Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for a Clinical/ Forensic or Counselling Psychologist with extensive forensic experience to join NELFT’s Forensic Psychology Service based at Morris Ward low secure unit. The post is available as Band 8a or as a Band7-8a preceptorship opportunity. The post holder will be supported to develop their competencies and funding is in place to allow for CPD to support this.

We would also welcome trainee clinical/forensic/ counselling psychologists due to qualify within 6 months to apply for this role. In this instance the position will be offered at Band 6 until HCPC registration is received.

Main duties of the job

The post holder would join a well-established and well respected forensic team: NELFT’s low-secure forensic unit, Morris ward, has ranked first in the UK and Ireland according the Quality Network for Forensic Mental Health Services (QNFMHS).

The post holder will provide specialist assessment and evidence-based interventions to service users who typically present with complex mental health issues including psychosis, trauma histories and substance misuse, in addition to offending behaviour. Interventions will include individual, group, and family work. The post holder will work primarily with service users on a low secure ward but there will also be opportunity for community work. They will be responsible for managing complex risks and supervising other psychology staff in their work in this area.

About us

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement – London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,108 and a maximum payment of £5,177).

Date posted

06 April 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience per annum pro-rata (Plus HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

395-AR281-23

Job locations

Goodmayes Hospital

Barley Lane

Ilford

IG3 8XJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post would suit someone with a strong interest in multidisciplinary working and working with wider systems including family and carers. The role will require creative andinnovativeinput including offering consultation to forensic and non-forensic colleagues, and will require expertise in service development. Good applicants would be passionate about addressing discrimination and inequalities and have an awareness of how this affects mental health, recovery and risk.

The psychology department is friendly, supportive and innovative: You would have good access to CPD opportunities across the Trust. We actively support the development of leadership skills and aim to nurture our staff and support them in their development. Members of the wider psychology department have strong links to academic institutions and are engaged in research and teaching on the North Thames clinical training courses.

The boroughs covered by the Trust are very diverse and we would actively encourage applicants to apply who represent this diversity.

This job will require direct face to face working with service users. The applicant should be able to work with such individuals in line with the Trust’s PPE and social distancing guidelines. This post will involve travel between sites within the areas served by NELFT.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification when completing your application

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post would suit someone with a strong interest in multidisciplinary working and working with wider systems including family and carers. The role will require creative andinnovativeinput including offering consultation to forensic and non-forensic colleagues, and will require expertise in service development. Good applicants would be passionate about addressing discrimination and inequalities and have an awareness of how this affects mental health, recovery and risk.

The psychology department is friendly, supportive and innovative: You would have good access to CPD opportunities across the Trust. We actively support the development of leadership skills and aim to nurture our staff and support them in their development. Members of the wider psychology department have strong links to academic institutions and are engaged in research and teaching on the North Thames clinical training courses.

The boroughs covered by the Trust are very diverse and we would actively encourage applicants to apply who represent this diversity.

This job will require direct face to face working with service users. The applicant should be able to work with such individuals in line with the Trust’s PPE and social distancing guidelines. This post will involve travel between sites within the areas served by NELFT.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification when completing your application

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral qualification in psychology (clinical, forensic or counselling psychology) accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
  • Professional registration with the HCPC

Desirable

  • Qualification in more than one modality of psychology.
  • Recognised qualification and training in supervision

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial, relevant post-qualification clinical experience in working with serious mental health difficulties including psychosis, personality disorder, and serious offending behaviour
  • Experience of psychological clinical work in forensic services
  • Experience of offering supervision, teaching, training and consultation.

