Clinical/Counselling Psychologist – Adult Inpatient Wards

Job overview

Exciting opportunities have arisen for Practitioner Clinical or Counselling Psychologists to join our supportive and dynamic Adult Acute Inpatient Psychology Service.  The posts are part-time at 28 hours per week and 30 hours per week, but there may be the potential to create full-time options so do make contact if this is of interest.  Newly qualified psychologists could be appointed at band 7 under a development process to work towards requirements for band 8a, subject to satisfactory completion of this formal process.

Based in the Luton area, dedicated to one or two of our seven acute psychiatric wards, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team including other psychological professionals. You will be joining the Principal Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists who work within these services. You will be part of a team providing care, treatment, and support for people (and their families) who experience serious mental health difficulties, such as psychosis and complex emotional needs. You will be joining an NHS Trust which has a large psychology network with a culture of supporting professional development, quality improvement and co-production, and a commitment to prioritising trauma-informed care.  We are committed to supporting our Psychologists to reach their potential and have roles that feel fulfilling.

Main duties of the job

As an Inpatient Psychologist you will work embedded within one or two ward MDTs to support the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed care to service users in acute distress. The role involves direct clinical work, such as assessment, formulation of complex cases, and adding to care plans to support people’s smooth transition back to community care. You will also complete indirect psychological work such as facilitating complex case formulation groups for ward staff, providing consultation and training to the teams, and facilitating reflective practice groups to support staff with the impact of the work. You will supervise the clinical work of pre-qualified professionals, including Trainee Practitioner Psychologists, and Assistant Psychologists – who provide psychological skills groups and positive behavioural support plans across the wards. You will work autonomously, with support and regular supervision from the Principal Inpatient Psychologist.

The psychologists and services in our area place high value on trauma-informed care and on co-production, quality improvement (QI) and innovation, and on equitable access for people in our diverse and rural communities. We welcome applications from candidates who match these values, and especially those with insight and understanding of the diverse backgrounds and cultures of our local population across Luton and Bedfordshire.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy for further information on this role.