Job overview
Clinical/Counselling Psychologist Band 7
Due to recent expansion of psychological provision and exciting developments to our service, we are seeking a passionate and committed clinical or counselling psychologist to join our Mental Health Integrated Network Team (MINT) in Hounslow. MINT is a multidisciplinary service providing holistic support and treatment to adults presenting with a range of mental health difficulties within a stepped-care framework. We have an established psychology team which is well integrated and highly valued in the service.
We are looking for someone with a passion for working with service users presenting with complex emotional needs, complex trauma and diagnoses of personality disorder. In addition to having a caseload of clients, a significant part of this is embedding psychological principles and thinking within the work of the whole MDT. Therefore, we require a candidate who thrives in a team environment and is passionate about dissemination of psychological thinking, consultation and leadership.
The post is an excellent opportunity for an early career psychologist looking to consolidate specialist clinical skills within the context of a supported team.
At West London NHS Trust we want to employ talented, passionate and skilled psychological professionals, so that we can provide the best healthcare possible for those who use our services. In return, we are committed to investing in and supporting our staff.
Main duties of the job
You will provide highly specialist assessments and treatment for individuals with complex mental health conditions, both 1-1 and in groups. Therefore, post-qualification experience in this area is essential.
The role will include working with people from varied cultural backgrounds, including those seeking asylum, using interpreters when necessary. A passion for creating and enabling equality of access to services for all and an understanding of the psychological needs associated with migration is essential.
You will provide psychological consultation and guidance to the whole MDT and offer supervision and training for junior members of the psychological professions. A commitment to work within an MDT and promote psychological ways of working is essential.
You will play a key role in service developments in the service and, as part of this, you will undertake audit and research to drive and sustain the quality of the services we deliver. There will be opportunities to collaborate with trainee psychologists, local doctorate courses and a large network of psychological colleagues across the Trust.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
2. Registered with HCPC
Desirable criteria
3. Other related academic qualifications
Experience
Essential criteria
4. Experience undertaking therapy with people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties
5. Experience of the application of psychology/therapy in different cultural contexts
6. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team and providing case consultation to colleagues from other disciplines and using psychological formulation as a framework for bringing a psychological understanding of need
Desirable criteria
7. Experience of administration, scoring and written interpretation of formal personality tools and/or neuropsychological assessments
8. Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
Knowledge
Essential criteria
9. Highly developed specialist knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of psychology applied to clinical practice, particularly in respect of adults with severe and enduring mental health needs (including complex emotional needs and trauma history)
10. Knowledge of relevant legislation and Codes of Conduct and their implications for work in relevant setting
Desirable criteria
11. Knowledge of models of leadership and supervision, in the context of mental health teams
12. Knowledge of the specific mental health challenges and needs associated with migration
Skills
Essential criteria
13. Able to provide and receive highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information, where there are significant barriers to acceptance which need to be overcome using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills such as would be required when communicating in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere
14. Able to make judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the evaluation of a range of options (e.g. the assessment of specialist clinical conditions and the determination of treatment options)
15. Able to plan, prioritise and organise own caseload, treatment programmes involving other staff, and other aspects of the work such as clinical administrative tasks and CPD
16. Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
17. Able to function in potentially traumatic circumstances and in highly emotionally distressing circumstances on a frequent basis (e.g. in dealing with service users with complex mental health difficulties, self-harm, histories of trauma and abuse)
18. Able to provide services in an environment with service users who may be challenging and where the awareness of risk must always be maintained
19. Able to reflect on own professional practice through the clinical supervision process
20. Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) and willingness to participate actively in CPD in line with BPS’ or their professional body’s guidelines