Job summary
Principal Clinical / Counselling Psychologist (Research) - Band 8a
This is an exciting new post to deliver new psychologicaltherapies for patients with psychosis. The postholder will be part of theSleeping Better and Feeling Safer clinical trials. Each trial tests newpsychological treatments for patients with psychosis or at high-risk forpsychosis. These large clinical trials will take place in NHS Mental HealthServices at sites across England and Scotland. Each site, which will closelywork together, will comprise established site leads, a clinical/counsellingpsychologist, an assistant psychologist, graduate mental health worker, peerworker and research assistants. The postholder will have a key role in theprojects. They will deliver the new treatments, supervise others in deliveringthe therapies, and coordinate the trials locally. This is an excitingopportunity to join a vibrant clinical research community working to improvetreatments for people with psychosis.
This role would suit someone interested in developing anddelivering effective psychological treatments for psychosis. The post includesboth clinical and research opportunities. For newly qualified psychologists,there will be a route for progression to band 8a. The post is substantive andafter these trial roles have finished you will take up further research and/orclinical roles within our community mental health services.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to join a large communityof clinical researchers working to improve treatments for people withpsychosis. The post-holder will have a central role in the Sleeping Better andFeeling Safer trials, being responsible for the day-to-day delivery within thelocal NHS trust. This will include delivering psychological therapy,supervising research assistants in the recruitment and assessment of trialparticipants, and supervising other clinicians in the delivery of theinterventions. You will be accountable to the site Principal Investigator DrGary Willington, and you will receive supervision from Prof Daniel Freeman andDr Felicity Waite from the lead site: Oxford. The position would suit aclinician with strong interests in cognitive therapy, treatment innovation, andclinical trials.
The post holder will be expected to support and promote aset of values that maximise the potential of individuals by promoting theirrecovery with the aim of reducing social exclusion, stigma and the potentiallydisabling effects of severe mental illness.
We actively support high quality research andwant to attract psychologists interested in participating in NIHR and WellcomeTrust funded multi-centre research trials into psychological interventions forpsychosis.
About us
At Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), we deliver a wide range of physical, mental health, learning disability and autism services, and are proud to serve communities across Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond.
We put 'people at our heart'; this ethos is at the centre of everything we do and how we do it. We care for our staff and colleagues as much as they care for others and offer a wide range of benefits and development opportunities.
These include:
generous annual leave entitlement which increases during your time with us
excellent learning and development opportunities, including apprenticeship frameworks, distance learning, internal training, coaching and mentoring, and much more
salary sacrifice schemes for lease car/ vehicle, Cycle to Work, home and electronics, gym membership and more
discounts with a range of retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues through our Employee Assistance Programme and NHS discount schemes
wellbeing support, including an in-house counselling service, external helpline and more
staff networks and support groups
We're always on the lookout for people who share our passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of people in our community, as well as our values of compassion, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.
Job description
Job responsibilities
It is essential that candidates have an interest inproviding psychological interventions for psychosis and have experience ofworking with people and their carers in Secondary Care Mental Health.
Experience of clinical research (such as researchcompleted during clinical psychology training) is also essential, as are thenecessary skills to support the day-to-day delivery of the Sleeping Better andFeeling Safer trial within CWPT and neighbouring Trusts.
Experience of applying cognitive behavioural approachesto psychosis would be advantageous.
You are required to hold a current professionalregistration with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist by the time you takeup the post.
The ability to travel during the working day over a largegeographical area is essential, as is the ability to work flexibly with theneeds of the client group and trial. Youwill be based in North Warwickshire (Rugby or Nuneaton), and are likely totravel throughout CWPT and the neighbouring participating NHS Trusts. Onoccasion, you would also be expected to travel to other trial sites includingBirmingham, 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 forthe band 7 role and job description (please see additional documents on NHSJobs).
In these instances, the successful candidate would beappointed to a Development Post role at band 7 and provided opportunities andsupport to progress to the band 8a role upon successful completion of apreceptorship programme. It is expected that this process will be achievablewithin a period of up to two years, although timescales may vary between differentstaff members in Development Posts. Inthe event that elements of the expected competencies to progress to 8a are notare fully met, the role will remain as a band 7.
This will be further discussed as part of the interviewand recruitment process as appropriate. Applications from newly qualified/soonto qualify clinicians would therefore be welcomed.
Knowledge and Skills also needs amending with 'Experienceof inpatient ward work' and 'Knowledge of legislation in relation to theclient group' taken out and 'Knowledgeof research and audit methodology suitable to the job' inserted
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Current registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
2. A recognised qualification, current training or commitment to undertake training in CBT for psychosis
3. Expertise and/or training in Clinical Supervision for doctorate level trainees as may supervise trainee clinical Psychologist
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
4. Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialist assessment methods and therapeutic approaches in relation to the client group.
5. Well developed communication skills, suitable to the specialty.
6. Experience of in-patient ward work
7. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group.