Job overview
We are looking for a highly skilled, compassionate, experienced Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychologist to join us in Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Low Secure Services, which form part of the Rehabilitation and High Support (RHS) Care hub. The post will suit an enthusiastic Psychologist with an interest in developing skills across a wide range of therapeutic approaches and consultation skills, combined with a desire to work within a low secure setting.
Prospect Place is part of the Rehabilitation and High Support Care Hub in Pennine Care. Prospect Place is a 45-bed low secure unit that opened in 2011 and is based on the site of Birch Hill Hospital in Rochdale. The unit is for men aged 18 to 65 years, who have a diagnosed psychotic disorder, and have been detained under the Mental Health Act. Alcohol and drug misuse are often a part of the problems faced by patients. A secure setting may be required to help address challenges around the patient's view of their illness and the vulnerabilities and risks to themselves and others that may result from this.
There is free parking at Birch Hill Hospital site and allocated office space. We would welcome applications for flexible working patterns.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the promotion and management of high-quality psychology input at Prospect Place. The post holder will be part of a respected psychology team that includes a Principal Forensic Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists. They will work as part of a wider team of other Psychologists within RHS. Supervision will be provided by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist/ Clinical Lead in RHS.
The post will require you to provide psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to service users who present with complex mental health problems, including psychosis, alongside a possible history of trauma, substance misuse and forensic histories. The post holder will provide direct face-to-face clinical sessions and support the psychosocial intervention work of colleagues. The post-holder will support the ongoing work in RHS on trauma informed care and reducing restrictive practices.
The post holder would be joining the MDT at Prospect Place. You will be expected to attend MDT meetings and to facilitate regular regular reflective groups to offer the MDT reflective space, develop psychological formulations and provide bespoke training. In addition, you will provide one-to-one clinical supervision to Psychologists and other members of the MDT as appropriate. The post will require you to be involved in service developments, Quality Improvement projects and governance within the service as required.
Working for our organisation
We support staff to work flexibly and recognise and respect the roles our colleagues hold outside of their working hours.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We believe that a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone’s value should be recognised and respected.
We proactively challenge injustices, and are the only Trust in the North West to publicly recognise our commitment to becoming anti-racist and supporting our transgender and non-binary colleagues. We also have thriving staff networks to make sure everyone has a voice.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
We are committed to staff development through shared learning, training and peer supervision. We are working hard in the Rehabilitation and High Support Care Hub to reduce restrictive practices, and to provide trauma-informed care.
Our trust values are:
Kindness
Fairness
Ingenuity
Determination
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.
For further details, discussion or to arrange an informal visit please contact Dr Louisa McNair, Consultant Clinical Psychologist on 07917 503634 or
Person specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychological assessments, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan development psychology as accredited by the BPS) or postgraduate training in Forensic Psychology or Counselling Psychology
* Current registration as a Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Desirable criteria
* Completion of further post qualification training within psychological therapies (e.g., DBT, CBT, CAT, CFT, MBT etc)
Experience
Essential criteria
* Demonstrable post-qualification experience of specialist assessment and treatment of adult clients and those with psychological difficulties in an inpatient setting.
* Demonstrable post-qualification experience of working with complex mental health problems, including distressing psychosis, problems associated with complex relational and emotional needs, and severe depression, anxiety and trauma.
* Demonstratable experience of working with people experiencing a suicidal crisis
* Demonstrable experience of working within inpatient adult multidisciplinary teams.
* Experience of clinical leadership within a previous role
* Demonstratable experience of providing clinical supervision to psychologists, psychological practitioners or other core health professions
* Demonstratable experience of providing teaching/ training upon clinical interventions.
