Senior Clinical Psychologist in Carlisle

An opportunity has arisen for a Senior Clinical Psychologist to join the Memory and Later Life Psychology Service in North Cumbria. The service provides specialist psychological assessment and intervention for older people with cognitive impairment and/or associated age-related mental health difficulties. The post holder will undertake highly specialist psychological assessment, including neuropsychological assessment to aid the diagnosis of dementia, and evidence-based therapy for associated mental health difficulties. They will have specialist knowledge and skills for working with this client group. The post holder will be joining a supportive multi-disciplinary team consisting of community practitioners, occupational therapists, nurses, and psychiatrists and will be part of the older adult clinical psychology service. The post holder will also provide supervision to trainee clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists.

Main duties of the job:

• Neuropsychological assessment to aid differential diagnosis of dementia and post diagnostic support.
• The provision of evidence-based therapies to individuals with mental health difficulties and/or cognitive impairment.
• Indirect work including formulation and consultation with MDT colleagues.
• Supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists.

Person Specification:

Education and Qualification:

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and Neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the HCPC and British Psychological Society.
• HCPC registered practitioner psychologist.
• Desirable: Additional qualification in a therapeutic model, evidence-based for use with this client group.
• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the client group.
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex multivariable data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Formal training in clinical supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and other staff.
• Substantial post qualification experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, and inpatient settings.
• Desirable: Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

Skills and Competencies:

• Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self-management and use of the clinical supervision process.
• Specialist skills in evidence based psychological interventions.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
• Skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.