Principal Psychologist - Bedford

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and inspiring HCPC Registered Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to welcome into our Mental Health Services in Bedfordshire in a post which has leadership elements alongside clinical and supervision responsibilities. You will provide senior clinical and strategic input into the Bedford Adult Community Mental Health Service which provide care and support for people and their families who experience serious mental health difficulties, such as psychosis and complex emotional needs.

The post is suitable for an experienced Psychologist who champions adult mental health and psychology. You must have an excellent understanding of working systemically across and within organisational boundaries. You must be keen to embrace the privileges of working in a diverse County, have experience of working with adults with complex mental health needs and from a range of religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We develop and deliver our services through co-production with staff and people with lived experience.

There are opportunities for excellent CPD that supports the Trust Strategy. Much of the work is in person in Bedford CMHT and you will be expected to travel on occasion across the County.

Job description

We expect all staff to work inline with the Trust's mission, values and strategy with a particular focus on equity. Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for the details of the post.

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualification

Essential

• Professional Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalence and able to demonstrate eligibility for BPS CPsychol (Chartered Psychologist)
• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by HCPC.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision

Desirable

• Post-doctoral training in one or more relevant specialist areas of psychological practice.
• Management and/or Leadership Training
• Quality Improvement Training
• Reflective practice and/or working with group dynamics training

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience of working as a qualified Psychologist including substantial post-qualification experience working in a multi-disciplinary team for adults with severe and enduring mental health problems
• Well-developed experience of assessment, formulation and treatment with people (and families/carers) with complex & chronic mental health problems.
• Co produced clinical care, including goal setting, using a Recovery approach.
• Experience in working within at least two therapy modalities (CBT and one other)
• Experience of facilitation of groups
• Experience of the application of psychological principles across multiple environments and populations and in different cultural contexts, including working with interpreters.
• Research and audit experience.
• Experience of supervising professional and clinical practice of qualified and unqualified staff. Including supervision of MDT staff in recovery model approaches.
• An understanding of the full range of complaints, grievances, capability and disciplinary procedures.
• Recruitment, selection and retention of staff.
• Developing services to respond to Service User needs and a diverse population
• The clinical use of databases; informatics systems and data visualisation.

Desirable

• Staff management, development and leadership, especially in supervising staff from different backgrounds and trainings.
• Leading a QI project
• Working through local community groups and centers and neighbourhood based 'interventions'
• Experience of liaison and joint work with other statutory agencies, including crisis management

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies with adult clients with psychosis and complex mental health needs, which should include CBT and one other.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. complex needs, self-harm, dual diagnosis, and persons with additional disabilities etc).
• Able to provide & receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a range of relationships and settings. Able to use highly specialist skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
• Able to tolerate ambiguity and to take decisions in situations of incomplete information.
• Ability to exercise appropriate levels of self-care and to monitor own state, recognising when it is necessary to take active steps to maintain fitness to practice.
• Able to draw upon a broad theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of highly complex facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations. Able to compare and select from a range of treatment options, based on formulation.
• Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload.
• Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently as an independent practitioner, as a mentor and supervisor, and in multi-disciplinary and team settings.

Able to record and report on as required clinical information. Competent in use of basic IT packages - word processing, excel, e-mail and internet.

Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis.

Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance relevant to patient group

Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice with this client group.

The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.

Ability to provide a culturally-competent and non-stigmatising service including an awareness of the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health.

Competent use of other IT packages e.g. PowerPoint, Excel and Access

Desirable

• Able to innovate on the basis of theoretical knowledge.
• Training in Behavioural Family Therapy or other Family Intervention

Other

Essential

• Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological phenomena, and an interest in models of service delivery.
• Able to contain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of others.
• Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial proportion of working time.
• Able to concentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during client contact, teaching/supervision sessions, team meetings, preparing written work etc.
• Able to manage effectively verbal aggression from service users, families, etc and the risk of physical aggression.
• Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals. Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally.

Able to articulate the value added by psychological interventions within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services.

Must be capable of accountability for own work, of autonomous clinical practice, of being guided by precedent and of working towards defined results.

Driving license, access to a vehicle and insurance for business travel.

About the employer

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.