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Job overview
We are looking for a Principal Psychologist for short-term cover in the Bedford CRHT. You will be working closely with the Principal Psychologist in the Luton CRHT as well as other Crisis Pathway Psychologists. The cover will be for 6 months initially, with a possibility to extend TBC.
Main duties of the job
The CRHTs form an integral part of the Crisis pathway where people experiencing a mental health crisis are supported by a multidisciplinary team through short term support and intervention. The CRHTs liaise with other teams across the Crisis pathway as well as inpatient and community services. The Principal Psychologist in each team holds an important role in contributing with psychological knowledge to the care plan, offer psychological assessments and brief interventions. They also form part of the leadership of the team contributing to strategic planning.
We are looking for a Principal Psychologist who is able to engage positively and sensitively with people with mental health difficulties and their support networks, and be able to demonstrate an awareness of experiences and challenges that may face someone experiencing a crisis in their mental health. The ability to work collaboratively with other professions is a central part of the post in order to provide holistic care within a biopsychosocial model. The clinical work is undertaken within mental health settings in the Trust, across a range of community resources and occasionally in service-users' own homes.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please for further information kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Able to contain and work with high levels of distress from clients.
- Ability to create and maintain effective relationships with a range of professionals and services.
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers and staff.
- Produce high-quality professional reports to specified deadlines and other time constraints.
- 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.
Desirable
- Respect and appreciation of the knowledge, skills and experience of local and national VCSE.
Knowledge
Essential
- Legislation in relation to mental health problems and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group.
- The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders, including SMI, complex mental health and psychosis
- Risk assessment practice and procedures.
- The value of people participation in the delivery and development of services
Desirable
- Developed knowledge of psychiatric assessment and treatment.
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling psychologist at a highly specialist level preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
- Excellent risk assessment skills and experience
Desirable
- The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
Qualifications
Essential
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Or Have completed an equivalent training abroad as recognised by NARIC and written and oral English sufficient for their work
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Desirable
- Post Qualification Training in a Psychotherapy Modality: e.g. DBT, CFT, EMDR, CBTp, CBT for trauma.
- Relevant management / leadership training certificate.
- Supervision training.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Psychologist CRHT Bedford with East London NHS Foundation Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £62,215 - £72,293 per annum, pro rata. The contract type is Secondment: 6 months (Fixed term contract to cover sickness). The application deadline is 28 Jun 2026.
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