Practitioner Psychologist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit to a part time post (0.7WTE).  We’re looking for an enthusiastic and team-oriented Band 7 Practitioner Psychologist to join Brighton and Hove Specialist Community Disability Service (SCDS), an integrated Health and Social Care team.  We are a friendly, forward thinking and innovative team, providing high quality support to individuals with learning disabilities.  The role will be varied, but will focus on supporting adults with learning disabilities who have complex challenging behaviour, mental health needs or other issues relating to risk and vulnerability.  The role will also be part of the wider team's goals to build service competency to meet the needs of adults with learning disabilities through training and consultation.

The role will play a fundamental part in the delivery of the service’s care pathways working closely with families, support services and other health and social care professionals.  The post holder will carry out assessments, interventions, monitoring and evaluation of outcomes.  A range of theoretical models is supported to ensure we deliver on local and National agendas for the people with the most complex of support needs.  We would particularly encourage applications from psychologists who have an interest in developing their skills in systemic working and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be part of a dynamic and supportive multi-disciplinary team (including Clinical Psychologists and Behaviour Support team) and will join an active Sussex-wide psychology group with good opportunities for peer support and CPD. The service has a strong history of valuing and developing services for this client group.

We actively encourage applications from final year trainees (including those just starting their final year) and those who have recently qualified, who are seeking part-time work, or full time work with a split post between Learning Disability and another Care group or other interest.  We are keen to support newly qualified psychologists with their transition into their first post and additional support will be given.  We have processes already in place for people to start with us prior to HCPC registration and we would work hard to support people with any outstanding requirements of their training.  We offer a lot of support and flexibility to individuals in relation to remote working for at least part of the hours.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To utilise research skills to undertake service evaluation, audit and research as appropriate and disseminate the results in the service and nationally

• To provide a qualified, high-quality specialist psychology service to individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams, in line with best, evidence-based practice and trust care pathways.
• To be responsible for holding and managing a clinical caseload and to exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the planning and prioritising of own workload and the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients, within the bounds of the service operational policy.
• To use analytical and judgment skills and be responsible for taking clinical management decisions in complex clinical issues.
• To clinically supervise assistant psychologists and trainee psychologists.
• To professionally supervise and, when appropriate, manage, assistant psychologists and trainee psychologists
• To provide consultation and advice about psychological issues to other members of the team/service and other professionals working with service users.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service/team.
• To contribute to local service developments under the supervision of the professional lead.