Senior Psychologist

Job overview

This is an excellent opportunity as Senior Clinical / Counselling Psychologist to lead the psychology service within the Barking & Dagenham Community Learning Disabilities Team (CLDT) within NELFT. The post is 0.50 wte sessions in a multi-disciplinary team working closely with health and social services colleagues to provide a well-coordinated and high quality service for adults with learning disabilities.  The post-holder will be supported by the Principal Psychologist and the Professional Lead of the Learning Disabilities Psychological Service in NELFT.

Our psychological therapies provision within community learning disability teams compromises clinical psychologists, clinical behavioural specialists, art therapists, systemic/family therapists, Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP), administrator and trainees from the Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling training courses based in London. We work closely with the local Talking Therapies service strengthening the mainstreaming agenda for people with learning disabilities. Our service is developing trauma informed and culturally sensitive care for people with learning disabilities and their families. There are excellent opportunities for enhancing clinical skills through CPD, peer support and service development. We have a vibrant and active R&D department

Main duties of the job

To provide locality leadership to support the delivery of a high-quality learning disabilities psychological service for NELFT patients, their families and carers within a designated locality.

Providing leadership to LD Psychological Service colleagues within the Community Learning Disability Team

To provide operational and professional management to the locality psychological practitioners, (Band 7 clinical behaviour specialist).

This will include guidance and support to the team by:

>     providing clinical leadership

>     monitoring service delivery

>     ensuring appropriate caseload allocation and management

>     performance management

> clinical and professional supervision to the relevant psychological practitioners

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities

• To be responsible for day-to-day management including managing caseloads, staffing and other resources.
• To work with the Principal Psychologist and Professional Lead for Learning Disabilities Psychological Professions on long term strategies to develop psychological services in line with national and local guidelines and priorities.
• To provide clinical leadership and specialist assessments and interventions within one or more areas of expertise relevant to people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.
• To provide clinical supervision to key psychologists, assistants, trainees or other professionals.
• To oversee research, audit and evaluation within the service.
• To provide line management to the psychological practitioners within the locality.
• To develop and maintain excellent relationships with other services in NELFT.
• To maintain professional relationships with other agencies, e.g. Neighbourhood Services, Police, Probation Service, Education, Advocacy, PALS, Benefits and Voluntary Services to ensure provision of a quality package of care and service delivery for the service users and their carers.