Job summary Here at Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC), we are an inclusive and dedicated organisation working to provide excellent care to our entitled personnel We are looking to recruit a dynamic, organised and enthusiastic Band 8a Principal Clinical Psychologist who will be working here at Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) at Portsmouth Naval Base, providing a service to military personnel. Does this sound like the role for you? Benefits include: Free parking. NHS pension scheme. Inclusive working environment. Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA). Access to gym at a reduced cost. Main duties of the job Providing a specialised clinical psychology service to client's (military personnel) under the care of the DCMH, across all sectors of care; providing highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy at the same time as offering advice and consultation on clients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional line management and carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. Utilising research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service. Providing clinical and professional supervision to trainees undertaking Doctoral training. About us Our success depends on our people, our Whole Force regular and reservist military, civil servants and contractors, all working as one, working together seamlessly to deliver for us. Our civil servants are a central part of this Whole Force, developing strategy, making policy, supporting ministerial decision-making and Parliamentary processes. In fact, with over 2,000 different roles working across 650 sites around the world, now really is an excellent time to join one of the largest, most exciting departments in government. The Ministry of Defence is committed to attracting and retaining people from across the full range of backgrounds and enabling flexible ways of working as the norm. We offer maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay. In return, you can expect a department that helps you learn and develop that recognises your expertise and contribution, both as an individual and part of a team. If you've ever wanted to do more, see more, go further or be better, we have roles in more professions and vocations than ever before. Let's see where your future will take you, together. Date posted 28 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum (pro rata if part-time) Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Job share Reference number K0003-25-0035 Job locations DCMH Portsmouth Sunny Walk Portsmouth PO1 3LT Job description Job responsibilities Responsibilities include and are not limited to: Providing specialist psychological assessments of client's referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi structured interviews with client's, family members and others involved in the clients care. Implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, (carers, families and groups where appropriate), within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. Acting as care coordinator, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans under enhanced care programme approach (CPA) including clients, their carer, referring agents and others involved the network of care. Communicating in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care. Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification document for additional duties. Selection Process The selection at sift stage will be based on your application form. At interview, you will be tested against the following NHS Technical Skills: Changing and Improving Communicating and Influencing Leadership Making Effective Decisions Managing a Quality Service Working Together The sift will be completed within 5 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed. There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview. Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken. All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. If found successful for this position, you will be required to provide evidence of your immunity to Hepatitis B. Please note that evidence of your vaccination is not a proof of your immunity, but your serology levels will be required. Failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in the offer of employment being withdrawn. To be considered for this role, qualifications and memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application. There is no requirement to deploy as this is met by our uniformed personnel, but you will form the continuity of care required by our patients when based at home. We encourage all our employees and prospective ones to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to any exemptions that may apply. Please see the attached further information document for full details. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, Making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact dbscivpers-sgdmsresourcingteammod.gov.uk. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment by 31st December 2022. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. Job description Job responsibilities Responsibilities include and are not limited to: Providing specialist psychological assessments of client's referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi structured interviews with client's, family members and others involved in the clients care. Implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, (carers, families and groups where appropriate), within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. Acting as care coordinator, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans under enhanced care programme approach (CPA) including clients, their carer, referring agents and others involved the network of care. Communicating in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care. Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification document for additional duties. Selection Process The selection at sift stage will be based on your application form. At interview, you will be tested against the following NHS Technical Skills: Changing and Improving Communicating and Influencing Leadership Making Effective Decisions Managing a Quality Service Working Together The sift will be completed within 5 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed. There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview. Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken. All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. If found successful for this position, you will be required to provide evidence of your immunity to Hepatitis B. Please note that evidence of your vaccination is not a proof of your immunity, but your serology levels will be required. Failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in the offer of employment being withdrawn. To be considered for this role, qualifications and memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application. There is no requirement to deploy as this is met by our uniformed personnel, but you will form the continuity of care required by our patients when based at home. We encourage all our employees and prospective ones to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to any exemptions that may apply. Please see the attached further information document for full details. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, Making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact dbscivpers-sgdmsresourcingteammod.gov.uk. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment by 31st December 2022. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent as accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS) conferring eligibility for Chartership & full membership of Division of Clinical or Counselling Psychology). Training must have included models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist under protected title. Demonstrable experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist (at Band 7 or above) and ability to evidence completion of relevant training/preceptorship in order to be able to carry out the full range of supervisory activities as appropriate to an NHS Band 8a grade post. Provide a CV Essential Please copy and paste your full CV as your response to this question - you will not be able to upload your CV as an attachment. Please ensure to refer to the essential criteria where applicable as your application may be rejected should insufficient information to shortlist be included. Please use double spacing where possible. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or equivalent as accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS) conferring eligibility for Chartership & full membership of Division of Clinical or Counselling Psychology). Training must have included models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist under protected title. Demonstrable experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist (at Band 7 or above) and ability to evidence completion of relevant training/preceptorship in order to be able to carry out the full range of supervisory activities as appropriate to an NHS Band 8a grade post. Provide a CV Essential Please copy and paste your full CV as your response to this question - you will not be able to upload your CV as an attachment. Please ensure to refer to the essential criteria where applicable as your application may be rejected should insufficient information to shortlist be included. Please use double spacing where possible. 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. 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. 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 Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services) Address DCMH Portsmouth Sunny Walk Portsmouth PO1 3LT Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence (Opens in a new tab)