Job summary
Job Description
Job Title: Clinical/Counselling Psychologist - Older Adult Frailty Services (Band 8a)Service: Older Adult Frailty Pathway / Integrated Frailty TeamAccountable to: Consultant Clinical Psychologist / Professional LeadLocation: Across community, acute, and primary care settings as requiredHours: Full-time
Main duties of the job
To provide a highly specialist clinical psychology service to older adults within the Frailty Pathway, including comprehensive psychological and cognitive assessment, formulation, intervention, and outcome evaluation.
To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary Frailty Team and wider system partners to enhance psychological wellbeing, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, and support safe, person-centred care.
To offer specialist consultation and supervision to colleagues, supporting psychologically informed practice across frailty, community, and acute care settings.
To contribute to service evaluation, audit, and research within the Older Adult Frailty Service.
To work autonomously within professional guidelines (HCPC, BPS) and Trust policies, interpreting these within the context of complex clinical presentations such as dementia, delirium, multimorbidity, and carer stress.
To agree outcomes with the clinical/professional lead and determine how best to achieve them.
About us
Be part of a new Trauma Informed service that improves the lives of those living in our community. The work is varied, and no two days are the same. The work is equally rewarding in playing a part in the lives of experienced people.You will be working alongside a Team who are committed to CPDfor your growth andprofessional training. We also encourageresearch andcreativecommunity approaches to meet the diverse needs of our culturally rich boroughof Harrow.
Members of our team have contributed toliterature and research on antiracist practice, DIT with Older People, InpatientFormulationand psychological approaches for hoarding disorder, amongst others.
Working aspartof CNWL NHS Trust willalsoopenother opportunities for internal and external CPD offered as part of your career progression. We have a range of live and on-demand CPD availableat your convenienceto all ourPsychology Staff.
The opportunity to work more hours may be available in the futureas we look to combine posts within other services.
We welcomeaninformal conversationabout this roleprior to applying, pleaseemailchriswilson1@nhs.netin the first instance.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide highly specialist psychological assessments for older adults presenting with frailty, cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium, complex physical health needs, and associated psychological distress.
To deliver evidencebased psychological interventions tailored to older adults, including those with cognitive impairment, sensory loss, or communication difficulties.
To provide culturally sensitive psychological support and interventions for carers and families, including psychoeducation, coping strategies, and emotional support.
To assess and manage clinical risk, including selfneglect, vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
To act as a keyworker or care coordinator where appropriate, contributing to care planning, review processes, and multidisciplinary decisionmaking.
To support early identification of psychological needs within the frailty pathway to prevent deterioration and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide highly specialist psychological assessments for older adults presenting with frailty, cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium, complex physical health needs, and associated psychological distress.
To deliver evidencebased psychological interventions tailored to older adults, including those with cognitive impairment, sensory loss, or communication difficulties.
To provide culturally sensitive psychological support and interventions for carers and families, including psychoeducation, coping strategies, and emotional support.
To assess and manage clinical risk, including selfneglect, vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
To act as a keyworker or care coordinator where appropriate, contributing to care planning, review processes, and multidisciplinary decisionmaking.
To support early identification of psychological needs within the frailty pathway to prevent deterioration and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration
- Doctorate or equivalent in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
- Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal postqualification training (PG 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
- Completed training course in clinical supervision
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in older adults services
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including dementia, delirium and functional difficulties
- Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
- Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities
- Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects
Desirable
- Experience working in acute care and in care homes.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
- Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
Skills
Essential
- To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
- To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
- To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
- To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
- To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
- Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
- Ability to develop and use complex multimedia materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration
- Doctorate or equivalent in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
- Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal postqualification training (PG 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
- Completed training course in clinical supervision
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in older adults services
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including dementia, delirium and functional difficulties
- Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
- Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities
- Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects
Desirable
- Experience working in acute care and in care homes.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
- Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
- Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
Skills
Essential
- To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
- To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
- To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
- To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
- To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
- Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
- Ability to develop and use complex multimedia materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self
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).
