Job summary Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist, Band 8b Permanent - Part/Full Time - up to 1.0wte 37.5 hours/week Roles in Greenwich Home Treatment Team, acute ward and PICU or combination depending on applicants' interest.This is an exciting opportunity for a kind, motivated and clinically skilled psychological therapist to join our acute/crisis service in the London Borough of Greenwich. We are looking for a psychologist who is able to lead and inspire, and who is wanting to contribute to the development of highly effective clinical teams.The successful applicant will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team/s to ensure that they are able to provide a range of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for our service users who are in crisis, and their support networks including families and carers. The roles will also involve working collegiately with clinical teams across the trust, service partners (e.g., third sector services), and other statutory services. We actively encourage applications from current Band 8A psychologists who wish to develop their careers and would like to further develop their skills and leadership. Oxleas has developed an excellent reputation as a place to work. It was listed as one of the The Sunday Times top ten large organisations to work for in 2023, and also won the HSJ Trust of the Year Award in 2023. We are deeply proud of our culturally diverse workforce and our shared values of kindness, fairness and caring. Main duties of the job Psychological assessment and intervention with service users who present in a state of psychological/ emotional crisis. Individual therapeutic interests and preferences are promoted and will be actively supported with specialist supervision and training if aligned with directorate priorities (specifically trauma-informed care and family/systems working). Clinical work could involve crisis focused DBT, CBT, family/systemic interventions and trauma-focused, eg EMDR. These would map onto psychotherapeutic pathways in the acute sector and community teams. Risk management and care planning with services users and their support networks. Development and supervision of evidence-based psychosocial interventions delivered by the wider clinical team. Supervision, consultation, and provision of reflective practice. Liaison with system partners (e.g., GPs, community mental health services, voluntary services). Work autonomously within clinical and professional guidelines. Utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research. About us Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people. Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values: We're Kind We're Fair We Listen We Care Date posted 17 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8b Salary £67,950 to £78,028 a year pa inc / pa inc pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number 277-6914599-AAC Job locations Oxleas House - Queen Elizabeth Hospital Stadium Road London SE18 4QH Job description Job responsibilities Clinical As the lead psychologist for the team you will provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the service based upon the appropriate use. Interpretation and integration of complex psychological 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 clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods of proven efficacy, across the full range of care settings. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, 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. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based care plans. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. To ensure that all members of the treating team have access to a psychologically based framework for understanding and care of clients of the service, through the provision of advice and consultation and the dissemination of psychological research and theory. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management, including responsibilities within the policies and clinical duties to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, complex information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor and evaluate progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care. This will require being able to convey this to clients, families and colleagues with a range of understanding and knowledge so will require the ability to be flexible, adaptive and simple but yet retain a sophisticated understanding and approach. This communication is likely to take place in situations which are highly emotive and with people who may also have concurrent and/or associated physical health conditions. To provide expertise, advice and support to facilitate the effective and appropriate provision of psychological care by all members of the treatment team. Leadership To provide clinical placements for trainee clinical and/or counselling psychologists, ensuring that trainees acquire the necessary skills, competencies and experience to contribute effectively to good mental health care and to contribute to the assessment and evaluation of such competencies. To provide post-qualification training (CPD) and clinical professional supervision to qualified clinical staff attached to the service. To provide advice, consultation and clinical supervision to other clinical members of the service for their provision of psychologically based interventions to help improve clients functioning. To provide pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or counselling psychology as appropriate. To maintain and develop skills in the area of professional pre- and post-graduate training and clinical supervision. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate. Management responsibilities To exercise delegated responsibility for managing the psychological resources available to the relevant acute/crisis team, whether in the form of additional qualified and unqualified graduate psychology staff, or in the form of psychological materials employed in the assessment and treatment of patients. To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service. To participate as appropriate in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panels for assistant, trainees and qualified psychologist and other clinical staff. To provide day to day management of the psychology staff within the service. To be an authorised signatory for staff related expenses. Liaise with the budget holder to agree best use of funds and be responsible for reviewing and monitoring usage. To contribute to the overall management and functioning of the service. Research To take the psychology lead, as a senior clinician, in the evaluation, monitoring and development of the teams operational policies, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit and ensuring incorporation of psychological frameworks for understanding and provision of high quality care. