Clinical / Counselling / Forensic Psychologist

Job summary We are seeking to recruit an innovative and enthusiastic Band 7-8a Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologists for our Forensic Learning Disability Low Secure Inpatient Ward.
We are looking for applicants who have experience of working in a relevant setting and who feel passionately about making a difference to the lives of service users.
The post holders will be based at the John Howard Centre, Hackney, and will be embedded in full MDT.Applicants would join a friendly and dynamic psychology department in the forensic directorate, covering medium and low security; the directorate has been rated outstanding by the CQC.At the 8a level, applicants would be expected to take on some organisational and line management responsibilities.
As a senior member of staff, the post holder would also be supported to contribute to wider service development opportunities.
The psychology department has close links with regional Clinical Psychology training courses and other academic institutions.
There are many teaching and training opportunities, and excellent CPD opportunities, and a wide range of specialist supervision.
We actively encourage applicants from backgrounds representative of the diverse communities we serve.
Main duties of the job Responsible for providing a specialist psychology service to inpatients in the forensic learning disability or autism service allocated to the MDT, including specialist psychological assessments and interventions.
To offer advice on patient management, and supervision, training and consultation on patients' psychological care to non-psychology colleagues within the LD service, as well as to external parties.
To plan, deliver, and evaluate specialist group work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures, and the department's objectives.
To utilise research skills in audit and other research and development activities.
To supervise and direct the work of assistant psychologists as required About us Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve.
Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description Job responsibilities Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.This job description is intended as a guide to the main duties of the post and is not intended to be a prescriptive document.
Duties and base of work may change to meet the needs of the service or because of the introduction of new technology.
This job description may be reviewed from time to time and changed, after consultation with the postholder..
Person Specification Education/ Qualification/ Training Essential Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Evidence of CPD in accordance with BPS recommendations Either: Recognized qualification or training in psychotherapy supervision or Clinical supervision training for doctoral clinical /counselling psychology trainees.
Registered as a practitioner psychologist by the HCPC.
Desirable Additional training in intellectual disability or Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Post Qualification Training in a Psychotherapy Modality: DBT, CFT, EMDR, CBTp, CBT for trauma or Schema Therapy.
Experience Essential Experience of working with service users with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability and of assessing for Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability Experience of providing specialist psychological assessments and treatment interventions to patients with complex problems, including severe mental illness, personality disorder, substance misuse, offending behaviour and/or dual diagnosis Providing specialist psychological assessment and intervention across a range of care settings including community and inpatient.
Exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan.
Representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary and inter agency care.
Facilitating therapeutic groups.
Providing teaching, training and clinical supervision.
The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
Experience of providing clinical supervision Providing management supervision.
Co-produced clinical care, including goal setting, using a Recovery approach Desirable Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.
Experience of representing psychology in various teams and working groups.
Experience of recruitment and selection and other HR processes.
Leading audit and research project The operational delivery of Integrated care pathways.
The use of QI or other improvement methodology in clinical settings Knowledge and Skills Essential Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and develop formulations upon which to base choice of treatment.
Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies when working with people with autism or learning disabilities Skills in delivering psychological interventions in individual and group formats, adapted to meet the needs of the individual or group Ability to identify risk relevant to forensic work.
Skills in risk assessment and risk management Knowledge of the evidence base for psychological interventions with a (forensic) learning disability or autism client group.
Ability to adapt psychological therapies to client's needs, taking into account specific communication difficulties.
Knowledge of theories underpinning Positive Behaviour Support and experience of carrying out functional assessments, designing and implementing Positive Behaviour Support plans.
Additional relevant clinical and/or managerial knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self-study, or experience - or a combination of these - to an appropriate level approved by the Head of Psychology and demonstrated by certification, documented supervision logs, management appraisal documentation and/or assessment at interview.
Knowledge and understanding of guidance around equal opportunities and diversity as it relates to both staff and service users and their carers.
Ability to plan and deliver teaching and training of psychology and non-psychology staff Knowledge of the evidence base for psychological interventions with the forensic client group.
Skills in effective oral and written communication of complex and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide range of recipients both within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce letters, reports, and associated documentation appropriate to its readership, and to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance Skills in providing advice and consultation to other professionals and carers Ability to plan, organise and prioritise own work Basic computing skills: word processing, email, Internet.
Knowledge of the legal framework in which forensic services operate, and of other agencies and systems involved in the treatment/management and care of mentally disordered offenders Postgraduate level knowledge of research methodology, including research design, and complex statistical analysis: audit skills Ability to plan and deliver teaching and training sessions; high level presentation skills Ability to produce high quality professional results to specified deadlines and other time constraints Ability to produce high quality professional results to specified deadlines and other time constraints Ability to effectively manage verbal aggression and the risk of physical aggression from patients or carers Ability to effectively manage frequent exposure to highly distressing/ emotional circumstances.
Desirable Knowledge of team and organisational dynamics Ability to use advanced IT packages Ability to use multi-media presentation materials Knowledge of National and Government directives relevant to the development and delivery of forensic mental health services.
Understanding of the principles of integrated care Understanding of the principles of co-production and service user/ care involvement and demonstrable skills in involving service users in service development and delivery.
Training in Quality Improvement (QI) methodology Knowledge of recent legislation/ guidance relevant to service users with a learning disability.
Other Essential Ability to recognise, contain and work with organisational and personal stress Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multi-disciplinary and team settings Respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, and others Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively