Clinical Psychologist @ Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Band 7 Clinical Psychologist to join our Psychology Team within Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, a partnership between Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Alzheimer's Society.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people living with dementia and their families and carers across Bristol.

You will work across our multidisciplinary community and Care Home Liaison teams, providing specialist psychological assessment, formulation and interventions. Your work will be varied and rewarding, supporting people experiencing psychological distress, helping colleagues understand complex presentations, and contributing to neuropsychological assessments and diagnostic processes.

You will join a small, supportive Psychology Team working within a larger, collaborative multidisciplinary service. Alongside direct clinical work, you will have opportunities to contribute to clinical consultation, supervision, staff training, reflective practice and service development.

We are looking for someone who is curious, collaborative and committed to promoting psychologically informed, person-centred dementia care. You will be supported to develop your specialist skills while helping shape and strengthen psychological provision across the service.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and interventions for people living with dementia, their families and carers across Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service.

Key responsibilities will include

• Providing specialist psychological assessments and evidence-based interventions for people experiencing psychological distress, adjustment difficulties and behaviours that challenge in the context of dementia.
• Contributing to neuropsychological assessments and multidisciplinary diagnostic processes, particularly where presentations are complex or diagnostic uncertainty exists.
• Working collaboratively with Community and Care Home Liaison teams, offering psychological consultation, formulation and guidance to support person-centred care.
• Providing clinical supervision, training and reflective practice opportunities to colleagues, assistant psychologists and other staff as appropriate.
• Supporting the development and delivery of psychologically informed interventions, including individual, family and group approaches.
• Contributing to service development, clinical governance, audit and evaluation to maintain high standards of psychological care.

The postholder will work autonomously within professional guidelines, with regular clinical supervision and support from the Psychology Lead.

About us

About Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Devon Partnership NHS Trust provides mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, alongside specialist and secure services across the South West and nationally. We are committed to delivering high-quality, safe and compassionate care, working collaboratively with patients, families and carers.

Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service is a partnership between Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Alzheimer's Society, providing support to people living with dementia and their families across Bristol.

Our multidisciplinary teams work collaboratively across community, care home and diagnostic pathways, promoting person-centred and psychologically informed care.

You will join a friendly and supportive Psychology Team within a wider multidisciplinary service. We value collaboration, reflective practice, shared learning and staff wellbeing, with opportunities for clinical supervision, training and professional development.

Our values

We are committed to compassion, dignity, respect, inclusion and improving people's lives. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, including those with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities.

We are a Disability Confident Leader, and applications for part-time and flexible working will be considered wherever possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

• Communicate complex and sensitive information about psychological assessment, formulation and intervention clearly, compassionately and in ways that meet the communication and cognitive needs of people living with dementia and their families and carers.
• Build effective working relationships with people using the service, relatives, care home staff and professionals across community, Care Home Liaison and diagnostic pathways.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues, sharing psychological understanding and supporting person-centred care through consultation, joint working and reflective practice.
• Communicate assessment findings, risk considerations and treatment recommendations sensitively, including where there are differing views or high levels of distress.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• Undertake specialist psychological assessments, integrating information from clinical interviews, observations, psychometric measures, collateral histories and other relevant sources.
• Develop evidence-based psychological formulations and make skilled decisions about intervention, risk management, onward referral and discharge.
• Contribute to neuropsychological assessments and multidisciplinary diagnostic discussions, particularly where cognitive presentations are complex or diagnosis is uncertain.
• Apply psychological theory and research to understand emotional distress, adjustment to dementia and behaviours that challenge, taking account of physical, social, cultural and environmental influences.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Plan, organise and prioritise an autonomous clinical workload, balancing direct assessment and intervention with consultation, supervision, training and service development.
• Coordinate assessment and intervention plans with individuals, families, carers and multidisciplinary colleagues, ensuring appropriate review and follow-up.
• Contribute to the planning and development of psychological provision across Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• Provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions for people living with dementia and for families and carers experiencing psychological distress.
• Deliver individual, family and group interventions where appropriate, adapting approaches to cognitive, communication and other needs.
• Offer consultation and formulation-led support to Community and Care Home Liaison teams, including work with care staff to understand and respond to distress and behaviours that challenge.
• Contribute to complex cognitive and neuropsychological assessment, working alongside other professionals in the diagnostic pathway.
• Provide psychological advice and guidance to service users, carers, families, staff and partner agencies to inform care planning and clinical decision-making.
• Assess and manage clinical risk within the remit of the post, following Trust procedures and safeguarding responsibilities.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Work in accordance with Trust policies, professional guidance and relevant clinical governance requirements.
• Contribute to the development, evaluation and improvement of psychologically informed pathways, interventions and service delivery.
• Support the Psychology Lead and wider service in implementing agreed service developments and quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

