Job summary An opportunity has arisen for a Practitioner Psychologist to take a senior role in our team of supportive and innovative Adult Community Psychology practitioners. We work closely in integrated MDTs across the Colchester and Tendring areas of North East Essex. We have the equivalent on 1.4 full time posts available, giving the opportunity for interested applicants to discuss flexibility in working patterns including part time hours, job share etc. We require each post holder to work a minimum of 0.6 WTE to ensure they are able to fulfil the required roles within service at this level. In addition to offering high quality assessment, formulation, and intervention to the users of the service, the successful applicant will be involved in providing training and consultation to the MDT and other agencies. They will contribute to the development of a trauma informed and responsive service in line with the Trust's objectives. They will be joining a well-established multi-disciplinary team and will be part of the senior leadership team within the service. They will take a lead in the clinical running of part of the service, and as such will be encouraged and supported in the further development of their leadership and management skills. Main duties of the job The Principal Psychologist is responsible for ensuring the systematic provision of a high standard psychology service to adults within the Specialist Community Mental Health Teams, working closely with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist Lead for the service. This will require a range of specialist skills and competencies in order to deliver highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment of people with complex mental health needs, often in the context of high levels of risk. In addition the potholder will offer advice and consultation on clients' psychological care to other professionals, carers, and those otherwise involved in client-care. The post holder will be responsible for continually delivering and maintaining high standards continuous service improvement leadership and development of others ensuring targets and standards are achieved continuous personal development building trust and developing relationships to ensure service user involvement data quality assurance ensuring information is managed and applied appropriately and effectively championing improvement through effective change management ensuring equality and diversity values underpin the day to day working of the practice area. About us EPUT are looking for motivated staff who share our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including; Season Ticket Loans NHS discounts for staff Excellent Training facilities and opportunities Buying and Selling annual leave scheme The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work Day One Flexible Employer The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment Join our Staff bank What is Staff Bank? Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times. All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish. If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank Date posted 19 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8b Salary £62,215 to £72,293 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours Reference number 364-A-8810 Job locations Herrick House East Stockwell Street Colchester CO1 1ST Job description Job responsibilities To work autonomously within professional guidelines to provide a high quality specialist psychology service to service users, their families, and other professionals/services involved in the life and care of service users. To ensure that effective, tailored, evidence based psychological assessments and interventions are delivered to service users and their families. To deliver interventions underpinned by evidence based practice, NICE guidance, and DH guidance. To be responsible for the delivery of a high quality specialist psychology service by means of supervising, organising and managing lower graded staff. To be responsible for utilising relevant standardised assessment tools, when clinically appropriate and sensible. To be responsible for utilising standardised assessment tools ethically and in compliance with professional guidelines. To be responsible for monitoring and evaluating psychological interventions and assisting and advising on how to monitor and evaluate other non-psychological interventions, when appropriate and required. To work in collaboration with colleagues, teams and other services towards the overall provision of evidence based, cost effective, direct and indirect interventions to service users, and other stake holders. To actively contribute to the decision making process of how resources are utilised effectively and efficiently. To actively participate, with other senior colleagues, in the continuing development and improvement of services, teams, projects, interventions, and clinical pathways. Take a lead role in guiding the Trust in its compliance with NICE guidelines and DH guidelines. Take a lead role in the development, improvement and review of practices, policies, interventions, and initiatives. To take a lead role in the process of reviewing of how services, teams, projects and intervention work. To carry out audits by means of guiding, supervising and organising others. Give expert clinical advice to management about the effectiveness of interventions and models of care. To be responsible for the supervision and management of lower banded staff within the post holders professional group in line with agreed Trust HR processes. To monitor lower banded staffs caseloads, face to face contacts, adherence to key performance indicators, mandatory training and supervision trackers. To take up senior roles required by the Trust, including carrying out SI investigations, take up the role of FLO in SI investigations, liaise with HR when appropriate (e.g. recruitment, seeking clarifications about procedures, etc.), participate in new initiatives. To deputise for the Head of Services in Adult Community Psychology when required. Job description Job responsibilities To work autonomously within professional guidelines to provide a high quality specialist psychology service to service users, their families, and other professionals/services involved in the life and care of service users. To ensure that effective, tailored, evidence based psychological assessments and interventions are delivered to service users and their families. To deliver interventions underpinned by evidence based practice, NICE guidance, and DH guidance. To be responsible for the delivery of a high quality specialist psychology service by means of supervising, organising and managing lower graded staff. To be responsible for utilising relevant standardised assessment tools, when clinically appropriate and sensible. To be responsible for utilising standardised assessment tools ethically and in compliance with professional guidelines. To be responsible for monitoring and evaluating psychological interventions and assisting and advising on how to monitor and evaluate other non-psychological interventions, when appropriate and required. To work in collaboration with colleagues, teams and other services towards the overall provision of evidence based, cost effective, direct and indirect interventions to service users, and other stake holders. To actively contribute to the decision making process of how resources are utilised effectively and efficiently. To actively participate, with other senior colleagues, in the continuing development and improvement of services, teams, projects, interventions, and clinical pathways. Take a lead role in guiding the Trust in its compliance with NICE guidelines and DH guidelines. Take a lead role in the development, improvement and review of practices, policies, interventions, and initiatives. To take a lead role in the process of reviewing of how services, teams, projects and intervention work. To carry out audits by means of guiding, supervising and organising others. Give expert clinical advice to management about the effectiveness of interventions and models of care. To be responsible for the supervision and management of lower banded staff within the post holders professional group in line with agreed Trust HR processes. To monitor lower banded staffs caseloads, face to face contacts, adherence to key performance indicators, mandatory training and supervision trackers. To take up senior roles required by the Trust, including carrying out SI investigations, take up the role of FLO in SI investigations, liaise with HR when appropriate (e.g. recruitment, seeking clarifications about procedures, etc.), participate in new initiatives. To deputise for the Head of Services in Adult Community Psychology when required. Person Specification Education/knowledge/qualifications Essential Doctoral level training in clinical psychology or Counselling Psychology or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS. HCPC registration and Registered with a professional clinical body (BPS)/ Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS Desirable Post-qualification diploma or CPD courses relating to working with adults with complex mental health needs supervision training in specific models of therapy relevant to the client group Skills/experience Essential Evidence of competence and experience of working as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist suitable for senior responsibilities including experience of training and supervising. Desirable Well developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc). Experience and skills in models of therapy and experience in application to complex mental health needs Personal Essential Evidence of leadership and change management skills - ability to understand the wider implications of actions. Ability to travel across sites Evidence of the ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. Desirable Leadership/ management training Person Specification Education/knowledge/qualifications Essential Doctoral level training in clinical psychology or Counselling Psychology or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS. HCPC registration and Registered with a professional clinical body (BPS)/ Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS Desirable Post-qualification diploma or CPD courses relating to working with adults with complex mental health needs supervision training in specific models of therapy relevant to the client group Skills/experience Essential Evidence of competence and experience of working as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist suitable for senior responsibilities including experience of training and supervising. Desirable Well developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc). Experience and skills in models of therapy and experience in application to complex mental health needs Personal Essential Evidence of leadership and change management skills - ability to understand the wider implications of actions. Ability to travel across sites Evidence of the ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. Desirable Leadership/ management training 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). 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. 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). Employer details Employer name Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Address Herrick House East Stockwell Street Colchester CO1 1ST Employer's website https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)