About this role
Job summary
Are you committed to making a positive change and empowering people with co-occurring drug and alcohol and mental health needs to achieve a better quality of life? Would you like to work for MPFT / Inclusion, an award-winning NHS provider of addiction treatment service in England and part of a forward thinking, nationally leading and innovative NHS trust?
MPFT/ Inclusion has an exciting opportunity for a passionate and caring individual to join our team within the Intensive Co-Occurring Needs [ICoN] service, which has been highlighted as an area of good practice by Dame Carole Black amongst others, which offers support to those with complex co-occurring needs. Within South Staffordshire there is shared commitment to develop better access and outcomes for those with co-occurring drug and alcohol and mental health needs with an established project board to oversee the delivery and enable integration and cultural and system change. The ICoN service has been reviewed and is awaiting direction from the project board on how it will support the system going forwards and creates an exciting time for the right person to lead the changes.
ICoN is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Principal Psychologist to join our dynamic team. This innovative post is a jointly funded positioned between secondary care mental health services in South Staffordshire, MPFT and Inclusion Services.
Main duties of the job
o To beresponsible for and lead the provision of a psychology service to adults accessing mental health or community drug & alcohol services. This is to incorporate complex assessments leading to psychological formulations of distress; recommendations for treatment options and evaluation and delivery of interventions.
o As a senior clinician with specialist post-qualification training, the post holder will take responsibility for development of a specific area of psychological knowledge within the MPFT / Inclusion psychology team. This may include leading or contributing to training, supervision and governance aspects of the specific therapeutic model or approach.
o To supervise and support the psychological assessment and therapy provided by other psychologists and other clinical members of the team who provide psychologically informed care and treatment.
o To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service/team.
o To utilise research and audit skills to guide service development.
About us
Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.
We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.
We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.
We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.
Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications
Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.
Job description Job responsibilities
We believe that the individuals and families who use our services should receive high quality, committed and inclusive care, realising all the benefits a modern NHS organisation can provide.We work with patients and our staff teams to achieve the best outcomes we can. We invest heavily in training and development, and the wellbeing of our people, both staff and service users is central to who we are.
Here at MPFT, we are proud of the comprehensive wellbeing and lifestyle support offer available, in addition to in-house training and coaching support. Our services are robustly governed, evidence-based, inclusive, and designed and provided in conjunction with service users. We are committed to providing the best service we can, and if you share our values, we want you on our team!
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification. A summary is provided below:
To provide a clinical psychology service to patients, with moderate to severe mental health problems, liaising as appropriate with relevant local mental health services. To work with clients alone as necessary, or to work jointly with others depending on the relevant risk assessment. To provide expert psychological assessment, formulation and therapy to an exceptionally high standard to patients with a range of mental health problems. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals and groups, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. To liaise with relevant professionals within inpatient and community settings, coordinating the delivery of psychology services for adults within the localities where services are provided. To provide expertise, advice and support to facilitate the effective and appropriate provision of psychological care by all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
Person Specification
Training Essential
Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice or therapy HCPC registration as a practitioner (clinical/counselling/forensic) psychologist
Experience Essential
Must have substantial experience of working as a qualified practitioner psychologist at a highly specialist level. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity, including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing difficulties Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan.
Desirable
Prior experience of working in drug & alcohol services
Skills & Knowledge Essential
Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.
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 Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address Foundation House
St Georges Hospital Site
Stafford
ST16 3SR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)