Job summary
Principal Clinical / Counselling Psychologist (Research) - Band 8a
This is an exciting new post to deliver new psychological
therapies for patients with psychosis. The postholder will be part of the
Sleeping Better and Feeling Safer clinical trials. Each trial tests new
psychological treatments for patients with psychosis or at high-risk for
psychosis. These large clinical trials will take place in NHS Mental Health
Services at sites across England and Scotland. Each site, which will closely
work together, will comprise established site leads, a clinical/counselling
psychologist, an assistant psychologist, graduate mental health worker, peer
worker and research assistants. The postholder will have a key role in the
projects. They will deliver the new treatments, supervise others in delivering
the therapies, and coordinate the trials locally. This is an exciting
opportunity to join a vibrant clinical research community working to improve
treatments for people with psychosis.
This role would suit someone interested in developing and
delivering effective psychological treatments for psychosis. The post includes
both clinical and research opportunities. For newly qualified psychologists,
there will be a route for progression to band 8a. The post is substantive and
after these trial roles have finished you will take up further research and/or
clinical roles within our community mental health services.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to join a large community
of clinical researchers working to improve treatments for people with
psychosis. The post-holder will have a central role in the Sleeping Better and
Feeling Safer trials, being responsible for the day-to-day delivery within the
local NHS trust. This will include delivering psychological therapy,
supervising research assistants in the recruitment and assessment of trial
participants, and supervising other clinicians in the delivery of the
interventions. You will be accountable to the site Principal Investigator Dr
Gary Willington, and you will receive supervision from Prof Daniel Freeman and
Dr Felicity Waite from the lead site: Oxford. The position would suit a
clinician with strong interests in cognitive therapy, treatment innovation, and
clinical trials.
The post holder will be expected to support and promote a
set of values that maximise the potential of individuals by promoting their
recovery with the aim of reducing social exclusion, stigma and the potentially
disabling effects of severe mental illness.
We actively support high quality research and
want to attract psychologists interested in participating in NIHR and Wellcome
Trust funded multi-centre research trials into psychological interventions for
psychosis.
About us
At Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), we deliver a wide range of physical, mental health, learning disability and autism services, and are proud to serve communities across Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond.
We put 'people at our heart'; this ethos is at the centre of everything we do and how we do it. We care for our staff and colleagues as much as they care for others and offer a wide range of benefits and development opportunities.
These include:
generous annual leave entitlement which increases during your time with us
excellent learning and development opportunities, including apprenticeship frameworks, distance learning, internal training, coaching and mentoring, and much more
salary sacrifice schemes for lease car/ vehicle, Cycle to Work, home and electronics, gym membership and more
discounts with a range of retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues through our Employee Assistance Programme and NHS discount schemes
wellbeing support, including an in-house counselling service, external helpline and more
staff networks and support groups
We're always on the lookout for people who share our passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of people in our community, as well as our values of compassion, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.
Job description
Job responsibilities
It is essential that candidates have an interest in
providing psychological interventions for psychosis and have experience of
working with people and their carers in Secondary Care Mental Health.
Experience of clinical research (such as research
completed during clinical psychology training) is also essential, as are the
necessary skills to support the day-to-day delivery of the Sleeping Better and
Feeling Safer trial within CWPT and neighbouring Trusts.
Experience of applying cognitive behavioural approaches
to psychosis would be advantageous.
You are required to hold a current professional
registration with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist by the time you take
up the post.
The ability to travel during the working day over a large
geographical area is essential, as is the ability to work flexibly with the
needs of the client group and trial. You
will be based in North Warwickshire (Rugby or Nuneaton), and are likely to
travel throughout CWPT and the neighbouring participating NHS Trusts. On
occasion, you would also be expected to travel to other trial sites including
Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Oxford.
If you do not yet meet the criteria for the band 8a role,
we will also support applications from candidates that meet the criteria for
the band 7 role and job description (please see additional documents on NHS
Jobs).
In these instances, the successful candidate would be
appointed to a Development Post role at band 7 and provided opportunities and
support to progress to the band 8a role upon successful completion of a
preceptorship programme. It is expected that this process will be achievable
within a period of up to two years, although timescales may vary between different
staff members in Development Posts. In
the event that elements of the expected competencies to progress to 8a are not
are fully met, the role will remain as a band 7.
This will be further discussed as part of the interview
and recruitment process as appropriate. Applications from newly qualified/soon
to qualify clinicians would therefore be welcomed.
Knowledge and Skills also needs amending with 'Experience
of inpatient ward work' and 'Knowledge of legislation in relation to the
client group' taken out and 'Knowledge
of research and audit methodology suitable to the job' inserted
Job description
Job responsibilities
It is essential that candidates have an interest in
providing psychological interventions for psychosis and have experience of
working with people and their carers in Secondary Care Mental Health.
Experience of clinical research (such as research
completed during clinical psychology training) is also essential, as are the
necessary skills to support the day-to-day delivery of the Sleeping Better and
Feeling Safer trial within CWPT and neighbouring Trusts.
Experience of applying cognitive behavioural approaches
to psychosis would be advantageous.
You are required to hold a current professional
registration with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist by the time you take
up the post.
The ability to travel during the working day over a large
geographical area is essential, as is the ability to work flexibly with the
needs of the client group and trial. You
will be based in North Warwickshire (Rugby or Nuneaton), and are likely to
travel throughout CWPT and the neighbouring participating NHS Trusts. On
occasion, you would also be expected to travel to other trial sites including
Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Oxford.
If you do not yet meet the criteria for the band 8a role,
we will also support applications from candidates that meet the criteria for
the band 7 role and job description (please see additional documents on NHS
Jobs).
In these instances, the successful candidate would be
appointed to a Development Post role at band 7 and provided opportunities and
support to progress to the band 8a role upon successful completion of a
preceptorship programme. It is expected that this process will be achievable
within a period of up to two years, although timescales may vary between different
staff members in Development Posts. In
the event that elements of the expected competencies to progress to 8a are not
are fully met, the role will remain as a band 7.
This will be further discussed as part of the interview
and recruitment process as appropriate. Applications from newly qualified/soon
to qualify clinicians would therefore be welcomed.
Knowledge and Skills also needs amending with 'Experience
of inpatient ward work' and 'Knowledge of legislation in relation to the
client group' taken out and 'Knowledge
of research and audit methodology suitable to the job' inserted
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
- A recognised qualification, current training or commitment to undertake training in CBT for psychosis
- Expertise and/or training in Clinical Supervision for doctorate level trainees as may supervise trainee clinical Psychologist
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialist assessment methods and therapeutic approaches in relation to the client group.
- Well developed communication skills, suitable to the specialty.
- Experience of in-patient ward work
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
- A recognised qualification, current training or commitment to undertake training in CBT for psychosis
- Expertise and/or training in Clinical Supervision for doctorate level trainees as may supervise trainee clinical Psychologist
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialist assessment methods and therapeutic approaches in relation to the client group.
- Well developed communication skills, suitable to the specialty.
- Experience of in-patient ward work
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group.
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.
