Job summary
**1 x Fixed Term contract/secondment opportunity for 12 months**
*Internal applicants who wish to be considered for a secondment opportunity should discuss with their line manager the suitability of a possible secondment*
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to offer a 12 month fixed-term contract (maternity leave cover) for a Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist. We are seeking an enthusiastic experienced Psychologist who can be a positive and flexible leader within the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT).
The SCFT is a relatively new service within Gloucestershire and it is expected that the successful candidate will be directly involved with the continued development of this service, its integration with both existing community teams and the secure provision within GHC, and wider links with the SCFT provision within the South West.
The successful candidate will be committed to the principles of person-centred service delivery and be able to demonstrate strong leadership, professional and clinical skills. The role requires the delivery of specialist risk reduction and protection enhancing psychological assessments and interventions, whilst also utilising an applied psychological model that promotes and supports effective psychological outcomes within the multi-disciplinary team.
Main duties of the job
- To provide clinical leadership alongside the Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist for the Specialist Community Forensic Service.
- To be responsible for improving and promoting the psychological health and well-being of those under the care of the Specialist Community Forensic Service.
- To provide clinical leadership, coordination and supervision for staff, trainees and volunteers (as appropriate), employed by or attached to the specialist community forensic service.
- To ensure the systematic provision of a high-quality specialist clinical/forensic psychology service to clients of the community forensic service, across all sectors of care.
- To supervise and support the psychological assessment and therapy provided by other psychologists and other clinical members of the team who provide psychologically based care and treatment.
- To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise delegated responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service / team.
- To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research.
- To propose and implement policy changes within the secure and forensic area.
- To propose and support service development associated with secure and forensic services.
- To contribute to the management of psychologists within secure and forensic services.
About us
At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, we are supportive of the people we care for in the community and aim to provide a fully responsive service to everyone who needs it. This is the same approach we take for our employees. We look to value the skills and experiences of those we work with, whether they are service users, carers, families or those looking to work with us.
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust is part of the NHS. We treat NHS patients according to NHS principles and standards. The difference is the Trust is accountable to local people, rather than to Government, and so we are able to work closely with our community to develop services in the way that best suits the needs of local people.
Our Staff Survey results showed people at our Trust feel they are engaged, part of a team and work for a compassionate and inclusive organisation.
Our overall scores were better than average in eight of nine themes and level in one - the best overall results for a community, mental health and learning disabilities Trust in the south west and first equal amongst all sector NHS providers within the region too.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership, consultation, teaching and training will form an essential component of the post alongside direct clinical work. The successful candidate will be HCPC registered and have significant experience of both working within forensic services and providing leadership.
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We do this in our hospitals, in community buildings and primarily in peoples own homes.
The SCFT is a community multi-disciplinary team with the aim to reduce or safely manage behaviour amongst people with a mental health condition which may put members of the public at risk, and would thereby otherwise lead to contact with the criminal justice system or admission to a secure hospital.
The structure of the provider collaborative within the south west forms a strong professional network, alongside support from senior professionals within the secure services in Gloucestershire. Within the South West there are regular meetings with other SCFT's.
The profession of Applied Psychology within GHC has close links with a number of Universities including Bath, Exeter and Plymouth. We support training placements for Doctoral students, Clinical Associate Psychologists (CAPs) and Undergraduates.
There are regular meetings of GHC Applied Psychologists across service specific teams and wider professional networks to consider professional issues, service innovation and joint working initiatives.
Gloucestershire Health and Care is committed to embedding and providing personalised care through all of its services as part of our high-quality care strategy. The purpose of personalised care is to empower people to lead the lives they want to live. Personalised care starts with a conversation with people about what matters to them. It builds on what people can do, as well as addressing their health needs. Including new ways of working and delivering care, emphasising that we need to make effective use of the full range of our peoples skills and experience to deliver the best possible patient care. So we want to know What Matters to You and that you will share our values and join us on this very important journey.
The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.
Please refer to the Additional Information attachment before submitting your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership, consultation, teaching and training will form an essential component of the post alongside direct clinical work. The successful candidate will be HCPC registered and have significant experience of both working within forensic services and providing leadership.
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We do this in our hospitals, in community buildings and primarily in peoples own homes.
The SCFT is a community multi-disciplinary team with the aim to reduce or safely manage behaviour amongst people with a mental health condition which may put members of the public at risk, and would thereby otherwise lead to contact with the criminal justice system or admission to a secure hospital.