• Use clinical resources, psychological assessment materials, equipment and service time responsibly, in accordance with Trust procedures.

Responsibility for Human Resources, Supervision, Training and Management

• Receive regular clinical and professional supervision in accordance with Trust policy and HCPC standards, drawing on the expertise of senior colleagues.
• Provide supervision to Assistant Psychologists and Trainee Clinical Psychologists as appropriate, and support the learning and development of staff and learners within the service.
• Offer consultation, teaching, training and reflective practice to multidisciplinary colleagues, promoting psychologically informed approaches to dementia care.
• Contribute to staff support and wellbeing initiatives and to a positive, collaborative learning culture.
• Undertake relevant continuing professional development and maintain the skills and competencies required for the role.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

• Maintain timely, accurate and confidential clinical records, assessments, reports and correspondence in line with Trust and professional standards.
• Use Trust information systems and communication channels appropriately, including email and electronic patient records.
• Collect and record relevant clinical activity and outcome information to support safe care and service evaluation.

Responsibility for Research and Development

• Use current psychological theory, evidence and research to inform clinical practice and service improvement.
• Contribute to relevant audit, research, quality improvement and service evaluation activities, including the evaluation of psychological interventions.
• Support research and evaluation projects undertaken by Assistant Psychologists or trainees as appropriate.

Freedom to Act

• Practise autonomously within HCPC standards, professional guidelines, Trust policies and the limits of personal competence, while remaining accountable for clinical decisions.
• Exercise professional responsibility for the quality and governance of own psychological practice, seeking supervision and consultation when needed.
• Provide specialist psychological advice and consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues, families, carers and other services, under the professional leadership of the Psychology Lead.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and clinical skills relevant to dementia, older people's mental health, psychological therapies and neuropsychological assessment.
• Undertake other appropriate duties consistent with the responsibilities and level of the post, responding flexibly to the evolving needs of Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service.

Person Specification

Planning and Organisational Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of specialist psychological services and the role of Clinical Psychology within NHS multidisciplinary settings.
• Understanding of psychological approaches to dementia care, including psychological distress, adjustment to diagnosis and behaviours that challenge.
• Knowledge of evidence-based psychological therapies for people experiencing severe or complex mental health difficulties.
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively.
• Ability to integrate complex clinical information, develop psychological formulations and make sound clinical judgements.
• Ability to adapt psychological approaches to meet individual cognitive, communication, cultural and accessibility needs.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing clinical demands.
• Ability to work independently, use initiative and contribute effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to facilitate discussions, consultations and presentations with different professional groups.
• Ability to manage clinical uncertainty, maintain professional resilience and make effective use of supervision.
• Competence in using information technology and electronic clinical record systems.

Desirable

• Knowledge of service development, quality improvement and project management approaches.
• Knowledge of specialist neuropsychological assessment methods and their application to complex dementia presentations.
• Knowledge of psychological and systemic approaches to supporting families, carers and care home staff.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of specialist psychological services and the application of Clinical Psychology within NHS multidisciplinary settings.
• Knowledge of evidence-based psychological assessment, formulation and therapeutic interventions for people experiencing severe and complex mental health difficulties.
• Understanding of psychological approaches to working with older adults and people living with dementia, including psychological distress, adjustment to diagnosis and behaviours that challenge.

