Clinical Psychologist

at  Norfolk Suffolk Foundation Trust

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people’s and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.
At any one time, around 23,000 people in Norfolk and Suffolk are receiving care and attention from the Trust. We believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health.
Nearly 3,800 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 1,400+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, catering, delivering supplies, ward administration, information technology, human resources and financial services.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.
We are committed to delivering quality driven mental health services. Every individual makes a valuable contribution. We are proud of our staff who have been commended for the care they provide. Do you value working positively, respectfully and together? If so, we’d love you to join us!
We will consider flexible working arrangements for our roles, please indicate in your application if this is something you require

JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION

Please read the job description/person specification carefully and ensure your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience needed.

JOB OVERVIEW

We are seeking an experienced compassionate Senior Psychologist to lead the Psychology provision on two adult acute wards. You will be joining a team which has put in significant effort to improve quality of the service provision focusing on developing collaborative formulations, group Psychotherapy and individual work as required. There will be a strong emphasis on risk formulation and management at a leadership level.
The role requires the post holder to make best use of the psychological resources on the ward and developing their effectiveness and efficiency where possible.
The post holder will be supported by the Consultant Clinical psychologist and will be a part of a growing network of senior Psychologists in the West Suffolk area.
We have been working hard to influence the system in a positive manner and have had positive outcomes in reducing restrictive interventions. This would be something the successful candidate would be asked to support and continue. We are committed to the safe wards approach and use a DBT informed manner of working with patients who self injure.
We are committed to supporting the post holder’s professional development aspirations, and would seek to provide opportunities for appropriate and relevant continuing professional development.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service

MAIN DUTIES OF THE JOB

Leading in the effective and efficient use of psychological resources in the wards. Supervising the other members of the therapy team. Being able to remain flexible and autonomous in how the resources are used in the wards.
Developing a close working relationship with the recently appointed Crisis Home treatment team Senior Psychologist to develop a joined up service in line with current NHS England best practice guidelines.
As the Principle Clinical Psychologist you would be offering supervision to the more junior Psychological positions. We would ask that you offer training placements for the UEA DClinPsy course.
To act as a senior clinician in chairing meetings, both within the service and with stakeholders in the wider mental health system.
Clinical Role
The successful candidate would be expected to lead on psychologically informed risk assessment and formulation, rising to the challenge of responding to the recent criticism of general risk assessment measures.
The post holder would be expected to lead on the more complex patient presentations and support the other members of the team in their work with patients.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The staff team in the wards value the psychological perspective within the MDT working.
As Senior Psychologist you would be asked to contribute to effective MDT working. There will also be opportunities to engage with the wider system to support the acute pathway objectives. Responding to need in offering brief training packages to the staff team. Leading on ensuring the Debrief system in the wards is effective and meaningful in reducing the longer term consequences of incidents. Signposting staff to appropriate staff support services.
Supporting the system.
Understanding the complex challenges of the system, being able to formulate the challenge to the system and influence it in a positive manner is an essential part of the role. Acute wards are a reactive and challenging environment and supporting the wider system is a essential part of this job.
The team.
You would be part of a positive and dynamic ‘Therapy Team’ which includes 2 Occupational Therapists, 2 Peer Support Workers, 3 Assistant Psychologists. The Therapy team currently seeks to offer individualised formulations for all patients and then a group intervention model with space for individualised interventions if clinically appropriate.
This role will be supported by the new Consultant Clinical Psychologist post so there will be a meaningful handover and ongoing support from a clinician who has been in this post.

Further benefits include:

• NHS pension
• a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
• career progression
• starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
• staff physio service
• NHS discounts and many more.

We are working hard to maintain usual recruitment process however please be aware that we may ask you to be interviewed via MS Teams rather than in person. Please also bear with us as we endeavour to recruit people in these unprecedented times.
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