The structure of the provider collaborative within the south west forms a strong professional network, alongside support from senior professionals within the secure services in Gloucestershire. Within the South West there are regular meetings with other SCFT's.
The profession of Applied Psychology within GHC has close links with a number of Universities including Bath, Exeter and Plymouth. We support training placements for Doctoral students, Clinical Associate Psychologists (CAPs) and Undergraduates.
There are regular meetings of GHC Applied Psychologists across service specific teams and wider professional networks to consider professional issues, service innovation and joint working initiatives.
Gloucestershire Health and Care is committed to embedding and providing personalised care through all of its services as part of our high-quality care strategy. The purpose of personalised care is to empower people to lead the lives they want to live. Personalised care starts with a conversation with people about what matters to them. It builds on what people can do, as well as addressing their health needs. Including new ways of working and delivering care, emphasising that we need to make effective use of the full range of our peoples skills and experience to deliver the best possible patient care. So we want to know What Matters to You and that you will share our values and join us on this very important journey.
The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.
Please refer to the Additional Information attachment before submitting your application.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology, as accredited by the B.P.S (or equivalent level health- relevant Applied Psychology training, as accredited by the B.P.S )
- Registered as Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
- Further training in forensic focussed assessments and interventions
Desirable
- Further training in forensic clinical psychology
LENGTH AND / OR NATURE OF EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working in forensic clinical psychology services
- Broad and specialist knowledge of forensic clinical psychology services
- Experience of undertaking leadership roles
- Experience of working in a range of settings or agencies
- Advanced knowledge and experience of psychological assessment and formulation in a forensic/mental health service which includes risk assessment
- Experience of working with multi-agencies
- Experience of completing and communicating risk assessments in the context of forensic and/or criminal justice services
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS. Well organised and an effective team player
- Evidence of maintaining effective communication when there are barriers to understanding and in circumstances where hostility, manipulation, conflict, and antagonism are present.
- Proficient in the manipulation of complex Psychological test equipment for use in formal testing situations
- Evidence in application of Psychological knowledge to improve and develop practice and contribution to service development.
- Experience of acting as a Care Programme Approach (CPA) coordinator, key-worker or similar
- Experience of clinical supervision and supporting the psychological work of other clinical staff who provide psychologically based care and treatment. Experience of conducting appraisals and monitoring performance of staff
- Receipt of at least 50 hours clinical supervision while working at highly specialist level with delegated responsibility for a largely autonomous and systematic service provision. Post qualification experience demonstrates effective work in a multi-disciplinary setting
- To demonstrate ability to draw on experience to apply knowledge and understanding of professional guidelines and governance issues to the service area.
Desirable
- Experience of leading the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and/or clinical policies in multi-disciplinary or multi-agency contexts
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology, as accredited by the B.P.S (or equivalent level health- relevant Applied Psychology training, as accredited by the B.P.S )
- Registered as Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
- Further training in forensic focussed assessments and interventions
Desirable
- Further training in forensic clinical psychology
LENGTH AND / OR NATURE OF EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working in forensic clinical psychology services
- Broad and specialist knowledge of forensic clinical psychology services
- Experience of undertaking leadership roles
- Experience of working in a range of settings or agencies
- Advanced knowledge and experience of psychological assessment and formulation in a forensic/mental health service which includes risk assessment
- Experience of working with multi-agencies
- Experience of completing and communicating risk assessments in the context of forensic and/or criminal justice services
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS. Well organised and an effective team player
- Evidence of maintaining effective communication when there are barriers to understanding and in circumstances where hostility, manipulation, conflict, and antagonism are present.
- Proficient in the manipulation of complex Psychological test equipment for use in formal testing situations
- Evidence in application of Psychological knowledge to improve and develop practice and contribution to service development.
- Experience of acting as a Care Programme Approach (CPA) coordinator, key-worker or similar
- Experience of clinical supervision and supporting the psychological work of other clinical staff who provide psychologically based care and treatment. Experience of conducting appraisals and monitoring performance of staff
- Receipt of at least 50 hours clinical supervision while working at highly specialist level with delegated responsibility for a largely autonomous and systematic service provision. Post qualification experience demonstrates effective work in a multi-disciplinary setting
- To demonstrate ability to draw on experience to apply knowledge and understanding of professional guidelines and governance issues to the service area.
Desirable
- Experience of leading the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and/or clinical policies in multi-disciplinary or multi-agency contexts
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).
