Job summary
We have two vacancies within the Tamarind centre (1.0 wte Permanent and 1.0wte Fixed Term Contract covering maternity).
The Tamarind Centre is an 89-bed medium-secure unit working with men who are experiencing severe mental health problems which also have a component of violence associated. We work alongside a number of other professionals, with the hope that we provide safe, containing environments and interventions to help people understand themselves, their mental health difficulties and their offending behaviour.
The psychology team consists of a range of experienced Practitioner Psychologists, Art Therapist, Specialist Psychological Practitioner and Assistant Psychologists. We have close links with local training providers and take on Trainee Psychologists and this year also a Trainee Dramatherapist. As Principal Psychologist, you will hold a senior role with oversight on specific workstreams across the Tamarind, linking in with Divisional priorities and Trust targets. A key strategic target for the division is to develop trauma informed services, building on the good work that has been completed, and furthering our goals for delivering a committed service valuing compassion and inclusion. In addition, you will have managerial responsibility for a few staff with additional space for clinical supervision.
Main duties of the job
We work across the breadth of the Practitioner Psychologist role including consultation and supervision. We are currently undertaking research in cultural narratives in mental health, integrating anxiety interventions with sensory integration, men's physical and mental health group, and co-producing training on trauma informed care, by service users for service users. This is a small part of the recovery-oriented work within the psychology department, where service users are seen as partners in developing recovery oriented service development (eg attendance on community radio, service user led welcome pack and training in counselling skills for service users).
We are looking for enthusiastic, resilient and innovative registered Practitioner Psychologists who are interested in working in secure environments with highly sensitive content. Whilst secure experience will be highly desirable, we encourage a breadth of experience to help bring new thinking to our services as the culture evolves. If you are ready for the next stage of your career progression, and able to compassionately challenge systems and staff to be better, hold integrity and also connect with the people around them, we hope that you speak to us and apply.
About us
Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.
Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of a British Psychological Society accredited Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in clinical psychology (the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), the completion of which includes the study of models of psychopathology, psychometric and neuropsychological assessment, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Eligibility for entry onto the Register of Chartered Psychologists
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more highly specialist areas of psychological practice / therapy
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical/forensic psychologist for a minimum of 4 years post qualification, with a minimum of at least 2 years at the Senior (highly specialist) level.
- Experience of highly specialist psychological assessment and individual and group based treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including primary and secondary/ specialist care and inpatient/residential, outpatient and community team settings.
Desirable
- Experience of working therapeutically with 'difficult to treat' and or 'hard to reach' groups and clients.
- Experience of safeguarding and risk management across several agencies, including appropriately escalating concerns
- Experience of working within a secure police environment
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed theoretical and practical knowledge of the field of clinical psychology, consistent with doctoral level professional training and further post qualification study, training and supervised experience during a minimum of 4 years as a qualified psychologist
- Skills in the use of highly complex methods of psychological assessment commensurate with doctoral level training, including specialist clinical interviewing, behavioural observation, complex psychometric testing and specialist neuropsychological testing.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
Desirable
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.
- In depth knowledge of information governance legislation and information sharing practices across agencies
Personal
Essential
- Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of a British Psychological Society accredited Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in clinical psychology (the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), the completion of which includes the study of models of psychopathology, psychometric and neuropsychological assessment, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Eligibility for entry onto the Register of Chartered Psychologists
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more highly specialist areas of psychological practice / therapy
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical/forensic psychologist for a minimum of 4 years post qualification, with a minimum of at least 2 years at the Senior (highly specialist) level.
- Experience of highly specialist psychological assessment and individual and group based treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including primary and secondary/ specialist care and inpatient/residential, outpatient and community team settings.
Desirable
- Experience of working therapeutically with 'difficult to treat' and or 'hard to reach' groups and clients.
- Experience of safeguarding and risk management across several agencies, including appropriately escalating concerns
- Experience of working within a secure police environment
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed theoretical and practical knowledge of the field of clinical psychology, consistent with doctoral level professional training and further post qualification study, training and supervised experience during a minimum of 4 years as a qualified psychologist
- Skills in the use of highly complex methods of psychological assessment commensurate with doctoral level training, including specialist clinical interviewing, behavioural observation, complex psychometric testing and specialist neuropsychological testing.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
Desirable
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.
- In depth knowledge of information governance legislation and information sharing practices across agencies
Personal
Essential
- Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
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).
