Principal Psychologist - Bedford

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

• Other

  Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological phenomena, and an interest in models of service delivery.

• Other

  Able to contain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of others.

• Other

  Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial proportion of working time.

• Other

  Able to concentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during client contact, teaching/supervision sessions, team meetings, preparing written work etc.

• Other

  Able to manage effectively verbal aggression from service users, families, etc and the risk of physical aggression.

• Other

  Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals. Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally.

• Other

  Able to articulate the value added by psychological interventions within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services.

• Other

  Must be capable of accountability for own work, of autonomous clinical practice, of being guided by precedent and of working towards defined results.

• Other

  Driving license, access to a vehicle and insurance for business travel.

• Experience

  Substantial experience of working as a qualified Psychologist including substantial post-qualification experience working in a multi-disciplinary team for adults with severe and enduring mental health problems

• Experience

  Well-developed experience of assessment, formulation and treatment with people (and families/carers) with complex & chronic mental health problems.

• Experience

  Co produced clinical care, including goal setting, using a Recovery approach.

• Experience

  Experience in working within at least two therapy modalities (CBT and one other)

• Experience

  Experience of facilitation of groups

• Experience

  Experience of the application of psychological principles across multiple environments and populations and in different cultural contexts, including working with interpreters.

• Experience

  Research and audit experience.

• Experience

  Experience of supervising professional and clinical practice of qualified and unqualified staff. Including supervision of MDT staff in recovery model approaches.

• Experience

  An understanding of the full range of complaints, grievances, capability and disciplinary procedures.

• Experience

  Recruitment, selection and retention of staff.

• Experience

  Developing services to respond to Service User needs and a diverse population

• Experience

  The clinical use of databases; informatics systems and data visualisation.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies with adult clients with psychosis and complex mental health needs, which should include CBT and one other.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. complex needs, self-harm, dual diagnosis, and persons with additional disabilities etc).

• Knowledge and Skills

  Able to provide & receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a range of relationships and settings. Able to use highly specialist skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Able to tolerate ambiguity and to take decisions in situations of incomplete information.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Ability to exercise appropriate levels of self-care and to monitor own state, recognising when it is necessary to take active steps to maintain fitness to practice.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Able to draw upon a broad theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of highly complex facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations. Able to compare and select from a range of treatment options, based on formulation.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently as an independent practitioner, as a mentor and supervisor, and in multi-disciplinary and team settings.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Able to record and report on as required clinical information. Competent in use of basic IT packages – word processing, excel, e-mail and internet.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance relevant to patient group

• Knowledge and Skills

  Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice with this client group.

• Knowledge and Skills

  The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Ability to provide a culturally-competent and non-stigmatising service including an awareness of the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health.

• Knowledge and Skills

  Competent use of other IT packages e.g. PowerPoint, Excel and Access

• Education/Training/Qualification

  Professional Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalence and able to demonstrate eligibility for BPS CPsychol (Chartered Psychologist)

• Education/Training/Qualification

  HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by HCPC.

• Education/Training/Qualification

  Completed training course in clinical supervision