About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our Community Mental Health service as a Band 8a practitioner. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver a high-quality, specialist psychological service to adults and older adults with complex mental health needs within a progressive and integrated community setting.
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will provide psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions to individuals presenting with co-morbid physical, mental and emotional health difficulties. You will play a key role in supporting service users across community pathways, contributing to collaborative care with primary care networks, voluntary sector partners and wider agencies.
This role offers the opportunity to lead on service development, support innovation within community mental health transformation, and contribute to the delivery of patient-centred, holistic care.
Main duties of the job
Deliver highly specialised psychological assessment, formulation and therapy for adults and older adults with complex mental health presentationsProvide expert clinical input into multi-disciplinary team discussions, care planning and risk assessmentWork collaboratively with primary care networks and partner agencies to deliver integrated, bio-psycho-social approaches to careExercise autonomous clinical judgement in managing complex cases while seeking appropriate consultation where neededContribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of psychological interventions and service improvementsPromote evidence-based practice in line with NICE guidance and clinical governance frameworksProvide supervision, training and support to junior staff, trainees and colleagues across teamsParticipate in audit, research and service evaluation activities to inform high-quality careMaintain accurate and timely clinical records and documentation using electronic systems
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities As a HCPC-registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, you will hold responsibility for delivering a comprehensive psychological service within community mental health settings. This includes the provision of specialist assessment, formulation and therapeutic interventions for individuals with complex and enduring mental health difficulties, including those with co-existing physical and psychological conditions.You will work as an autonomous practitioner, managing your own caseload and providing clinical leadership within the team. A key element of the role involves close partnership working with a wide range of stakeholders, including community mental health teams, primary care colleagues, service managers and voluntary sector organisations, ensuring coordinated and patient-centred care delivery.The post holder will contribute to service development and transformation within community mental health, supporting innovative approaches that challenge traditional service boundaries. You will actively participate in service evaluation, audit and research, promoting the use of evidence-based interventions and contributing to strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives.In addition, you will provide professional supervision and leadership to less experienced psychologists and trainees, supporting workforce development and enhancing psychological knowledge within the wider multi-disciplinary team. You will also contribute to teaching and training activities to build capability across services.The role requires strong clinical expertise, excellent communication skills and the ability to manage complex, emotionally demanding situations. You will be expected to uphold professional standards, including HCPC and BPS codes of practice, and adhere to Trust policies relating to safeguarding, confidentiality, equality and diversity, and clinical governance.This is a rewarding opportunity for a skilled psychologist looking to make a meaningful impact within a collaborative, forward-thinking community mental health service.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered with HCPC. Qualified Clinical / Counselling Psychologist (D.Clin. Psychol or equivalent) & eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status in the British Psychological Society. Further training or experience in clinical specialism Further training in related area
Desirable
Further training in at least one (other) psychological therapy IT skills
Experience Essential
Experience of work in adult mental health services and working with people with severe and complex mental health needs. Experience of teaching/training and supervision. Experience in undertaking leadership roles within psychology / mental health services in the NHS and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency contexts. Experience of working with complex trauma and with systems working around people who have experience trauma Experience of working with both adults and older adults.
Desirable
Experience of neuropsychological assessment and awareness of impact of neuropsychological symptoms on presentation
Additional Criteria Essential
Broad knowledge of specialist services and of services in the NHS where psychology is commonly applied Extensive knowledge of the skills, practice and knowledge base of clinical psychology Knowledge of the policy context of specialist psychological services within the organisation and of clinical leadership arrangements in mental health services Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address The Bridge
Glastonbury Road
Wells
Somerset
BA5 1TJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)