Desirable

• Knowledge of specialist neuropsychological assessment approaches and their application to complex cognitive presentations.
• Knowledge of systemic and psychological approaches to supporting families, carers and care home staff.
• Knowledge of psychologically informed approaches to staff consultation, reflective practice and multidisciplinary working.

Physical Skills

Essential

• Ability to use IT equipment and electronic clinical record systems effectively.
• Ability to administer and score standardised psychological and neuropsychological assessments, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
• Ability to undertake the practical requirements of psychological assessment and intervention across clinical, community and care home settings, with reasonable adjustments where required.

Experience

Essential

• Doctoral qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent recognised qualification) and HCPC registration, or eligibility for registration upon qualification.
• Training or experience in working with older adults, including people living with dementia or experiencing cognitive difficulties.
• Experience of undertaking neuropsychological or cognitive assessments with people presenting with memory difficulties.
• Experience of working under clinical supervision within secondary care older adult mental health services.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions for people experiencing complex psychological difficulties.
• Knowledge of psychological approaches to dementia care, including the assessment and management of psychological distress and behaviours that challenge.
• Ability to integrate complex clinical information from multiple sources to develop psychological formulations and inform clinical decision-making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to service users, families, carers and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Knowledge and understanding of diversity, inclusion and health inequalities, and the ability to adapt psychological practice to individual needs.
• Ability to work autonomously within professional guidelines while contributing effectively to multidisciplinary team working.
• Strong organisational, planning and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing clinical demands.
• Ability to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty, demonstrate reflective practice and make appropriate use of supervision.

Desirable

• Further specialist training in neuropsychological assessment and the assessment of cognitive disorders.
• Additional training in one or more evidence-based psychological therapies.
• Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment and interventions across a range of clinical settings, including community, outpatient, primary care or inpatient services.
• Experience of teaching, training or providing clinical supervision to other healthcare professionals.
• Experience of providing psychological consultation and formulation to multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of contributing to service development, quality improvement or project management.
• Experience of contributing to clinical audit, research or service evaluation.

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctorate/Masters level or equivalent qualification in Clinical Psychology
• Eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Further training or specialist experience in neuropsychological assessment and cognitive disorders.
• Additional training in evidence-based psychological therapies, such as CBT, ACT, CFT or systemic approaches.
• Experience of providing psychological assessment and interventions across community, outpatient or care home settings.
• Experience of working with people living with dementia who experience distress or behaviours that challenge.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision, consultation, teaching or training to multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Experience of facilitating psychologically informed groups or reflective practice sessions.
• Experience of contributing to service development, clinical audit, research or service evaluation.
• Experience of working collaboratively with families, carers and wider professional networks.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. (e.g. people who may present with challenging behaviour; personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities).
• Masters level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multi-variate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Essential

• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive clinical information clearly and compassionately.
• Ability to adapt communication to meet the cognitive, sensory, cultural and communication needs of people living with dementia.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with people living with dementia, their families and carers.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively within multidisciplinary teams and across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Ability to communicate psychological formulations, assessment findings and intervention recommendations to service users, carers and professionals.
• Ability to manage sensitive or challenging conversations professionally, demonstrating empathy, diplomacy and respect.
• Ability to provide psychological consultation and guidance to colleagues, supporting psychologically informed and person-centred care.

Desirable

• Experience of facilitating multidisciplinary discussions, case consultations or reflective practice sessions.
• Experience of communicating psychological concepts through teaching, training or presentations to different professional groups.

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.

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

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service

Brookland Hall

CONDUIT PLACE

BRISTOL

BS2 9RU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)