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Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist Older People's in-patient
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Main area Clinical or Counselling Psychologist Grade NHS AfC: Band 8b Contract Permanent Hours
* Full time
* Part time
* Job share
* Flexible working
37.5 hours per week Job ref 383-SPE-5829-25
Site Kingsway Town Derby Salary £62,215 - £72,293 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/07/2025 23:59
Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.
We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.
We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.
Job overview
We are looking for a compassionate and trauma-informed Principal Clinical Psychologist (band 8b) w ho is creative, motivated and passionate about the role that psychology can have within Older People’s Mental Health and Dementia Services to work into our Older People’s Mental Health in-patient unit (Tissington) and Dementia in-patient unit (Cubley), on the Kingsway site in Derby, working half-time into each unit.
The post provides an exciting opportunity to shape the psychological offer within both wards, and the post-holder will support the psychological understanding, formulation and care and lead our Older People’s in-patient Psychology pathway. Both wards value and appreciate the contribution that Psychology can make to people’s care and are keen to develop their psychological knowledge.
The post is line managed through a robust Psychology structure and offers great opportunities to develop a specialist area of psychological expertise.
Main duties of the job
The post gives the opportunity to work within specialist older people’s mental health and dementia units and join teams that value the contribution that Psychology brings to their work. The Psychologists who work across our service value the variety that working within Older People’s Mental Health Services can bring and enjoy using a broad range of knowledge and skills to provide assessment, formulation and interventions, conduct neuropsychological assessments for complex presentations, offer advice and consultation to colleagues, and to be involved in training and development initiatives.
To find out more about our Older People’s Psychology Service, please visit bit.ly/ClinPsy .
Working for our organisation
The successful candidate will be welcomed into a large, vibrant and well-established team of skilled Psychologists who have extensive experience, knowledge and skill, and are passionate about working within older people’s services. We regularly meet for CPD, to share experiences and think about how we can improve our services.
We have excellent links with the Psychologists in other parts of our Trust, and there are regular meetings with the Psychologists working in the Working Age Adult Acute services.
Our Psychology Service has a strong focus on staff wellbeing, supports flexible working, is keen to support and develop research activities, and is leading the Trust’s development of trauma-informed approaches. There are excellent opportunities for peer support, to join a range of specialist supervision groups and to participate in regular in-house and external CPD. We are also supported by an excellent admin team.
We also have strong links with local Psychology Training Courses and enjoy providing regular placements and teaching (particularly to the Trent course), and are really keen to develop specialist placements within our in-patient settings.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: To view the Job Description & Person Specification click link APPLY FOR THIS JOB for re-direction to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not have an account.
The post holder will need to be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), eligible for BPS Chartership and able to meet the travel requirements of the post.
Person specification
Qualifications & training
* Post–graduate doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or those in lateral transfer) as accredited by the BPS/HCPC
* Eligible for chartered status with the BPS
* Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
* Formal training in supervision of other psychologists
* Training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
* Chartered status with the BPS
Experience
* Experience of working as a qualified psychologist in a relevant clinical speciality including at a highly specialist level (usually for a minimum of four years, including two years at a highly specialised level)
* Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of service users across a broad range of settings and including experience of working with older people and their carers, and with people experiencing cognitive impairment, who may have a diagnosis of dementia.
* Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HCPC
* Expertise and interest in a specialist area relevant to the service user group
Knowledge & Skills
* Very high level of interpersonal and communication skills enabling written and oral presentation and receipt of highly complex and sensitive information, to facilitate acceptance and relate effectively in a distressing emotive and hostile environment
* Highly specialist assessment and therapeutic skills related to complex, severe and enduring psychological problems experienced by older people with mental health difficulties, cognitive impairment, dementia and complex needs
* Proven keyboard skills and the ability to complete complex psychometric assessments that require manual dexterity, concentration and precision
* Good written communication skills with the ability to tailor these to varying contexts
Additional Information
Flexible Working
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for our service and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.
Disability Confident Employer
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you in the recruitment process please let us know.
If you require any support in completing the application form please do not hesitate to contact the Recruitment Team, 01332 564856, option 1, option 1 or email dchst.recruitment@nhs.net and we will be happy to provide assistance.
DBS Checks
The cost of undertaking a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) disclosure will be met by the individual. The Trust will meet the initial costs of the disclosure which will be deducted from your first month’s salary.
This job may close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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