About this role
Job summary
37.5 hours per week. This is an exciting development opportunity for a clinical or forensic psychologist with an interest in working in in-patient settings for people with complex mental health challenges. You will be supported to develop advanced knowledge and skills in working with people with complex psychosis, including accessing additional training in relevant therapeutic approaches, such as CBTp and Family Intervention. You will also be supported to develop skills in leadership and consultancy through regular mentoring with a consultant clinical psychologist.
A competency framework is in place to support progression to 8a when competencies have been achieved; timeframes are likely to depend on previous experience, and there is an expectation that required competencies will be achieved within 18 months. Progress will be reviewed regularly and addressed through organisational processes if competencies are not met.
You will join a friendly, supportive team of psychologists working in in-patient and specialist psychosis community services. We have a strong culture of being trauma-informed and welcome creative approaches to service delivery. Within the wider organisation there are over 30 psychologists and 70 psychological therapists. We have a commitment to making Livewell a great place to work as a psychologist, where everyone has access to great CPD and supervision, kind colleagues, career progression and a focus on improved outcomes for our service users.
Main duties of the job
The role includes work on Greenfields Unit, a 9 bedded womens recovery ward, and The Cove, a 9 bedded mens recovery service with an additional 6 stepdown beds on the same site. Syrena will be relocating from Plymstock to the Mount Gould Hospital site, marking a period of service development.
The units support people with severe and longstanding mental health difficulties, including stepdown from secure and out of area placements.
The role includes delivering psychological interventions, supporting psychologically informed care and contributing to service quality. This may involve individual and group work with service users and families, supporting team formulations, providing consultation, training, reflective practice, debrief, and contributing to service development.
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
To provide a psychological service to the in-patient recovery units, including assessment, risk assessment, formulation and delivering psychological interventions to service users and their families in either individual or group formats, according to need.
To engage service users with complex mental health difficulties and support them in considering how psychological approaches to their difficulties could support their recovery, working to overcome resistance.
To monitor and evaluate psychological interventions using appropriate measures.
To maintain accurate clinical records and record data as required by the organisation.
To communicate both orally and through letters and reports, highly complex information concerning assessment, formulation and intervention plans to service users, professional colleagues and to family members, as appropriate,
To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to service users formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.
To 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 appropriate.
To liaise effectively with professionals working in other service areas or organisations to support increased understanding of the psychological needs of service users and contribute to service users making successful transitions and that appropriate support is available to them.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Band 7: Experience of providing evidence based psychological interventions to adults with a range of mental health problems. Band 7: Experience of working in mental health services Band 7: Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams. Band 7: Experience with routine outcome monitoring, audit and clinically related research. Band 7: Evidence of engaging in continuing professional development.
Desirable
Band 7: Experience of working with adults with severe and complex mental health problems. Band 7: Experience of working in in-patient mental health services. Band 7: Supervision of other professions. Band 7: Delivering teaching or training. Band 7: Service innovation and development
Knowledge Essential
Band 7: Knowledge of evidenced based psychological therapies relevant to the clinical service. Band 7: Knowledge and understanding of complex mental health issues and presentations and the role of in-patient recovery services. Band 7: Knowledge of child protection/safeguarding issues, understanding of the personalised care framework and the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation. Band 7: Working knowledge of clinical governance, including relevant approaches and tools.
Qualifications Essential
Band 7: Accredited postgraduate qualification in clinical or forensic psychology conferring eligibility for Health Care Professionals Council registration as a practitioner psychologist, or anticipating becoming registered at the end of an approved programme of study. Systemic family therapy, Mindfulness based therapies, CAT, DBT, Mentalisation, Schema Therapy
Desirable
Band 7: Accreditation in NICE approved therapies relevant to people with complex psychosis (eg: CBT, Family Intervention)
Specific Skills Essential
Band 7: Ability to work autonomously and as part of an MDT. Band 7: High level of spoken and written communication and presentation skills. Band 7: Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients with complex mental health needs and presentations. Band 7: Ability to communicate and liaise effectively with practitioners, secondary mental health services and other agencies. Band 7: Ability to respond effectively with service users and carers who may be distressed angry, confrontational or violent. Band 7: Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively. Band 7: Ability to manage own caseload and time, to work under pressure and set priorities. Band 7: Ability to maintain resilience while experiencing frequent exposure to highly distressing and emotional situations. Band 7: Ability to provide effective support to other professionals in managing the emotional demands of their work. Band 7: Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance. Band 7 : Computer literacy. Band 7 : Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
Desirable
Band 7: Skills in group work.
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 Greenfields Unit
Mount Gould Hospital
Plymouth
Devon
PL47QD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)