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members. To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research. To initiate project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within and across the service to help develop and improve services to clients and their families. Communication To maintain registration with the Health Professions Council as a Clinical Psychologist. To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes. To ensure the development and articulation of best practice in psychology within the service area and contribute across the service by exercising the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines. To maintain and promulgate the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, Health Professions Council and Trust policies and procedures. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health. Job description Job responsibilities Clinical As the lead psychologist for the team you will provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the service based upon the appropriate use. Interpretation and integration of complex psychological 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 clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods of proven efficacy, across the full range of care settings. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, 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. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based care plans. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. To ensure that all members of the treating team have access to a psychologically based framework for understanding and care of clients of the service, through the provision of advice and consultation and the dissemination of psychological research and theory. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management, including responsibilities within the policies and clinical duties to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, complex information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor and evaluate progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care. This will require being able to convey this to clients, families and colleagues with a range of understanding and knowledge so will require the ability to be flexible, adaptive and simple but yet retain a sophisticated understanding and approach. This communication is likely to take place in situations which are highly emotive and with people who may also have concurrent and/or associated physical health conditions. To provide expertise, advice and support to facilitate the effective and appropriate provision of psychological care by all members of the treatment team. Leadership To provide clinical placements for trainee clinical and/or counselling psychologists, ensuring that trainees acquire the necessary skills, competencies and experience to contribute effectively to good mental health care and to contribute to the assessment and evaluation of such competencies. To provide post-qualification training (CPD) and clinical professional supervision to qualified clinical staff attached to the service. To provide advice, consultation and clinical supervision to other clinical members of the service for their provision of psychologically based interventions to help improve clients functioning. To provide pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or counselling psychology as appropriate. To maintain and develop skills in the area of professional pre- and post-graduate training and clinical supervision. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate. Management responsibilities To exercise delegated responsibility for managing the psychological resources available to the relevant acute/crisis team, whether in the form of additional qualified and unqualified graduate psychology staff, or in the form of psychological materials employed in the assessment and treatment of patients. To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service. To participate as appropriate in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panels for assistant, trainees and qualified psychologist and other clinical staff. To provide day to day management of the psychology staff within the service. To be an authorised signatory for staff related expenses. Liaise with the budget holder to agree best use of funds and be responsible for reviewing and monitoring usage. To contribute to the overall management and functioning of the service. Research To take the psychology lead, as a senior clinician, in the evaluation, monitoring and development of the teams operational policies, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit and ensuring incorporation of psychological frameworks for understanding and provision of high quality care. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members. To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research. To initiate project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within and across the service to help develop and improve services to clients and their families. Communication To maintain registration with the Health Professions Council as a Clinical Psychologist. To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes. To ensure the development and articulation of best practice in psychology within the service area and contribute across the service by exercising the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines. To maintain and promulgate the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, Health Professions Council and Trust policies and procedures. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health. Person Specification Registration Essential Registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist Qualifications Essential Doctorate level (or equivalent) qualification in clinical or counselling psychology Desirable Qualification in systemic or cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy Experience Essential Significant experience working as a Highly Specialist Psychologist Desirable Experience of working with high risk service users Experience of working in acute and crisis mental health settings Person Specification Registration Essential Registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist Qualifications Essential Doctorate level (or equivalent) qualification in clinical or counselling psychology Desirable Qualification in systemic or cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy Experience Essential Significant experience working as a Highly Specialist Psychologist Desirable Experience of working with high risk service users Experience of working in acute and crisis mental health settings 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 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust Address Oxleas House - Queen Elizabeth Hospital Stadium Road London SE18 4QH Employer's website http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)