Job summary
West London NHS Trust is looking for a Consultant Clinical Psychologist to oversee an innovative community Clinical Health Psychology service based in Ealing. This service has been created by the formation of Ealing Community Partners, a group of NHS, council and voluntary organisations working together to transform community health and care services within Ealing.
This service is based within the community and provides psychological support for adults referred to ECP services who have a range of health conditions. The team consists of qualified Clinical Health Psychologists, an Assistant Psychologist and a peer support worker. All staff are embedded within a number of multidisciplinary teams.
We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual who will take over leadership of clinical health psychology services to patients who have a range of health psychology needs with a focus on diabetes, chronic pain, MSK and pulmonary rehabilitation. The role will include responsibility for leading a team of psychologists and contributing to the clinical governance and ongoing development and delivery of the clinical health psychology services within ECP.
The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and highly motivated with experience of leadership, supervision and management. They will have experience in the development and delivery of psychological services for patients with health conditions, ideally within the areas of chronic pain, diabetes, MSK or pulmonary rehabilitation.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of this exciting role are to oversee a group of highly skilled and enthusiastic staff, who are embedded within different teams within Ealing Community Partners. This includes clinical, professional and operational oversight of the team as well as working in strong partnerships with physical health services and neuropsychology and neuro-rehabiliation services.
There will also be an opportunity to provide a small amount of direct clinical work, within areas relevant to the successful candidate's prior experience and interest.
The postholder has the opportunity to work remotely (e.g. from home) if interested, but there will be a requirement to visit sites in Ealing when needed.
This is a fixed-term post to cover 12-month leave period for the current postholder.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or it's equivalent for those trained prior to 1996).
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist including substantial post-qualification experience within the specialty of Clinical Health Psychology
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings including 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 exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified psychologist and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision
- Experience of professionally managing qualified and pre-qualified clinical psychologists
- Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with a multicultural framework
- Experience of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
- Experience of 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 identifying and interpreting appropriate National and NHS policies to develop strategic planning and service development
- Experience of recruitment
Desirable
- Experience of having published in either peer reviewed academic or professional journal and/or books
- Experience of conducting clinically relevant research
- Experience of representing the profession in local policy forum
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology including highly developed knowledge of clinical health psychology, lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology and two or more distinct psychological therapies
- Advanced knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies for adults with health conditions and the evidence base for treatment
- Evidence of continuing training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post doctoral training (diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a postgraduate diploma
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues
- Advanced clinical skills and practice of at least one model of psychological therapy
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- Ability to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship
- A high level ability to communicate effectively at both a written and oral level complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside of the NHS.
- Ability to demonstrate leadership, management and influencing skills.
- Ability to identify, and employ as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice when faced with highly emotional/ distressing circumstances
- Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations
- Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to clients with health conditions.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the HCPC and British Psychological Society.
- Understanding of the importance of equality, inclusion and diversity in relation to service users and staff groups
- Ability to identify, develop and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision
- Well-developed consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups
Desirable
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. people with complex cognitive, emotional, behavioural and physical disability and other personality and mental health disorders, etc)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Able to contain and work with organisational stress and to help others to manage their own stress
- Interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by Clinical Health Psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary health settings
- A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multiprofessional and uni-professional audit, and a wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area
- Professional approach and appearance
- Flexible, reliable, adaptable, team worker
- Good sickness/absence record
Desirable
- Current driving licence or the means to transport self around to visit clients and staff across different sites
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or it's equivalent for those trained prior to 1996).
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist including substantial post-qualification experience within the specialty of Clinical Health Psychology
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings including 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 exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified psychologist and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision
- Experience of professionally managing qualified and pre-qualified clinical psychologists
- Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with a multicultural framework
- Experience of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working
- Experience of 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 identifying and interpreting appropriate National and NHS policies to develop strategic planning and service development
- Experience of recruitment
Desirable
- Experience of having published in either peer reviewed academic or professional journal and/or books
- Experience of conducting clinically relevant research
- Experience of representing the profession in local policy forum
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology including highly developed knowledge of clinical health psychology, lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology and two or more distinct psychological therapies
- Advanced knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies for adults with health conditions and the evidence base for treatment
- Evidence of continuing training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post doctoral training (diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a postgraduate diploma
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues
- Advanced clinical skills and practice of at least one model of psychological therapy
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- Ability to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship
- A high level ability to communicate effectively at both a written and oral level complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside of the NHS.
- Ability to demonstrate leadership, management and influencing skills.
- Ability to identify, and employ as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice when faced with highly emotional/ distressing circumstances
- Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations
- Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to clients with health conditions.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the HCPC and British Psychological Society.
- Understanding of the importance of equality, inclusion and diversity in relation to service users and staff groups
- Ability to identify, develop and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision
- Well-developed consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups
Desirable
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. people with complex cognitive, emotional, behavioural and physical disability and other personality and mental health disorders, etc)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Able to contain and work with organisational stress and to help others to manage their own stress
- Interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by Clinical Health Psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary health settings
- A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multiprofessional and uni-professional audit, and a wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area
- Professional approach and appearance
- Flexible, reliable, adaptable, team worker
- Good sickness/absence record
Desirable
- Current driving licence or the means to transport self around to visit clients and staff across different sites
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).
