Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

• To provide specialist psychological/therapeutic assessments of service-users referred to the Therapies pathway upon appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. This will include the use of routine psychometric assessments and measures, observations and interviews where appropriate
• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the formulation and implementation of plans for the formal psychological treatment and or management of a clients problems based upon an appropriate conceptual understanding of the service-users problems in the context of the family and wider system
• To receive regular specialist supervision from the principal clinical psychologist and where appropriate other senior professional colleagues.
• To develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision.

Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuro-psychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies development psychology as accredited by the BPS OR A registered qualification in health care at graduate level in nursing, social work or allied health profession PLUS post- graduate qualification (diploma equivalent) i.e., cognitive behaviour therapy
• To be registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) or equivalent i.e., BACP

Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and formulation of complex mental health presentations including Trauma presentations.
• Experience of working psychologically with people who have complex mental health problems, including trauma and personality disorder
• Experience of teaching, training and supervision of staff
• Experience of skills in group work.
• Experience of work with care - givers/families
• To be able to conduct routine assessments of IQ and memory screening.
• Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of working in MDT settings in particular the demonstrated ability to work jointly in assessment interventions with multidisciplinary team members .
• Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts
• Experience of working within a multicultural framework
• Experience in the use of risk assessment and the management of risk and crisis

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessment and intervention for people with mental health presentations
• Well developed skills in the ability to work and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and to other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Knowledge of current developments and policies relevant to mental health services.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Sound time management skills
• Sound IT skills to manage an electronic case record.

Desirable

• Knowledge of legislation and NICE guidance in relation to this client group
• Knowledge of clinical caseload management within a team setting
• Skills in providing consultation and supervision to other professional and non - professional groups and assistants.

Desirable

• 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 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.