Band 7/8a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist - West Birmingham CMHTs

We have an exciting vacancy that has arisen for newly qualified or early career Clinical/Counselling Psychologist within our Integrated Community Care and Recovery (ICCR) Services working with adults with mental health difficulties in CMHT settings. This is a 0.6 WTE (3 days/week) post at Orsborn House in Handsworth close to the centre of Birmingham. This is an ideal post to apply your full range of psychological skills and knowledge including consultation, training, supervision, service development, leadership and research in addition to direct clinical work.

We are looking for a suitably experienced Clinical Psychologist. Based on experience, this post can either be offered at a Band 7/8a Preceptorship or Band 8a arrangement. Applicants from final year trainees for the Preceptorship 7/8a are welcome. It is a stimulating time in the service as the post-holders will be part of multi-professional teams supporting the Transformation of our Community Services in BSMHFT as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The post offer is accessible by frequent travel routes including trains and buses.

We welcome applications from those looking to build upon their clinical skills with a wide range of presenting difficulties post qualification or those with more experience who are keen to develop specialisms and greater leadership roles to make a difference in the community.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed and skilled clinician who can work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, to provide a range of clinical services. The individual will have excellent opportunities to gain experience of multi-level and integrated service provision and to further develop skills of complex case assessment, formulation and the application of evidence based psychological interventions, both individual and in groups. You should have experience of working with service users with complex mental health and behavioural needs; additionally to be familiar with the needs of a diverse community and working in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation.

We have an established track record in service innovation supporting a diverse range of clinical and academic interest, with time for research and teaching related activities built into many of our psychological professions job plans. There are clear career paths for psychologists in the service who join us, and we are committed to your development through training and supervision.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation. Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people’s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

• Training/qualifications: Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology. Additional qualifications in an accredited therapy.
• Experience: Significant post qualification experience of specialist psychological assessment and individual and group based treatment of clients with complex difficulties across adult secondary or tertiary care settings. Experience working in Adult Secondary or Tertiary Mental Health services (for Preceptorship). Experience of working with service users with personality difficulties/complex trauma/psychosis. Experience of running group based interventions for clinical problems. Post qualification experience and/or training in supervision.
• Knowledge and Skills: Skills in formulation of problems from psychological perspective and implementation of interventions appropriate for use with complex presenting problems. High level knowledge of theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
• Personal: Ability to interact with and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health difficulties. Experience of working closely with others in an MDT setting.

Our Trust is committed to treating individuals fairly and ensuring they have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, even if this means doing things differently for different people sometimes. We are working hard to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity within Birmingham and Solihull and that our services meet the needs of all diverse service users and carers. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

As part of our safe recruitment practice pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. As part of the selection process you may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, however all cases of criminal record history are dealt with on a case by case basis. Please note, if applicable for your role you will be required to cover the cost of your DBS certificate. This will be deducted from your salary over 3 months. You will also be required to sign up to the DBS Update Service before commencement with the Trust. The Trust will reimburse this. You will be contractually obliged to maintain your subscription. All successful applicants will be required to complete the Trust’s induction programme. The Fundamental (Statutory and Mandatory) training will be in an e-learning format. You will be required to complete training modules online (approx. 9-14 hours depending on post) by the end of your second week with us.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process we may contact you via email to advise you of the interview details. Please ensure you access your email account from which you applied regularly once the position has closed. Our selection process may involve more than one interview or assessment.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, please ensure that you check if this role meets the eligibility criteria for sponsorship. Non UK /Republic of Ireland candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here.

The minimum salary threshold for a Health and Social Care is £25,000 and for the Skilled Worker route is £38,700. If the starting salary for this role is below this, we will not be able to provide sponsorship. Relocation expenses may be reimbursed subject to eligibility. The policy provides for reimbursement up to £8,000.

Please note - if you are applying for a role within Police custody, due to Police Vetting requirements you must have been a UK resident for the last years.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

If you have any questions or if you would like to arrange a visit to Orsborn House, please get in contact.