Clinical/ Counselling/ Forensic Senior Psychologist 8a

at  NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and competent Band 8A Psychologist to join an expanding Community Forensic Psychology Service. This is an exciting area of forensic services to work in; forensic community teams across the country are being expanded and invested in, consistent with the NHS Long Term Plan. This post is a consequence of additional funding which recognises the importance of psychological input for forensic service users who are stepping down into less restrictive settings and back into the community.
The post holder would join a well-established and well respected forensic team: NELFT’s low-secure forensic unit, Morris ward, has ranked first in the UK and Ireland according the Quality Network for Forensic Mental Health Services (QNFMHS).
The post holder will provide assessment and evidence-based interventions to service users presenting with complex mental health issues including psychosis, trauma histories and substance misuse, in addition to offending behaviour. Interventions will include individual, group, and family work. The post holder will work mainly with service users in the community but some work with inpatient service users and teams may be required. Interventions will include individual, group, and family work.
This post would suit someone with a strong interest in multidisciplinary working and working with wider systems including family and carers. The role will require creative and innovative input including offering consultation to forensic and non-forensic colleagues. Good applicants would be passionate about addressing discrimination and inequalities and have an awareness of how this affects mental health, recovery and risk.
This job will require direct face to face working with service users. This post will involve travel between sites within the areas served by NELFT.
The boroughs covered by the Trust are very diverse and we would actively encourage applicants to apply who represent this diversity.
The psychology department is friendly, supportive and innovative: You would have good access to CPD opportunities across the Trust. We actively support the development of leadership skills and aim to nurture our staff and support them in their development. Members of the wider psychology department have strong links to academic institutions and are engaged in research and teaching.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,313 to a maximum of £5,436 p.a. pro rata for part time).
Clinical Skills
T o provide specialist psychological assessment of service users referred to the Forensic Psychology Service, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. Methods used will include selecting, administering, scoring and interpreting appropriate standardised psychometric assessments; using self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users and/or others involved in their care as appropriate, and collating and interpreting historical and developmental data.
To undertake specialist forensic risk assessments and risk management relevant to individual service users, including protective and risk factors present in the network of significant relationships.
To implement a range of specialist psychological interventions for individual service users and groups in the forensic service, and, where appropriate, for carers, co-working with psychologist and non-psychologist colleagues as appropriate.
To make skilled evaluations to formulate and implement plans for the treatment and management of service users’ mental health difficulties based on a psychological framework and employing research-based evidence.
T o be responsible for developing a formulation of the service users’ psychological and mental health difficulties using different theoretical models. To use this formulation in agreeing an effective care plan and treatment pathway in collaboration with the service user, their family and the wider multidisciplinary team.
To provide specialist individual, family and group psychological therapies with clinical autonomy, drawing on a range of models.
To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options, taking into account highly complex factors concerning historical, relational and developmental processes that have shaped the service user and their difficulties.
To exercise professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of service users whose problems are managed by psychological care plans.
To work jointly and collaboratively with other team members in the community and in the inpatient service, in order to enhance and develop work with service users by providing highly specialist psychological knowledge and skills.
To provide specialist consultation, advice and guidance to other professionals at all levels, both within the service and in partner agencies. This will include liaison and working with professional networks, involving complex issues such as serious violent and sexual offending, child protection, deliberate self-harm, violence, trauma and suicide risk.
To maintain clinical records and communicate effectively verbally and in writing, especially with referrers via written reports.
To communicate complex clinical information in a skilled and sensitive manner, including assessment, formulation and treatment plans of service users, to monitor progress during the course of multi-disciplinary treatment.
To actively work to make psychology research, theory, formulations and clinical work accessible and understandable to colleagues.

Leadership

• To participate as an experienced clinician in the development of a high quality, responsive and accessible service including advising both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where matters relating to psychology need addressing.

To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological therapies practice within the area delegated by the line manager.

To participate as appropriate in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panels as appropriate to experience.

• To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships throughout the Trust.
• To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.
• To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.
• To advise, encourage and share knowledge utilising the latest research and practice development, through literature and peer reviews.

Administration

• To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trust’s IM&T Strategy.
• To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating service users ’ records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating of day to day running of the caseload.

Communication

To communicate and relate at the highest level where complex formulations need to be developed, synthesised and explained.

• To communicate effectively, orally and in writing at a highly technical and clinically sensitive level to service users and professionals within and outside the NHS in line with confidentiality and safeguarding protocols.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

• Provide structured supervision and training to community and inpatient teams, including doctors, psychologists and other mental health professionals regarding psychological work with service users, their families and other professional networks. To provide supervision of other professionals in the service who are members of the Trust.
• To organise and provide psychology groups in line with research and service and training needs.
• To provide clinical supervision as agreed by the Lead Psychologist for the Forensic Psychology Service to trainees and newly qualified psychologists in ways that fit with the individual’s stage of professional development and is in accordance with standards prescribed by the BPS.
• To act as a highly specialist psychologist by providing supervision, consultation and training including academic presentations to team members and to other agencies.
• To support and supervise honorary staff in training to work within the specialised modality being offered.
• To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
• To undertake own mandatory training.
• To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.
• To support new staff and their integration within the team.

Re search and Service Evaluation

• To use theory and research to inform evidence-based practice in work with groups, individuals, and their networks in line with current and best practice.
• To undertake or participate in relevant clinical research, service evaluation and audit in line with service objectives.
• To undertake project management including complex audit and service evaluation with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision.

Please refer the Job description for details