Job summary
Clinical or Counselling Psychologist (Band 8a) or Psychological Therapist (Band 7) -- Specialist Psychological Interventions Team
Based in Taunton | Maternity Cover | Flexible/Compressed Hours Available
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Specialist Psychological Interventions Team within the Community Mental Health Service in Taunton. We are looking for a skilled and compassionate Clinical / Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to provide psychological services and clinical leadership as part of our established, kind, and supportive team.
Working alongside psychologists, psychotherapists, and multi-disciplinary colleagues, you'll be part of a team that prioritises clinician wellbeing and professional interests. We're also leading several innovative projects that complement and enhance our work.
Why Join Us?
Somerset is at the forefront of transforming Mental Health Services as a trailblazer Trust for the Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults. We are embracing and embedding trauma-informed care and innovative clinical models, making this an exciting time to join us.
Main duties of the job
This maternity cover post is ideal for someone looking to take the next step in their career or explore the dynamic world of Community Mental Health. As an HCPC-registered psychologist, you will:
- Provide psychological assessment, formulation, and therapy for adults and older adults with complex co-morbid physical, mental, and emotional health needs.
- Deliver highly specialised interventions and comprehensive risk assessments.
- Offer supervision, consultation, and training to colleagues within the team.
- Lead and contribute to service development and evaluation.
- Work closely with a range of partners, including service users, the voluntary sector, and community enterprises.
Our Community Mental Health Service has successfully challenged traditional boundaries between primary and secondary care, fostering strong partnerships with service users and the wider community.
If you're passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a forward-thinking, supportive team, we'd love to hear from you!
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
*Service Manager
*Clinical Lead for Clinical Psychology
*CMHT's, and specialist team managers
*Primary Care colleagues
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
A: Clinical responsibilities
*Responsible for providing highly specialised psychological assessment and treatment for adult and older adult patients living in the community
*To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
*To work collaboratively and flexibly with the multi professional teams within primary care networks to co-ordinate a coherent bio/psycho/social approach towards patients presenting with psychological distress
*To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
*Responsible for updating electronic patient record systems and other IT functions
*To be responsible for own work and interventions with even the most complex presentations and for interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner, and to seek consultation appropriately from clinical supervisor and colleagues.
B: Service development responsibilities
*To actively contribute to the development and implementation of therapeutic interventions for patients with mental ill health.
*To provide psychological knowledge and skills to members of the multi disciplinary teams to facilitate team and service development.
*To contribute to the strategic planning of the community mental health service transformation.
*To work in auditing and evaluating specific areas of work including standard outcome measures.
*To contribute to the development of service evaluation.
C: Clinical supervision, Teaching and Training
*To lead and professionally supervise less experienced psychology/therapy staff and trainees.
*To contribute to organising and undertaking teaching and training in relevant psychological skills.
*To support placements for trainee staff in line with professional practice.
*To develop a personal professional development plan with the appropriate operational manager and professional lead; to be updated annually, and to participate in the annual review process.
*To support colleagues across primary and secondary care mental health services as appropriate
D: Professional
*To fully observe the HCPC (2008) Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethic, BPS (1996) Code of Conduct and DCP (1995) Professional Practice Guidelines.
*To maintain and further develop high standards of psychology practice through co-operative work with members of the oragnisational and clinical leadership, through audit and supervision and other governance activities.
*To be aware of and adhere to Trust policies and procedures.
E: Clinical Governance
*To promote the use of evidence based interventions with regard to urgent care services as recommended by NICE guidance.
*To participate in and promote clinical governance across urgent care services.
*To liaise with other disciplines and agencies, as appropriate, to ensure best practice is shared.
F: Research and Development:
*To support and facilitate R&D activities.
*To initiate and undertake research in topic areas relevant to the work of the service as agreed and appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
*Service Manager
*Clinical Lead for Clinical Psychology
*CMHT's, and specialist team managers
*Primary Care colleagues
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
A: Clinical responsibilities
*Responsible for providing highly specialised psychological assessment and treatment for adult and older adult patients living in the community
*To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
*To work collaboratively and flexibly with the multi professional teams within primary care networks to co-ordinate a coherent bio/psycho/social approach towards patients presenting with psychological distress
*To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
*Responsible for updating electronic patient record systems and other IT functions
*To be responsible for own work and interventions with even the most complex presentations and for interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner, and to seek consultation appropriately from clinical supervisor and colleagues.
