Consultant Clinical Psychologist Clinical Lead Gambling Service in Rhyl

This is a very exciting and rewarding opportunity to help make a real difference to the people of Wales, improving access to specialist support and evidence-based treatments for those affected by gambling-related harm across Wales. This new Band 8C Consultant Clinical Psychologist Clinical Lead leadership post will be at the forefront and key clinical lead in the treatment arm of a very new and developing All Wales Gambling Service, the first of its kind in Wales. The service is being developed to ensure timely, equitable, and compassionate support, and evidence psychological treatment with a focus on accessibility and early intervention.

There is already a Gambling Service team forming of fantastic MDT colleagues to work with in this exciting new development. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

This new leadership post will develop and lead this exciting new service alongside these MDT colleagues. The core responsibilities will be to provide strategic and clinical leadership in the planning, systematic provision, and review of psychological services within the All Wales Gambling Service and to provide wider clinical leadership for the service and team including clinical supervision. The post holder will have responsibility for the initial recruitment and then professional, clinical, and operational leadership of all aligned psychological staff, including psychologists, CBT psychological therapists, assistant psychologists, and trainee clinical psychologists within the All Wales Gambling Service.

There will be a requirement to develop, clinically lead and deliver evidence-based treatment pathways and protocols, including group and individual psychological interventions and therapies, as well as providing specialist assessments and clinical advice to the team.

Working for our organization

If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales. Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and ‘Proud to Lead’ competence framework. Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the “Disability Confident Employer” scheme.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

The successful post holder will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, working collaboratively with experts by experience, MDT colleagues within the service and with wider services, and NHS Performance & Improvement. The post holder will clinically lead the development of all psychological interventions, and related staff training, support and supervision structures for the service. The post holder will also play a lead role in research and evaluation within the service.

We are looking for an experienced, resilient, adaptable, and highly motivated Psychologist to lead this new All Wales Gambling service. This is a permanent post. The successful post holder will be well supported with professional support and line management from the BCUHB Director of Psychology & Psychological Services and support from aligned colleagues such as the BCUHB SMS Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

This new service has been developed by BCUHB and the MDT team base is within North Wales, although there will be an opportunity to work virtually and flexibly as the service delivery model is to work virtually with people across Wales. The successful candidate will be joining a friendly and welcoming new Gambling Service MDT and a friendly and welcoming BCUHB Psychology & Psychological Services Directorate.

The BCUHB Psychology & Psychological Services Directorate will provide excellent opportunities for peer support, supervision and CPD opportunities including the opportunity to join a Consultant Psychologists peer group, and has excellent clinical and research links with Bangor University School of Psychology, the North Wales Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Training Programme, and Bangor University CBT Training Programme. The post holder will therefore be well supported and mentored, with opportunities for contributing to training and research as well as ongoing advancement and further training for themselves in this specialist area with links with Gambling colleagues in the rest of the UK.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Good Honours degree in Psychology.
• Eligibility for BPS Chartered status.
• Registration with HCPC as a Clinical Psychologist.
• Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
• Clinical supervision training for supervising Doctoral trainees.
• Attendance at formal management and leadership training programmes.
• Doctoral level advanced specialist knowledge of clinical psychology theory and practice, psychological therapies and their application, neuropsychological and psychometric assessment and interpretation, research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practised within clinical psychology.
• Attendance at training events/courses and pursuit of supervised self-directed study in specialist field of Gambling addiction and treatment, including in relevant psychological therapies (e.g. CBT, EMDR, ACT).
• Substantial experience of application of this knowledge.
• Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to Gambling addiction and treatment.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development as required by HCPC.

Desirable Criteria

• Advanced training in research design and methodology.
• Record of publications in peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or book.