* Demonstratable experience of managing demand for psychological services within a form of stepped-care framework (i.e., an approach based upon the provision of direct care, and supporting other professionals in their provision of psychosocial work)
Desirable criteria
* Experience of clinical leadership
* Ability to demonstrate further specialist clinical experience and training
* Experience of audit and service evaluation within psychological therapy services
* Research experience within an area relevant to work within an adult service
* Demonstratable experience of the application of psychological therapy in diverse cultural and ethnic contexts
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Understanding of the national and regional legislation, guidance and policy directives in relation to the development and delivery of psychological therapies within inpatient services.
* Evidence of post-qualification CPD as recommended by the HCPC and, or BPS, or other professional body.
* Up to date knowledge of the needs of people with complex mental health problems, and of psychological approaches to recovery.
* Awareness of the principles of a trauma informed care approach.
* Familiarity with computing technology, including keyboard skills and use of word-processing, e-mail and internet software.
Desirable criteria
* Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and approaches for adults with complex mental health problems.
* Publication of training, service evaluation, clinical audit and research material
Skills and abilities
Essential criteria
* Ability to work with service users, carers and families to engage with their needs and provide them with appropriate psychological support and intervention
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
* Well developed, effective communication skills, both oral and in writing, enabling complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to be shared with service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues within the NMHS and other agencies
* Ability to prioritise work, operate a waiting list, meet short deadlines and an unpredictable work pattern that requires regular revision of plans
* Ability to sit in a constrained position for service user assessment, formulation and individual and group therapy sessions and for computer work
* Ability to work at a high level of professional autonomy and responsibility, in a collaborative multi-disciplinary environment and also as a lone worker in circumstances where there may be exposure to verbal and sometimes physical aggression.
* Able to sustain the intense concentration necessary for service user assessment and formulation, individual and group therapy sessions
* Ability to work and communicate highly sensitive, contentious information effectively in a highly emotive or hostile atmosphere, and to overcome barriers to acceptance/ psychological resistance to potentially threatening information
* Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to staff and carers exposed to highly distressing situations
* Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
Desirable criteria
* Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials, suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
* Ability to demonstrate an area of special interest/ skill in therapeutic intervention
* Ability to move equipment (including case files, neuropsychological tests, self-help materials, audiovisual equipment) between office base and other work settings.
Work related circumstances
Essential criteria
* Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
* Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
* Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
Sponsorship - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
What happens after your application has been received?
You will be informed about the progress of your application following shortlisting via email. Only applicants who clearly demonstrate the criteria listed in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. Interview invites will be sent out via email.
What happens if I am offered the position after interview?
The hiring manager will make contact with you to verbally offer you the position. The hiring manager will then inform Recruitment of the decision and provide relevant paperwork. You will be sent a formal conditional offer via email.
What pre-employment checks will I need to complete?
By conducting pre-employment checks, the recruitment team will verify that you meet the pre-conditions of the role you have been offered. Pre-employment checks will be carried out according to. The checks are:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to the NHS will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references as part of pre-employment checks.
If you are offered a position with us and you require sponsorship to support your right to work, we will review your eligibility in line with. If the role you have been offered is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not able to evidence own your right to work, your conditional offer could be withdrawn.
What happens when pre-employment checks are complete?
Recruitment will liaise with you and the hiring manager to arrange a start date for your new position. You will then be booked on to a Trust Welcome Session and be sent your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
Other important information
* We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and recognise the importance of ensuring our diverse service user population is reflected within our workforce. Unfortunately, we know that, at present, there is underrepresentation of our communities in our workforce. We welcome applications from people from diverse communities to help us grow, learn, be better and consider brilliant innovation diverse people bring.
* If you would like to be considered under the disability confident scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria on the person specification for the post.
* If you require reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process please phone us on 0161 716 3181 at the earliest opportunity. We will support you to complete your application.
* Unfortunately we are not able to guarantee the transfer of lease cars, or cover the costs of early termination charges.
* We have a strict policy on unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Please do not contact our hiring managers directly.
We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of applications have been received. To ensure you application is considered, please submit at the earliest opportunity.
If you have problems applying, contact
Address
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
Telephone
01617163181