About this role
Job summary
The post is for 21 hours a week on a fixed term contract until September 30th 2027.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative psychologist who is passionate about working with people with learning disabilities.
The CLDT is a Mon-Fri 9-5 service covering the whole city of Plymouth. You will join a supportive team of psychologists within a psychologically minded co-located MDT with commitments to CPD and supervision, opportunities to develop your skills and improve outcomes for service users.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced psychologist. The post holder will be confident and able to provide formulation, assessment and intervention (at a 1:1 and systemic level) to understand and address a wide range of presenting issues for people with learning disabilities, their families, and the systems around them. They will show or develop skill in undertaking complex assessments including capacity, risk and neuropsychological assessments, and will also have an understanding of trauma informed working. They will apply or develop compassionate leadership skills to support the CLDT team and providers.
Main duties of the job
Our cohesive team of Psychologists provide a specialist Clinical Psychology service to service users aged 18+ with a Learning Disability. The person will be responsible for formulation, assessment & intervention with their own caseload of clients with a variety of complex issues including mental ill-health, risky & distressed behaviours, trauma history impacting on personality, autism spectrum disorders & neurological problems including dementia. This includes families & paid carers in a wide range of independent sector provision. There will be opportunities to contribute to groups & innovative clinical interventions, as part of a full MDT. You will be encouraged to focus on professional development & research in relation to people with learning disabilities, including co-produced research. You will contribute to teaching & clinical supervision at the CLDT & at the university of Plymouth.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description Job responsibilities
Dimensions and Context of Role
The CLDT is a Mon to Fri 9-5 service covering the whole city of Plymouth. The CLDT is a full multi-disciplinary team, where Psychology is very valued. Whilst the CLDT is co-located, including with social care colleagues, the work requires liaison with many different independent sector providers of residential, day and respite care.
We have strong links with the University of Plymouth, including the provision of placements for trainees on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course and contribution to teaching on the programme. We also take annual industrial placement students from the Undergraduate programme.
The post-holder is an autonomous practitioner covering the whole catchment area. They are required to undertake highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions with people with learning disabilities, and work closely with the MDT.
The successful post-holder would be joining a cohesive Psychology Team that includes two Lead Clinical Psychologists, two other qualified Psychologists, and honorary and paid assistants. We also work closely with our PBS colleagues and wider MDT.
Job Summary
To provide assessment & treatment of own caseload of clients with variety of complex problems including mental ill-health, behaviours that challenge, personality difficulties, autism spectrum disorders and neurological problems. This particularly includes their families & paid carers in a wide range of independent sector provision
To identify & provide opportunities for other members of the multi-disciplinary team to gain understanding of how psychological knowledge can support their work with service users, through using developing psychological formulations with team members, participating in multi-disciplinary meetings and decision making or other opportunities for providing consultancy and advice
To contribute to teaching for trainee clinical psychologists & qualified members of clinical psychology and other professions in Livewell Southwest
To contribute to research & development projects relevant to furthering both clinical knowledge & service evaluation and delivery
Responsible for working within the Guidelines for Professional Practice of the Health & Care Professions Council & the British Psychological Society Division of Clinical Psychology, & for adhering to policies & procedures of Livewell Southwest
Responsible for participating in an annual appraisal with Psychology Lead plus a group manager
Responsible for continuing professional development (CPD) in line with the annual appraisal Professional Development Plan PDP, the Knowledge and Skills Framework KSF & the British Psychological Societys requirements for CPD Logs & Practicing Certificate
Responsible for keeping aware of & being knowledgeable about current developments within the profession of clinical psychology
Responsible for keeping up to date with legislation, national directives, policies & NICE guidelines in relation to the work
Key Tasks & Responsibilities of the Post
Clinical Skills
To be able to develop & deliver highly specialised individual treatment plans for service users with learning disabilities & complex psychological problems such as, challenging behaviour, dementia, childhood trauma, autism, personality disorders, severe and chronic depression, other mental illnessesTo use, integrate & interpret complex data from a variety of sources including psychological & neuropsychological assessments observations, functional assessments, & interviews with service users, family members & others involved in the clients careTo be able to overcome a variety of barriers to communication when working with clients who are fearful of others, unable to articulate their problems or who think within a very different frame of reference, requiring imaginative and sensitive approaches towards engagementTo possess & practice a high level of communication and relationship skills in situations of emotional distressTo contribute a psychosocial perspective within the multidisciplinary team including for those service users not directly on the psychological therapy caseload and attend individual patient reviews and risk management meetings where appropriateLiaises & works in partnership with other health service providers in the relevant areas & works with statutory and voluntary agencies in the community where appropriate dependent on the needs of service usersLiaises with professionals outside LIVEWELL SOUTHWEST in relation to professional practice (including teaching & service development)To identify & be able to complete formal psychometric assessmentsTo be able to communicate, by talking & by writing, psychological formulations & treatment plans to the client & to appropriate professional colleagues & to family members & carers, as appropriateTo have knowledge of several psychological models of understanding & managing clinical problemsTo be able to manage the emotional impact of working, often one-to-one, with people who can be in crisis and who can show high levels of arousal & can be actively self-harming or threatening to othersTo ensure receipt of clinical & personal supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines for all clinical psychologistsPolicy & Service Development
