting opportunity for a psychologist who either has experience or a particular interest in the field of forensic mental health to join a highly dynamic and innovative community forensic service.

Requests for part-time positions will also be considered.

The post is based in Unither House, Chertsey, however the service is Surrey wide so will include regular travel throughout Surrey.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with their colleagues across the specialist directorate, providing a high-quality psychology service to working age adults with mental health problems and forensic histories. There is opportunity for direct clinical work, consultation, training, supervision, and leadership.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Registered Psychologist to join our Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service (FOLS). This is an exciting opportunity to work with their colleagues across the specialist directorate, providing a high-quality psychology service to working age adults with mental health problems and forensic histories. There is opportunity for direct clinical work, consultation, training, supervision, and leadership. You will have experience of working clinically with patients presenting with complex mental health needs and forensic histories.

Main duties of the job

To provide a specialist clinical/forensic psychological therapy service to adults with severe and enduring mental health problems and forensic histories in the Community Forensic Service in particular:

To be responsible for the systematic provision of specialist psychology services to adults with complex, severe and enduring mental health problems and Forensic histories in the Community Forensic Service

To undertake high quality direct (assessment and therapeutic) and indirect (consultative, advisory and evaluative) specialist forensic psychological interventions taking substantial professional responsibility and exercising autonomous judgement in own professional practice.

To ensure the clinical effectiveness of own practice and of service functioning by undertaking audit, research and development activities relevant to the service area.

To provide specialist psychological assessment of adults with complex severe and enduring mental health problems and forensic histories. To undertake assessment utilising information from a broad range of structured psychometric and semi-structured clinical methods. To integrate this information into a psychological formulation of the client and his/her psychosocial environment, drawing on a range of psychological theoretical perspectives.

To formulate and implement plans of specialist psychological treatment or management of clients mental health problems

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast.

Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.

For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Job description Job responsibilities

To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the psychological needs of people using our services.

To mentor, supervise and teach qualified and unqualified staff including students

Promote a psychological perspective both within teams and sharing with other colleagues

Work collaboratively with team managers/Clinical leads in the development and delivering of effective services

Supporting and/or leading on specific service development projects

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly within the service

Please note that this is a band 7 development opportunity and funding has been secured for appointed candidates to progress to a band 8A Senior Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist position once agreed clinical and leadership competencies have been met. Unless 8a competencies are met at the time of application, the successful candidate will commence in post at band 7 and then work towards individualised competencies as discussed with the Sector Manager and Psychology Lead.

• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology qualification, HCPC Registered Forensic Psychologist

Experience required:

Experience of working with people from across the life span with a range of mental health issues and cognitive profiles.

Experience across a range of psychological models including systemic, behavioural and individual therapeutic.

Experience of working with people with a forensic history or offending background.

Band 8a (in addition to Band 7 responsibilities):

Experience of supervising assistant and trainee clinical psychologists

Demonstrable post registration/clinical experience and competency relevant to this care group.

Experience of contributing to clinical practice/service development/project work.

Demonstrable interest/skill in a relevant specialist area.

Suitable for someone who is interested in and passionate about providing high quality leadership and psychological support to people using our service and their carers.

Key Responsibilities

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of clinical work and care. To maintain high standards of care in all areas of practice in accordance with the HCPC Code of Conduct, professional guidelines and Trust Policies and Procedures. To act within the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act (2005). To be aware of and implement Safeguarding Adult and Child Protection Policies, Procedures and legislation.

To carry out comprehensive psychological and cognitive assessments and formulation, plan implement and evaluate delivery of psychology interventions and consultations to support people with specific needs.

To actively involve people in developing and agreeing their own care plan, to act as an advocate and ensure that there is proper regard for their dignity, choice, self-esteem, racial, cultural, sexual and religious needs and preferences.

• To work creatively to adapt verbal and written communication to meet the needs of people who use our services

To undertake comprehensive risk assessments and develop effective risk management plans for people with complex needs.

• To establish and maintain effective partnerships and relationships with colleagues, other agencies, people who use services and their carers and support staff.

To contribute to conducting clinical audit, quality assurance and research, maintaining current knowledge of research findings and development within specific care group.

To contribute to developing and providing a range of specialist teaching/training packages which can be delivered to a range of multi-disciplinary audiences.

• To positively contribute to divisional and team developments in relation to all aspects of psychology practice.

To contribute to the supervision and Individual Performance Review/Appraisal of assistant psychologists as required.

• To contribute to the development and implementation of appropriate policies, protocols and care pathways.

• To contribute to initiatives to ensure that the diverse needs of people within the care group are addressed within local services and future developments.

Band 8a (in addition to Band 7 responsibilities):

To conduct and lead on clinical audit, quality assurance and research, maintaining current knowledge of research findings and development within specific care group

To develop and provide a range of specialist teaching/training packages which can be delivered to a range of multi-disciplinary audiences.

To lead on the supervision and Individual Performance Review/Appraisal of assistant psychologists as required.

To act as practice assessor/supervisor/teacher in teaching, facilitating and supporting pre registration students and junior personnel and to participate in the audit of educational placements.

• To research national best practice and enable services to benchmark practice against nationally recognised standards - in partnership with people who use our services and their carers.

• Assist in appropriate staff recruitment and induction and contribute to the wider strategic plans regarding psychology recruitment.

Additional Responsibilities Forensic Out Reach and Liaison Service (FOLS)

To practice within a Positive Behaviour Support and trauma informed care framework

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Good honours degree in psychology
• A recognised postgraduate doctorate in applied psychology e.g. clinical, counselling or Forensic registration with the Health Professions Council (HCPC)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Clinical supervision training
• Specialist training in a relevant area of forensic mental health, e.g. violent offenders, sexual offenders
• Specialist training in a relevant area of adult mental health e.g. personality disorders, trauma, substance misuse

Experience Essential

• Experience of policy and service development
• Specialist knowledge of all the traditional models of psychotherapy & evidence for their use & detailed knowledge of 2 or more of them

Desirable

• Has worked as a qualified clinical, counselling or forensic psychologist for a min. of 2 years (for 8a only)
• Post-qualification experience of working with a wide variety of client groups in a variety of clinical settings.
• Minimum of 100 hours specialist clinical supervision in adult mental health or intellectual developmental disorders
• Experience of providing supervision to trainee & assistants
• Teaching and training in psychology
• Specialist theoretical & practical knowledge & skills working with intellectual and neurodevelopmental disorders
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of the Care Programme Approach

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

325-C9325-22-2888