Head of Psychology & Psychological Therapies

Job responsibilities

Leadership

As part of the Clinical and Care Team, provide clinical leadership to develop and deliver psychology, psychosocial therapy and talking therapies across Change Grow Live.

To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological and psychosocial practice within Change Grow Live.

Lead the national group of psychologists and psychological therapies staff (alongside our Head of Volunteering who supports Counselling leadership) to support the effective delivery of psychological care for people who access Change Grow Lives services and supporting a positive PPoT team culture.

Provide clinical input and leadership for the development and implementation of a fit for purpose and sustainable psychological professions strategy in partnership with operational leads.

To chair, lead and participate within national/regional meetings and steering groups both internally and externally - representing the profession of psychology strategically, in respect of national service development and within governance meetings. contributing psychological knowledge and expertise.

Engage in integrated and interdepartmental working, enabling respect and understanding across registered and unregistered professions.

In addition to clinical management and service management, the post holder may provide leadership in the area of teaching, training, consultancy, staff support, research and service evaluation. Any external provision will fall into either the CPD or external working hours for this role. Internal working External working - to be agreed in advance CPD - 2 days per month Clinical Delivery - 2 hours per week

Collaborate with colleagues to participate in national research and audit processes, developing clinically relevant research projects to improve the experience of people who access our services, ensuring that such projects comply with organisational governance.

Advise, encourage and share knowledge within your team and with colleagues using the latest research and practice development, literature and peer reviews.

Maintain overview of emerging roles which support the development of a sustainable psychological professions workforce.

Lead on embedding appropriate routine evaluation, audit and outcome measures across psychological and psychosocial interventions.

Support the recruitment of psychology staff, ensuring that required standards of governance, qualification, practice, and registration as determined by the HCPC and other relevant professional bodies are met.

Build and maintain links with NHS, voluntary sector providers and other related services, enabling shared learning and collaboration.

Provide organisational leadership of high quality, accessible and inclusive Psychological and Psychosocial services for people of all ages and needs requiring support from Change Grow Live.

Collaborate with cross organisational colleagues to explore new ways of working and innovating to extend the reach and impact of Psychology and Psychological Therapies, leading this vision, and working with non-regulated colleagues to embrace integrated working.

Clinical

Lead provision to ensure that interventions provided are trauma informed, evidence-based / evidence-informed and delivered in accordance with NICE guidelines and best practice.

In Change Grow Live we want all clinicians to engage in clinical work. You will therefore carry a small clinical caseload, providing skilled assessment, intervention, supervision, and consultation (equivalent to consultant competency or higher). You will exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of people within operational policy; this will be Inclusive of complex needs relating to trauma, cognitive impairment, organic disorders and behaviour which may challenge, utilising risk assessment and management appropriately.

Provide expert support and specialist psychological advice guidance, and consultation on managing complex problems, including psychological trauma, management of risk, responding to abuse, severe and enduring mental health problems, and challenging behaviour.

Maintain an overview of new and innovative evidence-based and evidence-informed therapeutic approaches proposed within Change Grow Live services; using theory, evidence[1]based literature, and research to support high quality, timely, evidence-based (and evidence-informed) practice in individual work, group work, and work with other team members across services.

Maintain registration with HCPC and accreditation with BPS, BABCP.

Training, Development & Clinical Supervision

This role will provide clinical supervision to Clinical Psychologists as required in line with UK regulatory body guidelines - HCPC. It will also provide expert professional and clinical advice and supervision, to ensure effective provision of psychological care to multi-disciplinary team colleagues as required.

Ensure that appropriate clinical supervision is provided for psychology modalities of practice in line with UK regulatory body guidelines HCPC.

Participate actively in regular professional and managerial supervision. With respect to professional supervision, ensuring arrangements are maintained and evidenced in line with HCPC guidelines and recommendations from relevant professional bodies, including any therapeutic supervision appropriate for specialist areas. With respect to managerial supervision, in line with organisational policy.

Undertake relevant training aligned with personal development plan and HCPC and relevant professional bodies guidelines regarding continuing professional development.