To contribute to psychological aspects of policy development within the CLDT, in line with national & local plans and policies & professional standardsTo contribute to the development & monitoring of performance of the psychology serviceTo attend the psychology meetings & other relevant meetings regularlyHuman Resources
To contribute to the development, evaluation & monitoring of the teams operational policies & services, through the deployment of professional skills in audit, service evaluation & researchTo contribute to ensuring that trainee clinical psychologists & honorary assistant psychologists within the service maintain high standards of record keepingTo maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies & issues in relation to both the specific client group & mental healthTo advise the Leads for Clinical Psychology on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressingTo ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes and coursesTeaching, training & supervision
To contribute to the supervision of trainees from the Doctoral Course in Clinical PsychologyTo provide appropriate supervision and training for Assistant and Honorary Assistant Psychologists attached to the servicesTo contribute to teaching on the postgraduate Doctoral Courses in Clinical Psychology and on pre and post qualification professional courses for other disciplines represented within Livewell Southwest as requiredTo contribute to provision of clinical supervision to non-clinical psychology members of the service as appropriateTo contribute to CPD and peer supervision sessions within the wider MDTTo prepare for and receive regular clinical supervision in individual and peer group formatsTo participate in mandatory trainingTo ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes & coursesTo work within the current British Psychological Society (Division of Clinical Psychology and Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities) Guidelines for Professional PracticeTo receive regular line management and professional leadership from the Lead for Clinical PsychologyTo participate in an annual Individual Performance Appraisal with line managerTo adhere to Livewell Southwests Policies and ProceduresResearch & Development
To conduct and supervise research and audit and evaluation relevant to the provision of specialist psychological services for people with learning disabilities, including co-produced researchTo undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking researchTo contribute to Clinical and Research Governance activity and to adhere to the highest standards of professional practiceTo contribute to project management, including complex audit, research and service evaluation projects, with colleagues within the service, to help develop service provisionTo have the capacity to use SPSS and other packages in the analysis of data and to write up the information in a meaningful format that is accessible and understood by the target audienceTo prepare and present information from audits, evaluations and research to professional audiences within and outside the organisationTo prepare papers for publication based on audit, evaluation, research and development workTo utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with team members in the CLDT and Clinical Psychology.
Information Technology
To be responsible for the maintenance and development of office systems and procedures within the clinical psychology serviceTo be able to use a range of software packages including Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint and SPSSTo ensure that SystmOne computer data bases are kept up to dateThe full Job Description and person spec can be found within the supporting documents section, including the additional information for all posts.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
- Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS. - Registered as a clinical psychologist with the HCPC
Desirable
- Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctoral level. - Specialist skills in a specific therapeutic approach.
Knowledge and skills Essential
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology. -Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management in adult with learning disabilities and/or other dependent/vulnerable/ disenfranchised groups. - Skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families and professionals both within and outside the NHS. - Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. Keyboard skills sufficient to enter data/write reports.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the psychological assessment and management of neurological problems including dementia. -Knowledge of legislation and national standards and guidelines that relate this client group. - Knowledge of the theory and practice of adapted psychological therapies used with adults with learning disabilities - Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, adults with learning disabilities - Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
Experience Essential
- Experience of assessing and treating clients in a range of care settings. - Experience of working with a wide variety of patient 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 and/or challenging behaviour.
Desirable
- Experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and their care networks or other dependent/vulnerable/ disenfranchised client groups (e.g. people with severe mental health problems). - Record of having published in peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books. - Experience of teaching, training and/or supervising. Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts. - Experience of working with adults with a learning disability in a clinically relevant setting.
Personal Essential
- Enthusiasm for working with people with learning disabilities. - Ability to work within teams and motivate others. - Ability to sit for prolonged periods during assessments, patient interviews, case conferences. while still responding and participating as required. - Ability to cope with frequent exposure to highly distressing and emotional situations. - Warmth, empathy & integrity. - Ability to work autonomously & as part of a team. - Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to hold the stress of others. - Ability to self reflect and use clinical supervision appropriately.
Desirable
- Personal experience of supporting / living with a person with disabilities
Other Essential
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentation in public, professional and academic settings. - Works to professional guidelines. - Is accountable for own professional actions and capable of interpreting broad occupational policies. Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport. - Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
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 Livewell Southwest
Address Westbourne Unit
Beacon Park Road
Plymouth
PL2 2PQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)