A Vacancy at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Band 8A (preceptorship available at Band 7 until two years post qualification).
Springbank ward is currently seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Practitioner Psychologist to work within their unique award-winning in patient service for women with complex emotional needs. Springbank is the only NHS specialist unit in the country that provides care in a distinctive way adopting least restrictive practice and positive risk-taking strategies. As the ward psychologist you will have a busy and varied role. The ward adopts Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) as its core approach to assessment, formulation, treatment, and ward structure. All staff have received some training in DBT and the skills and principles of DBT are woven into all interactions. You will play a key role in modelling putting theory into practice. You will be part of the wards leadership structure working closely alongside the Consultant Psychiatrist, Service Manager, Ward Manager and Senior Occupational Therapist as well as the wider MDT.
Dependent on your experience of DBT, you will be encouraged to take the role of DBT Consult Team Leader, lead on staff training, and oversee treatment integrity. DBT therapy training and experience is therefore highly desirable for this role. However, candidates with expertise in behavioural modification work and a willingness to undertake further training in DBT will be considered.
As a member of the MDT and leadership team, you will be expected to get to know all the 12 services users on the ward and contribute to review meetings. You will also be responsible for running reflective practice and formulation groups for staff.
This job will suit someone who is passionate about their work with patients with severe and complex emotional needs. You will need to have a hands-on, can-do approach, and be flexible in the way you work, recognizing the dual demands placed on therapist trained nursing staff working in treatment wards. You will need to be a good communicator able to engage with service users, ward staff, and the leadership team.
You will receive clinical supervision from a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and you will be welcomed into a small network of psychologists working in this field across the trust. You will be welcomed into a wider active and supportive professional network of psychologists across the trust, with access to a range of in-house peer supervision groups and training.
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
There are opportunities for service development work and research and CPFT encourages innovative practice. UEA is our local Clinical Psychology Training base, and you will have the opportunity to welcome trainee(s) on placement to support you in your work.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
• To provide specialist psychological assessment including neuropsychology assessment, to provide NICE compliant specialist psychological therapy, to provide advice and consultation on clients’ psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other non-professional carers; leading on aspects of the training and on-going supervision of non-psychologist staff in psychological interventions.
• To assist with appropriate governance arrangements for all psychological services within the teams.
• To contribute to the initial expert assessment of clients newly referred to the teams.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams’ policies and procedures.
• To provide advice on methods of evaluating the work of the team including advising on suitable outcomes measures.
• To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the teams.
The post does not have any budgetary responsibilities.
This advert closes on Wednesday 5 Feb 2025