Clinical/Counselling Psychologist (Older People) | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Chelmsford

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join our innovative Older People’s Psychological Services team in Mid Essex and contribute to making a meaningful difference to the lives of older people and their families. Our recent team assessment demonstrated that we are an effective team with a compassionate, safe and supportive team culture. We ensure protected time and space for reflection and team development. We warmly invite you to join us.

We have 1.2wte to offer, so welcome full-time or part-time applicants (job plans will be adjusted accordingly). Newly qualified clinical/counselling psychologists or those who will be qualifying and achieving HCPC status soon are invited to apply; employment will be at band 7 initially with an appraisal linked developmental plan to enable progression to Band 8a once essential criteria have been met.

Older People’s Specialist Mental Health Services in Mid Essex consist of locality based community mental health teams (including memory assessment and support services), urgent care home treatment teams and an inpatient ward. Each post will be based primarily in one community MDT or the inpatient ward, whilst working across the pathway to enable greater continuity of care for service-users.

You will provide direct psychological assessment (including neuropsychological assessment) and interventions for older people with complex mental health difficulties and adults with neurodegenerative dementia (and their families and wider systems) across community settings and inpatient settings. You will provide group interventions, attend multi-disciplinary meetings/ward rounds and work collaboratively with our multi-disciplinary colleagues, providing training, consultation and reflective practice groups. You will supervise an assistant psychologist and trainee psychologists.

You will receive supervision from a Principal Clinical Psychologist and peer support from colleagues across Trust Older People’s Psychological Services. Clinical research, teaching and specialised interests are actively encouraged and you will have opportunities to contribute to service improvement and develop your clinical leadership skills.

We are keen to hear from you if you have a passion for working in a trauma informed way and have a collaborative team focused approach. We are an expanding team of qualified, trainee and assistant psychologists and an arts psychotherapist, passionate about working with older adults and challenging ageism. As a team, we are committed to taking a strength-based approach to scaffold individual, team and service development. We have provided tailored CPD, e.g. neuropsychology assessment for neurodegenerative dementia, specialist supervision (neuropsychology, EMDR) and supported team members to accomplish specialist training. We will support you to develop the various aspects of this post in line with your developmental needs.

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who share our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including:

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Access to Staff Networks, including: BAME; LGBTQ+; Faith; Carers; Disabilities

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request.

For more detailed information about the post, please see attached Job Description and Person Specification.