Job overview
We are pleased to offer a post for a qualified Senior Clinical Psychologist with an interest in specialist learning disability service. Applications are welcomed from newly qualified psychologists with scope for post to be a development post working initially at band 7, working towards the competencies of an 8a. We will accept applications from people who may not have specific LD experience, but a passion to learn and work in LD is essential.
You may be an experienced band 7 psychologist and wish to progress to a band 8a without the need for the development process.
This post is also suitable for candidates who may already be an 8a psychologist wishing to move from their current post and want to develop their skills in our Community Learning Disabilities Team. This is a multi-disciplinary, community based service serving the Dudley area of the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
The post-holder will join a supportive and forward-thinking team of MDT professionals who pride themselves on their commitment to the continual development and improvement of patient care. The team provides services to people with a learning disability experiencing significant mental health needs and/or displaying significant behavioural distress, The team is a part of our stepped care whole pathway model with good links to the Intensive Support Team, Forensic Community Team and Assessment and Treatment Inpatient services as well as a range of regional and local Commissioning services.
Main duties of the job
The team provides a full range of assessments, interventions, support, training and advice to individuals themselves, their families and paid carers and the network of multi-agency stakeholders who are involved in the care and support of people experiencing complex behavioural and/or emotional distress.
Guided by recovery principles, the team maintains close liaison and pathways with a range of existing and specialist mental health community teams, social support accommodation services and social care agencies across the Dudley area in order to ensure that people with a learning disability and mental health and/or behavioural distress needs are also well supported by the full range of services and opportunities that meet their whole life person centred needs and aspirations.
Working for our organisation
The post-holder will be part of a team committed to MDT working with people with a learning disability. They require experience combining evidence based clinical assessment & formulation with integrative, client centred, therapeutic interventions. They will be skilled in individual and group work adapted to match the different intellectual & emotional abilities within the client group. They require experience and skills to oversee the performance and development of existing psychological pathways, such as Trauma, PBS and Dementia. There are opportunities to develop new and existing group programmes. The post-holder supports training/supervising others, including practitioners & trainees working within the team.
Psychologists at BCHFT have good links with the full range of Doctoral Psychology courses at the Universities of Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick and Wolverhampton. Key staff are closely involved with Research and Innovation. CPD and supervision for all grades of staff is highly valued. Psychological professionals are thoroughly integrated at all levels in the quality, governance and service development infrastructure of the Trust.
BCHFT are committed to investment in our Psychology. Discover unparalleled development opportunities, from promotions and specialist roles to a dedicated CPD budget for psychologists
We look forward to receiving applications from HCPC registered Clinical Psychologists who can show the breadth and depth of experience required for this role
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To ensure high quality, specialist psychology provision to people with a learning disability with complex mental health needs and/or displaying significant behavioural distress. Working within community settings in the Dudley locality.
2. To offer advice, specialist psychological assessment/intervention and or consultation and supervision on this client group’s psychological care either directly with the client or indirectly with their systemic support networks.
3. Liaise with psychology colleagues, non-psychology colleagues, external agencies and other non-professional carers regarding client's psychological support needs.
4. To perform an important leadership role and work alongside MDT colleagues within and across the settings.
5. To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for systematic governance of psychological practice within the service. To propose and implement policy changes with the areas served by the service.
6. To utilise doctoral level research skills for audit, policy and service development and research. To supervise research carried out by Assistant and Trainee psychologists.
7. Guided by the person centred Transforming care principles of the recovery model ensure that people with a learning disability and additional support needs are safely supported by the full range of services and opportunities that meet their whole life needs and aspirations, in the least restrictive context.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
8. Qualifications
9. Working with a learning disability population
10. Experience of assessment, formulation and intervention
11. Experience of a range of evidenced-based therapeutic interventions e.g. CBT, Third Wave models, Systemic therapy
Desirable criteria
12. Post graduate training