B: Service development responsibilities
*To actively contribute to the development and implementation of therapeutic interventions for patients with mental ill health.
*To provide psychological knowledge and skills to members of the multi disciplinary teams to facilitate team and service development.
*To contribute to the strategic planning of the community mental health service transformation.
*To work in auditing and evaluating specific areas of work including standard outcome measures.
*To contribute to the development of service evaluation.
C: Clinical supervision, Teaching and Training
*To lead and professionally supervise less experienced psychology/therapy staff and trainees.
*To contribute to organising and undertaking teaching and training in relevant psychological skills.
*To support placements for trainee staff in line with professional practice.
*To develop a personal professional development plan with the appropriate operational manager and professional lead; to be updated annually, and to participate in the annual review process.
*To support colleagues across primary and secondary care mental health services as appropriate
D: Professional
*To fully observe the HCPC (2008) Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethic, BPS (1996) Code of Conduct and DCP (1995) Professional Practice Guidelines.
*To maintain and further develop high standards of psychology practice through co-operative work with members of the oragnisational and clinical leadership, through audit and supervision and other governance activities.
*To be aware of and adhere to Trust policies and procedures.
E: Clinical Governance
*To promote the use of evidence based interventions with regard to urgent care services as recommended by NICE guidance.
*To participate in and promote clinical governance across urgent care services.
*To liaise with other disciplines and agencies, as appropriate, to ensure best practice is shared.
F: Research and Development:
*To support and facilitate R&D activities.
*To initiate and undertake research in topic areas relevant to the work of the service as agreed and appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Clinical / Counselling Psychologist (D.Clin. Psychol or equivalent) & eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status in the British Psychological Society.
- Registered with HCPC.
- Further training or experience in clinical specialism
- Further training in related area
Desirable
- Further training in at least one (other) psychological therapy
- IT skills
Experience
Essential
- Broad knowledge of specialist services and of services in the NHS where psychology is commonly applied
- Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of clinical psychology
- Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in mental health services
- Experience of work in adult mental health services and working with people with severe and complex mental health needs.
- Experience of teaching/training and supervision.
- Experience in undertaking leadership roles within psychology / mental health services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency contexts.
- Experience of working with complex trauma and with systems working around people who have experienced trauma.
- Experience of working with both adults and older adults.
- Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong leadership qualities, resilience, and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty.
- Skills in managing conflict, negotiation and achieving consensus in complex situations in the pursuit of agreed strategic aims.
- Knowledge of the role and functions of other agencies & departments.
- Ability to contain and work with stress and harrowing situations.
- Ability to make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues.
- Ability to maintain intense concentration for complex interaction with patients.
- Ability to sit in constrained positions for extended periods.
- Physical dexterity required for manipulation of psychometric assessment materials and basic keyboard skills.
Desirable
- Experience of neuropsychological assessment and awareness of impact of neuropsychological symptoms on presentation
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Clinical / Counselling Psychologist (D.Clin. Psychol or equivalent) & eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status in the British Psychological Society.
- Registered with HCPC.
- Further training or experience in clinical specialism
- Further training in related area
Desirable
- Further training in at least one (other) psychological therapy
- IT skills
Experience
Essential
- Broad knowledge of specialist services and of services in the NHS where psychology is commonly applied
- Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of clinical psychology
- Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in mental health services
- Experience of work in adult mental health services and working with people with severe and complex mental health needs.
- Experience of teaching/training and supervision.
- Experience in undertaking leadership roles within psychology / mental health services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency contexts.
- Experience of working with complex trauma and with systems working around people who have experienced trauma.
- Experience of working with both adults and older adults.
- Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong leadership qualities, resilience, and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty.
- Skills in managing conflict, negotiation and achieving consensus in complex situations in the pursuit of agreed strategic aims.
- Knowledge of the role and functions of other agencies & departments.
- Ability to contain and work with stress and harrowing situations.
- Ability to make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues.
- Ability to maintain intense concentration for complex interaction with patients.
- Ability to sit in constrained positions for extended periods.
- Physical dexterity required for manipulation of psychometric assessment materials and basic keyboard skills.
Desirable
- Experience of neuropsychological assessment and awareness of impact of neuropsychological symptoms on presentation
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
