Job title
Main area Psychology Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a. Contract: Permanent. Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday). Job ref 285-2690-MH.
Employer: Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Site: Brookland Health Centre, Wolverhampton
Salary: Dependant on experience
Closing date: 29/09/2025 23:59
Overview
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the Black Country population. The Trust was formed on 1 April 2020 from mergers to deliver a wider range of services based on best practice, with a focus on improving health and wellbeing and work/life balance for colleagues. We offer supportive, inclusive and family-friendly employment and flexible working policies.
We encourage applicants who may not meet every requirement to apply, as diverse knowledge and experience are valued.
Job overview
Based in the Wolverhampton Older Adult Enhanced Community Mental Health Team, with active links to the OA Psychology team across older adult services. The post holder will work in a community-based team, using a multi-disciplinary approach with older people who have complex mental health, clinical and social needs. Opportunities include teaching on the in-house CBT training course, supervision of Assistants in the Older Adult Therapeutic Service (OATS), and supporting the establishment of the In Reach to Care Home (IRTCH) service. Current interventions include Systemic, EMDR, CAT, and CBT; development of a complex emotional needs pathway for older people is underway. For informal discussions or visits, contact Gemma Fisher, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, at 01902 446142 or g.fisher2@nhs.net. Alternative contact: Ann Detheridge, Consultant Divisional Lead Psychologist, ann.detheridge@nhs.net.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a valued colleague in a community-based team, committed to a multi-disciplinary approach with older people who manifest highly complex mental health, clinical and social needs. You will have the opportunity to teach on the in-house CBT training course, supervise Assistants in OATS, and help establish the IRTCH service. The role supports a Recovery ethos and holistic, patient-centred pathways, with opportunities to oversee and develop psychological practitioners and trainees, and work on the dementia pathway.
We welcome HCPC registered clinical and counselling psychologists committed to developing a career with older adults; we also consider preceptorship from band 7 to 8a and new graduates are welcome.
Working for our organisation
We are a closely linked team of psychologists across Community, In-Patient and Memory Assessment services in Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall and Dudley. We support a multi-disciplinary approach to improve access to psychological interventions. We are involved in transformational projects, including OATS, and provide supervision, training, reflective practice, and service development to MDTs. We encourage a diverse, person-centred, compassionate approach to care and aim to raise the profile of psychology across the organisation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job Purpose
* Accountable for own professional practice delivering highly specialist psychological care to clients with highly complex mental health or learning disabilities, including potential challenging behaviours.
* Be compassionate in meeting the needs of clients, carers and families.
* Promote a positive image of people with mental health issues and learning disabilities, and of the service and Trust.
* Exercise supervisory/professional responsibility for other psychological therapists where appropriate.
* Provide leadership in multi-disciplinary training, service audit and development, and service evaluation and research.
* Ensure psychological perspectives inform service redesign and cultural change.
Main Duties/Responsibilities
* Clinical Responsibilities, Patient Contact Provides highly specialist psychological assessments, using a range of data sources, including neuropsychological testing where appropriate.
* Recognises safeguarding concerns and reports child safeguarding issues as required.
* Performs risk assessment and provides specialist advice on risk management.
* Formulates plans for highly specialist psychological therapy and evidence-based care; negotiates plans with clients/carers.
* Implements a range of highly specialist psychological therapies for clients, carers, families and groups.
* Conducts evaluations and informs treatment decisions based on clinical data.
* Provides highly specialist psychological guidance to other staff contributing to diagnoses and intervention plans.
* Facilitates decision-making by planning MDT interventions to determine appropriate treatments.
* Liaises with NHS, Social Inclusion, Health and voluntary sector colleagues regarding client care.
2.0 Supervisory/Professional Responsibility
* Clinical supervision of Trainee Applied Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists.
* Clinical supervision of Band 7 Applied Psychologists in the local area under supervision of the Consultant Applied Psychologist.
* Maintain professional accountability and seek supervision as required.
* Keep HCPC CPD log and engage in ongoing professional development.
* Contribute to teaching on local Applied Psychology training courses.
3.0 Multi-Disciplinary Training and Development
* Provide specialist advice and consultation to MDT staff.
* Provide clinical supervision and devise/train staff in MDT settings.
4.0 Service and Organisational Development
* Plan interventions with MDT members to determine best treatments for groups of clients.
* Participate in MDT delivery of QIP, NICE benchmarking, and compliance requirements.
5.0 Service Redesign and Cultural Change
* Apply understanding of psychological change processes to the MDT and service development.
6.0 Service Evaluation and Research
* Take part in clinical audits and service evaluation within MDT; develop research proposals and engage stakeholders, including service users and carers. Develop and implement outcome monitoring within MDT and supervise trainee evaluations/research.
* To undertake any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this post to provide a quality OA service.
Person specification
* HCPC registration
* Qualification in clinical or counselling psychology
* Evidence of CPD
* Evidence of MDT working and liaison with older agencies
* Experience of working with older people
* Experience of community working
* BPS member
Note: Internal at Risk Employees will be given preference for this position
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive an overwhelming response. Please apply early if you wish to be considered.
If you do not hear within 4 weeks of the advertised closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful at shortlisting. Check emails regularly for updates; for feedback, contact the Recruitment Team.
The salary range follows NHS Agenda for Change pay bands and reflects NHS experience. New applicants without NHS direct experience may start at the lowest point with potential incremental increases.
Some posts may require a Standard Enhanced DBS check. Having a criminal record does not necessarily bar employment; it depends on the role and circumstances.
Employer certification / accreditation
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to DBS and statutory disclosure requirements under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
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