Principal Clinical / Counselling Psychologist (Research) - Band 8a 1.0 wte - Sleeping Better and Feeling Safer trials.
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 will closely work together, comprising 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, delivering new treatments, supervising others in delivering the therapies, and coordinating the trials locally.
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
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 Welcome Trust funded multi-centre research trials into psychological interventions for psychosis.
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. 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 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.
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.
* Knowledge of research and audit methodology suitable to the job
Employer details
Employer name
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust
Address
Avenue House
Manor Court Road
Nuneaton
CV11 5HX #J-18808-Ljbffr