Principal Psychotherapist

Job overview

Our innovative Psychologically Informed Consultation and Training Team (PICT) has been established to support the delivery of great care for individuals who have difficulties which may be associated with a diagnosis of Personality Disorder.

This is a stimulating role in a compassionate and enthusiastic team of Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Lived Experience Practitioners delivering specialist training and consultation to staff working with people who have difficulties associated with personality disorder. The post holder will provide support to different parts of the system including staff in Berkshire Healthcare (inpatient and outpatient settings), local Primary Care Networks and key partner agencies.

Key to the role is to support the development, delivery and governance of high quality, psychologically-informed and evidence-based care. This includes provision of supervision, line management and expertise to junior staff, other professionals (e.g. SCM practitioners), and sub-teams in the Personality Disorder pathway, such as Service User Network (SUN) and Assertive Interventions & Stabilisation Team (ASSIST).

This role can be filled by either a Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or an Principal Psychotherapist.  If you are a Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist, please use this link to apply: https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us/our-vacancies/#!/job/v7994992

Main duties of the job

This is a hybrid role with opportunities for work online and in person. The post holder will bring a personal and professional approach and leadership style that enables positive engagement, containment, and skills development.

Supervision, Consultation and Advice:  Offer expert clinical supervision, consultation, and advice to individuals and teams delivering care to people with difficulties which may be associated with a diagnosis of Personality Disorder.

Training and Teaching: Deliver training and teaching to increase skills and confidence across the workforce when working with individuals who may have a diagnosis of Personality Disorder. This will include local NHS staff and the wider system such as those working in Primary Care Networks, emergency services, and the voluntary sector.

Assessment, Formulation and Intervention: Provide expert clinical assessments, psychological formulation, and evidence-based intervention within the area of specialism.

Clinical leadership: Ensure the systematic provision of high-quality psychological services for individuals and their families/ carers within the area of responsibility.

Governance: Work autonomously within professional and local guidelines and policies and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service.

Research and Audit: Utilise research and audit skills to inform service and policy development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Psychologically Informed Consultation and Training Team (PICT) is a subteam within the Intensive Management of Personality Disorder and Clinical Therapies Team (IMPACTT). IMPACTT is a specialist service delivering assessments and evidence-based interventions (MBT, DBT), hosts a Service User Network (SUN), Carer’s programme, and an alternative to admission team known as the Assertive Intervention and Stabilisation Team (ASSIST).

The “must haves” for this role in PICT:

• Be an innovative and forward-looking Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychotherapist
• Have post-qualification training and clinical expertise in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), and/ or Structured Clinical Management (SCM)
• Have a substantial record of working within multi-disciplinary settings with people with complex needs often associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder and high risk presentations.
• Be someone who enjoys working with colleagues and systems to enable people with a diagnosis of personality disorder to achieve positive outcomes.
• Have a record of developing and delivering training, supervision and consultation to others to effectively share skills and understanding and enhance outcomes.
• Be someone who believes in the vision of changing the culture around how people with difficulties associated with personality disorder are supported within mental health services and are excited by the challenges of enabling and supporting this.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Dr Chloe Forster (PICT Consultant Psychologist ) on 07825 121382 or [email protected] who’ll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.