Principal Clinical Psychologist C1 - DCMH Portsmouth - Ministry of Defence - Portsmouth PO2

This is an exciting opportunity to become a member of a military Dept of Community Mental Health (DCMH) providing mental healthcare to serving military personnel from all three Services, entitled civilians and veterans. The job is interesting and varied and you will be expected to make a substantive contribution to supervision, audit, research, service development, teaching & training activities locally and across the MOD as a member of the Defence Clinical Psychology Service (DCPS). Regular contact & support from DCPS colleagues is encouraged to obviate any professional isolation and CPD is funded. As a MOD employee you will enjoy a range of benefits including reimbursement of professional fees, business travel costs and access to sports facilities.

Your work will be directed by the team Consultant Clinical Psychologist and the Head of Service, DCPS. Candidates should be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years post-qualification clinical experience in the field of adult mental health. DCMH Portsmouth has a number of staff accredited or working towards practitioner accreditation in CBT and EMDR so they are particularly keen to recruit a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist who is trained in either or both of these approaches and can offer specialist supervision. The successful candidate will be expected to support clinical activity at the main team base as well as offer satellite clinics in other locations and to travel to attend meetings with professional colleagues (usually necessitating an overnight stay – the costs of which are reimbursed).

Although evidence of interest in working in military settings would be welcome, it is by no means a pre-requisite for application.

This is a 1.0 wte, broader-banded civil service post currently subject to civil service pay, terms & conditions of employment. The starting salary is fixed at the entry point for this pay scale.

JOB SPECIFICATION

The post holder will provide a high quality, specialist qualified Clinical/Counselling psychology service as a clinically independent and autonomous practitioner, individually accountable for his or her clinical decisions, working within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the relevant teams’ policies and procedures within the defined service sector. The team Consultant Clinical Psychologist will act as line manager and reporting officer for the post with both reporting to the Head of Service, DCPS.

The post holder will be expected to utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the defined service sector as agreed with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

The post holder will consult regularly with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist and his or her peers and seek professional and clinical supervision as appropriate to their stage of professional development.

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS

Required:
• Good honours degree in Psychology. Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical/Counselling psychology as accredited by the BPS and recognised by HCPC.

• Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) under the ‘Practitioner Psychologist’ protected title.

• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPS/HCPC.

Highly desirable:
• Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level.

• Advanced keyboard and IT skills

EXPERIENCE

Required:
• A minimum of two years post-qualification experience working as a Clinical/Counselling psychologist within the designated specialty (Adult Mental Health).

• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

• Experience of exercising responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment, both as a care coordinator and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan.

• Experience of clinical research (either implementation or supervision)

• Experience of teaching and training

Highly desirable:
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Required:
• Doctoral level knowledge of Clinical/Counselling psychology and two or more distinct psychological therapies.

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense effort and concentration.

• A proven ability to communicate effectively highly complex, technical and clinically sensitive information, at both a written and oral level, to a diverse audience including senior executive management, professional colleagues, clients, their families, carers and other relevant internal and external agencies.

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and assessments, especially in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. personality disorder dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities and severely challenging behaviours etc.)

• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of Clinical/Counselling psychology.

• Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice in relation to the client group and mental health.

PERSONAL

Required:
• Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological phenomena, an interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by Clinical/Counselling psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services.

• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to ‘hold’ the stress of others.

• A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multi-professional and uni-professional audit, and a wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area. Ability to demonstrate leadership and management skills.

• Ability to travel long distances (within and outside the UK) to attend meetings, deliver a clinical service and carry out other duties, as identified by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist and/or Head of Service (e.g. conducting clinical assessments within BFG, Cyprus and Gibraltar and carrying out clinical or other tasks in operational areas).

• Ability to administer tests which demand skilled, precise and accurate delivery and physical manipulation of materials in situations where timing is critical.

OTHER

Required:
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to professional colleagues exposed to highly distressing and / or traumatic situations.

• Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.

• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.

• Ability to articulate and interpret clearly the role of the profession of Clinical/Counselling psychology based upon a good understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy.

• Ability to drive and possession of a full UK driving licence.

• Ability to work to Professional Guidelines, Precedent, Occupational Policies, Standard Operating Procedures, Protocols, and Codes of Conduct with work being managed, rather than supervised, and outcomes assessed at regular intervals.

Highly Desirable:
• Experience of working within a multicultural framework.

• Record of having published in peer-reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books.

• A minimum of two years post-qualification experience is required for this grade of post. Candidates with less qualified experience may be considered if they can evidence substantial, relevant pre-qualification experience in adult mental health. Licences UK Driving Licence Qualifications Good honours degree in Psychology: eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.

Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical/Counselling psychology as accredited by the BPS and recognised by HCPC. Memberships British Psychological Society

Health and Care Professions Council

Competencies

You will be asked to supply evidence of meeting these competencies when you apply.

Leading and communicating

Building capability for all

Collaborating and partnering

Changing and improving

Delivering at pace

Making effective decisions

Civil Service Competency Framework Benefits Pensions Civil Service pension schemes may be available for successful candidates. Benefits Purpose built, state of the art medical centre (build completion in 2012). Small cohesive team. Diverse military population. Pleasant working environment. Good teamwork ethos. Free Parking. Heavily subsidised Gym Membership. Membership of a Government Pension Scheme. Membership of a Military Mess available. Onsite coffee shop. Excellent public transport links. Allowances N/A The post does not offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package.