Ensure organisational provision of clinical placements for trainee psychologists and other psychology students, ensuring that trainees acquire the necessary skills, competencies and experience to contribute effectively to client care and to contribute to the assessment and evaluation of such competencies.

Collaborate with managers, service users, carers and other stakeholders in the development of training and education specific to identified needs.

Work collaboratively with Doctoral Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) courses, training providers NHS Trusts and university departments to support development of the psychological professions workforce.

Ensure the development, maintenance, and dissemination of the highest clinical standards of practice, actively participating in internal and external CPD training and development programmes as required.

Ensure that all psychological therapists maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies, and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.

Continue to develop expertise in the area of professional pre- and post-graduate training, teaching and clinical supervision.

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS, or a BPS Statement of Equivalence
• Registered with the HCPC as a practitioner Clinical Psychologist or Counselling Psychologist and accreditation with a relevant specific therapeutic approach governing body (i.e., BABCP/UKCP)
• Additional postgraduate/doctoral qualification within a specialist subject or therapeutic modality

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• People who access our services have often experienced challenges and trauma, we do not want to compound this in any way. Post holders need to have skills and abilities related to high levels of emotional intelligence, professionalism and communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings which can at times be challenging and emotive
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload in a way that models behaviour for others and contributes to staff wellbeing.
• Positive collaborative leadership with colleague and in working groups to support better service delivery, review and improvement.
• The ability to think, behave and contribute corporately and strategically beyond the parameters of own profession.
• Skills in planning and organisation of service delivery, complex activities and programmes to organisational development timelines.
• The ability to support understanding of commissioners and colleagues inclusive of Directors and managers - of service development and governance in line with national directives and local need.
• Demonstrable administrative, data and IT skills inclusive of report writing, presentation and analysis
• Ability to use and develop clinical governance mechanisms for the support and continuous development of clinical practice and to improve the experience of people accessing our services
• Ability to create a working ethos and environment which is conducive to openness, trust, equality and inclusion, development and growth, supporting Change Grow Live to be a desirable place to work

Desirable

• Skills in policy and governance development

Experience

Essential

• Proven clinical team leadership experience within a multidisciplinary mental health, drug and alcohol or integrated care settings
• Significant experience of working with people using substances and/or with co occurring physical and/or mental health difficulties and a comprehensive understanding of working within a trauma informed framework
• Considerable experience of teaching, training, and/or clinical supervision of staff, such as Clinical/Counselling Psychologists, trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists, and other Multi disciplinary Team members
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, experience of service related research and experience and/or supervision of research linked with Trainee Clinical Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, and other Multi disciplinary Team members
• Developed knowledge and experience related to the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention across a range of care settings and clinical severity.
• Considerable experience of the application of Clinical or Counselling Psychology in different contexts.
• Experience of the successful professional management of qualified and pre qualified applied psychologists, inclusive of team formulation sessions and delivering/supervising reflective practice sessions
• Experience of planning, delivery and supervision of therapeutic and /or psychoeducational groups
• Experience in use of data, collation and analysis of outcomes and their presentation within reports and papers

Desirable

• Effective strategic partnership and relationship management, working with a range of cross sector stakeholders relevant to the field of work i.e., OHID, BPS, ACPUK, Regulators, NHS and Third Sector Partners
• Experience of working as a qualified consultant grade psychologist exercising clinical responsibility for psychological care as an individual clinician and in the context of a multidisciplinary team.
• Training in leadership and management
• Evidenced continued relevant CPD courses and/or training, including formal training/CPD in providing clinical supervision (i.e., RAPPS or STAR)

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of CQC standards and experience of safeguarding practice

Desirable

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the people who use our services i.e drug and
• alcohol use, housing, and mental health.
• Knowledge and skills in the use of psychometric tests.

Casework and Supervisory Abilities

Essential

• Planning and organisation skills for your own and others caseload management and collation of evidence for ongoing professional regulatory requirements.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to people who use our services, loved ones and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to people who use our services, their loved ones and and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention, and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).