Professional Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Advanced knowledge and skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and treatment of individuals, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
  • Knowledge of forensic risk assessment and its importance in inpatient rehabilitation and community settings HCR-20; RSVP)
  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (offending behaviour, psychosis, personality disorder, substance misuse)
  • Communication and relationship skills of the highest level where complex formulations need to be developed and explained.
  • Highly developed skills in providing consultation to other professionals and teams.
  • Ability to engage in highly complex thinking and formulation, actively engaging with the emotional impact of the work, processing and integrating these elements to offer consistent and effective clinical supervision to trainees, other psychologists and other professionals or team. Providing this supervision to meet BPS and HCPC requirements.
  • Capacity to implement policy and to proactively contribute to their development in the wider service
  • Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and its application to forensic clinical groups
  • Ability to build effective relationships across teams and promote an interface and pathway that allows for smooth transitions between services.
  • Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals, in accordance with professional ethics guidelines and Trust policies
  • Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team.
  • IT skills sufficient to write reports and enter data.
  • An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of working with individuals with a diagnosis of Learning Disability/Difficulty.

Professional Capacity

Essential

  • Ability to concentrate and remain in constrained positions for substantial periods during patient contact, teaching/supervision, team meetings, preparation of written work, etc
  • Ability to commit to Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

  • Record of publication in peer reviewed journals, and demonstrated ability to support the development of the profession through participation in professional bodies and activities

Other

Essential

  • Ability to effectively manage verbal aggression and the risk of physical aggression from service users or carers
  • Ability to effectively manage frequent exposure to highly distressing /emotional circumstances
  • Respectful approach to service users, carers, colleagues, and others
  • To be able to travel efficiently throughout the required areas

Trust Values

Essential

  • Putting people first
  • Prioritising quality
  • Being progressive, innovative and continually improve
  • Being professional and honest
  • Promoting what is possible, independence, opportunity and choice
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral qualification in psychology (clinical, forensic or counselling psychology) accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
  • Professional registration with the HCPC

Desirable

  • Qualification in more than one modality of psychology.
  • Recognised qualification and training in supervision

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial, relevant post-qualification clinical experience in working with serious mental health difficulties including psychosis, personality disorder, and serious offending behaviour
  • Experience of psychological clinical work in forensic services
  • Experience of offering supervision, teaching, training and consultation.

Professional Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Advanced knowledge and skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and treatment of individuals, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
  • Knowledge of forensic risk assessment and its importance in inpatient rehabilitation and community settings HCR-20; RSVP)
  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (offending behaviour, psychosis, personality disorder, substance misuse)
  • Communication and relationship skills of the highest level where complex formulations need to be developed and explained.
  • Highly developed skills in providing consultation to other professionals and teams.
  • Ability to engage in highly complex thinking and formulation, actively engaging with the emotional impact of the work, processing and integrating these elements to offer consistent and effective clinical supervision to trainees, other psychologists and other professionals or team. Providing this supervision to meet BPS and HCPC requirements.
  • Capacity to implement policy and to proactively contribute to their development in the wider service
  • Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and its application to forensic clinical groups
  • Ability to build effective relationships across teams and promote an interface and pathway that allows for smooth transitions between services.
  • Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals, in accordance with professional ethics guidelines and Trust policies
  • Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team.
  • IT skills sufficient to write reports and enter data.
  • An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of working with individuals with a diagnosis of Learning Disability/Difficulty.

Professional Capacity

Essential

  • Ability to concentrate and remain in constrained positions for substantial periods during patient contact, teaching/supervision, team meetings, preparation of written work, etc
  • Ability to commit to Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

  • Record of publication in peer reviewed journals, and demonstrated ability to support the development of the profession through participation in professional bodies and activities

Other

Essential

  • Ability to effectively manage verbal aggression and the risk of physical aggression from service users or carers
  • Ability to effectively manage frequent exposure to highly distressing /emotional circumstances
  • Respectful approach to service users, carers, colleagues, and others
  • To be able to travel efficiently throughout the required areas

Trust Values

Essential

  • Putting people first
  • Prioritising quality
  • Being progressive, innovative and continually improve
  • Being professional and honest
  • Promoting what is possible, independence, opportunity and choice

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

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).