Senior Practitioner Psychologist

Transformationunitgm; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider in the UK is seeking clinical psychologists to join their team. The role involves providing specialist psychological services, supervising junior staff, and implementing innovative care strategies. Candidates should have a doctoral level qualification in applied psychology and experience across diverse care settings. The position promotes flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance, making it an ideal opportunity for professionals looking to make a tangible impact through their work.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience in outpatient and community settings with diverse client groups.
• Post-qualification experience in clinical supervision is preferred.
• Ability to handle complex psychological issues professionally.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychological assessments and treatment for clients.
• Supervise Band 7 and assistant psychologists.
• Implement evidence-based psychological interventions effectively.

Skills

Specialist psychological assessment

Clinical supervision

Psychological interventions

Research methodology

Education

Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology

Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist

Job description

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

To work as a member of the clinical service/ team, providing a high quality, specialist applied psychology service to clients, their families or carers. To support psychological practice within the team through consultation, supervision, formulation, leadership and training.

To participate in systematic clinical governance and to offer clinical supervision to assistant, trainee and more junior psychologists and other staff. To utilise research skills for audit, service development and research within the area served by the team/service.

Main duties of the job

To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.

To clinically and/or professionally supervise Band 7 psychologists, assistant psychologists and trainee psychologists and clinically supervise other staff as appropriate.

To carry out 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 to reach a psychological formulation.

To undertake risk assessment, formulation and management for individual clients with complex presentations and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment, formulation and management.

To be responsible for implementing a range of high-quality specialist psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams, in line with best, evidence-based practice and trust care pathways.

To provide highly specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients' formulations, diagnoses and treatment plans.

Working for our organisation

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex.

• Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed.
• Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London.
• With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK, there is plenty of opportunity for adventure.
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer operation a no smoking policy.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a comprehensive understanding and full details of the responsibilities, please refer to the Job Description document. It contains all the necessary information and should provide you with a clear overview of what is expected.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK*] as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• *For forensic psychologists working in forensic settings: Masters degree (with the award of the British Psychological Society qualification in forensic psychology or equivalent).
• Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HCPC).

Knowledge/Experience

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
• Demonstrate specialist experience gained postqualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally in the region of approximately 50 hours).
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity 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 teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience of the application of applied psychology in different cultural contexts and experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
• Experience or demonstrable knowledge of working with the particular client group served by the team/service
• Knowledge of guidance and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. However, we’ll always do our best to keep you informed as we know how much time and care goes into applying for a role.

In the event of a high number of applications, we may close this vacancy early.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.