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Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist - Inpatient Psychology
The closing date is 03 August 2025
*An exciting new opportunity has arisen for 1WTE 8b Principle Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join our Adult Inpatient Psychological Services Team in Chelmsford*
You will be joining us at a time of implementation of the new Inpatient Operating Model, which also aims to realise EPUTs commitment to become a trauma informed organisation.
We have a proven track record of valuing and investing in our staff. Many of our Consultant Psychologists have been promoted within EPUT. We value staff well-being and understand the importance of flexible working to maintain a work/home life balance and offer different configurations, including compressed hours.
If you would like to be a part of shaping and contributing to innovation in mental health delivery, are a champion of quality initiatives and have an interest in delivering interventions for people with severe mental health problems then we are keen to interview you and see if we can offer you the opportunities you deserve!
Main duties of the job
The main duties of this job involve both clinical and line managerial responsibilities. The post holder will have excellent assessment, formulation and intervention skills as well as an ability to work short-term with Service Users who present in crisis. They will also have good supervisory skills and an ability to motivate our Inpatient Psychological Services staff who include; senior Psychological Practitioners, trainees, Arts Psychotherapists and our newly appointed Clinical Associates in Psychology trainees (CAPS). A wider systemic understanding of team and organisational dynamics or an interest in developing this is welcomed. Duties also cover indirect working such as; representation at Trust wide meetings, chairing local service development groups staff training and staff support initiatives (e.g. reflective practice). The post-holder will work within the Inpatient and Urgent Care Unit to help shape and deliver trauma informed services.
The successful candidate will be skilled and experienced in working in secondary care health settings and within a multidisciplinary team. Working with and formulating complexity as well as understanding crisis presentations is essential for this role. The ability to make professional recommendations and risk informed decisions alongside the ward team is key, as well as a passion for partnership and MDT working.
About us
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
* Season Ticket Loans
* NHS discounts for staff
* Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
* Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
* The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
* Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
* Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Job responsibilities
We, the Adult Inpatient Psychological Services team aim to understand the impact of trauma and adverse experiences on an individuals crisis presentation within the hospital setting. We work together with our MDT colleagues and wider Care unit colleagues to ensure our Service Users experience purposeful inpatient admissions and timely discharges.
EPUTs Adult Inpatient Psychological Services team cover 6 inpatient sites across Essex. Each site has a Principle Lead overseeing the area/areas. Our team is comprised of Principle/Senior Practitioners, Arts Psychotherapists, trainees, assistant psychologists and CAPS. We acknowledge the excellent day-to-day work of our staff team and also pride ourselves on new creative practice as evidenced by recent innovations; such as our nationally recognised staff training packages.
We welcome discussions about flexible and part-time working. When appropriate, remote ways of working will be utilised in this role.
The post holder will work alongside our four 8bs in our existing leadership team to ensure that the Adult Inpatient Psychological Services team is current, evidence-based and in line with best practice and Trust standards. Flexible and adaptive clinicians will prosper in this role as well those individuals who enjoy innovative practice. The successful candidate will oversee the psychological services staff who are based at The Linden Centre, Chelmsford. The post holder will also provide day to day psychological therapy into some of the Linden Centre wards including the PICU. They will offer clinical leadership, evaluation and service monitoring. They will work autonomously within professional guidelines to provide a high quality Inpatient Psychological Service to Service Users, assisting or leading in service development and project management as agreed.
As well as applicants from the UK, we encourage overseas candidates to apply for this role. We welcome diversity within our organisation. We can offer guidance for candidates coming from overseas about settling into working in the UK and we have a programme to provide a buddy for you, i.e. a member of the Psychological Services Directorate who has also emigrated to join us at EPUT and can guide you through as you settle into your new home.
The Psychological Services Directorate enjoys good links with and supervises clinical psychology trainees from The University of East Anglia, University of Essex and University College training schemes. Clinical research, teaching and specialised interests are encouraged as well as formal courses. Members of the directorate have enjoyed secondments and learning opportunities across the Trust.
Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is essential as well as eligibility for registration with a professional body (BPS).
Please contact Dr Sophie Bellringer, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, sophie.bellringer@nhs.net (07583136523) for further discussion.
Person Specification
Education /Qualifications
* Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the HCPC and BPS.
* Evidence of significant CPD in relation to Adult Mental Health.
* Qualifications in management and supervision of psychological services colleagues.
* Post-doctoral qualifications in EMDR/DBT/CAT/Schema Therapy/Sensorimotor Psychotherapy/CBTp or other evidence based models for the treatment of complex cases, personality disorders and/or psychoses.
Skills/Experience /Abilities
* Experience and skills in training others/professionals in psychological theory and practice and therapeutic models.
* Experience in supervising psychologists, psychotherapists and junior staff at a lower banding. Ability to line manage, conduct appraisals, performance manage and supervise lower banded staff.
* Experience of working in inpatient services or crisis settings may be useful.
* Skills and experience in the management of more junior colleagues in addition to psychological services staff.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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