Principal Practitioner Psychologist

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Principal Practitioner Psychologist to join our adult acute inpatient service in Bury. This is a Band 8b role for a skilled and compassionate psychologist (Clinical, Counselling, or Forensic) who is passionate about working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and delivering high-quality psychological care in a dynamic and supportive environment.

This is a 12-month fixed term position (0.76WTE),  and we warmly welcome applications for secondment.

Our two 24-bedded adult acute wards, North ward and South ward, provide specialist assessment,  care and treatment for men and women aged 18 to 65 years old with a range of mental health needs.  Admissions typically occur via A&E, Mental Health Liaison, the Home Treatment Team, Mental Health Act Assessments within the community or from an outpatient clinic. Service users are often experiencing significant distress, mental health deterioration and/or crisis, requiring responsive and person-centered care.

The post holder will join a welcoming and committed MDT team focused on delivering the best possible care, an acute psychology network within the acute pathway for collaboration and peer support, regular supervision from a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in an environment that values psychological perspectives in acute care.

Main duties of the job

As outlined in the job description, the main duties include:

• To provide clinical leadership and direction in the continual development and provision of a high quality specialist psychology service within the adult acute inpatient service, embedding trauma informed care
• To support with the transformation of acute inpatient care, in line with national direction
• To  hold a clinical caseload undertaking evidence-based psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention (individual and/or group). This may include a range of mental health difficulties at the point of crisis including experiences of psychosis, depression and/or Complex Emotional and Relational Needs (CERN)
• To provide specialist psychological support, consultation and guidance to other professionals contributing directly to the assessment, formulation and intervention plan
• To ensure the team have access to a psychologically-based framework for understanding and caring for the service user, through the provision of advice, consultation and the dissemination of psychological research and theory
• To undertake risk assessment and risk management and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management
• To support inpatient colleagues through the provision of supervision, reflective practice and post-incident reflective spaces
• To contribute to audit, policy/service development and research. To propose and implement policy changes within the areas served

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed overview of the roles job description and main responsibilities, please see the attached job description and personal specification.