Clinical Psychologist - Older People’s Mental Health - Band 8b

Job content

Job Summary

Are you an experienced and enthusiastic applied psychologist with a passion for working with older people? Would you like to work in an organisation where you will be part of a wider family of psychological professionals who care about your professional development and wellbeing?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity in Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (GHC) for a senior clinician to support the Lead Psychologist within mental health services for older people.

CMHT transformation and the drive to integrate physical and mental health services more effectively present an exciting agenda for the development of psychological care and services for older people within Gloucestershire. This role will allow the successful candidate to be directly involved in shaping this future service provision.

Psychological services for older people is well regarded in GHC, comprising a Consultant Lead Psychologist and a mix of qualified Clinical Psychologists and assistants. Roles are embedded in multi-disciplinary teams across the county but we work closely together to continuously improve service provision.

The post holder will be encouraged to contribute to research and continue their professional development. There are good opportunities for CPD via internal events, NHSE accredited training, the Bath University Clinical Psychology training course and funded individual training in line with agreed individual appraisal objectives.

Main duties of the job

This role carries significant responsibilities supporting the Lead Psychologist in the development and governance of psychological services and care within mental health services for older people and in the implementation of strategic aims.

The post-holder will also maintain a clinical role in the South locality, inputting into the Community Mental Health and Memory Assessment Teams. These teams are well established, friendly and value input from psychology. The role includes specialist therapeutic work with individuals, couples, families and groups as well as neuropsychological assessment and interventions. The post holder will also be involved with indirect work including consultancy, teaching and supervision of colleagues.

We have a strong focus on clinical leadership development in GHC and work hard to support career progression. We are proud of our commitment to providing varied learning opportunities and high quality supervision and this is reflected in our ability to retain staff.

If you are interested, we would encourage you to get in touch so we can tell you more about the role and what it is like to work here and so we can hear more about your career aspirations and priorities.

About Us

At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, we are supportive of the people we care for in the community and aim to provide a fully responsive service to everyone who needs it. This is the same approach we take for our employees. We look to value the skills and experiences of those we work with, whether they are service users, carers, families or those looking to work with us.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust is part of the NHS. We treat NHS patients according to NHS principles and standards. The difference is the Trust is accountable to local people, rather than to Government, and so we are able to work closely with our community to develop services in the way that best suits the needs of local people.

Our Staff Survey results showed people at our Trust feel they are engaged, part of a team and work for a compassionate and inclusive organisation.

Our overall scores were better than average in eight of nine themes and level in one - the best overall results for a community, mental health and learning disabilities Trust in the south west and first equal amongst all sector NHS providers within the region too.

Job Description Job Responsibilities

Gloucestershire Health and Care is committed to embedding and providing personalised care through all of its services as part of our high-quality care strategy. The purpose of personalised care is to empower people to lead the lives they want to live. Personalised care starts with a conversation with people about what matters to them. It builds on what people can do, as well as addressing their health needs. Including new ways of working and delivering care, emphasising that we need to make effective use of the full range of our peoples skills and experience to deliver the best possible patient care. So we want to know What Matters to You and that you will share our values and join us on this very important journey.

The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Qualifications

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology, as accredited by the B.P.S (or equivalent level health - relevant Applied Psychology training, as accredited by the B.P.S)
• Registered as Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
  
  

Length and/or Nature of Experience Essential

• Significant experience working at highly specialist level in a directly relevant area. Includes successful working in a multi-disciplinary context and having held responsibility for a largely autonomous and systematic service provision
• Experience of maintaining working relationships and a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical aggression.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues
  
  

Desirable

• Experience of conducting appraisals and monitoring performance of staff
• Care coordination or equivalent role with people with highly complex psychological needs
• Experience of using psychological knowledge to improve and develop practice and contribution to service development.
  
  

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Weavers Croft

Field Road

Stroud

GL5 2HZ

Employer’s website

https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)