Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity 0.6wte within our At Risk (of Psychosis) Mental State service in Mid Essex for an experienced Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to offer supervision, training, leadership and highly specialist clinical skills.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will need to be skilled and experienced in working in the NHS, and alongside multidisciplinary teams with all of the opportunities and challenges which that entails ideally with specific experience of supervising psychological services teams in ARMs services.  Strong psychological treatment skills and evidence of short and long term work with complex difficulties are essential. Systemic understanding of team and organisational dynamics or an interest in developing this will be welcomed. Excellent assessment and therapy skills, knowledge of psychometric tools and confidence in making informed professional recommendations on risks and the treatment of service users are essential.  Team working ability and skills in training, consultation and supervision and a calm disposition will also be essential.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines to provide a high quality highly specialist Clinical Psychology service, assisting or leading in the review of service development and project management as agreed with the line manager or delegated senior staff.

As a senior clinical professional within the Mid ARMS community team the post holder will lead the team in treatment planning, promoting social inclusion and empowering service users in maintaining their social systems.The post holder will provide professional and clinical supervision of trainees and other staff members, and with the support of the Consultant Lead Psychologist, take part in the recruitment and selection process of senior clinical staff.

The post holder will lead with other senior colleagues in the continuing development of a high quality service that is underpinned by evidence based practice and care pathways/packages and NICE guidance and DH guidance.  The post holder will lead on service development and policy in conjunction with the other Psychologists, Operational Services Manager and Clinical Manager.

The post holder will work with the Consultant Lead Psychologist to ensure that the psychology service is current, evidence based and in line with practice standards, providing day to day psychological therapy, clinical leadership, evaluation and monitoring of the service.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that effective, tailored, evidence based psychological interventions are delivered to service users. In doing so, use goal setting and interventions focused on re-engagement in self-care, productivity and leisure activities, and monitor and evaluate the use of relevant therapeutic, standardised assessments and outcomes.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision and management of lower banded staff within their professional group and team locality in line with agreed Trust HR processes.

The post holder will be expected to work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the multi-disciplinary team in delivering services.

In delivering your duties you are expected to display behaviours that are aligned with the Trust values and in accordance with the NHS Constitution at all times.