Applied Principal Psychologist-Band 8B

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Wolverhampton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare trust is seeking a Principal Applied Psychologist based in Wolverhampton. In this role, you will lead on governance and support newly developed clinical pathways, focusing on evidence-based therapies and trauma-informed care. Collaboration with universities and multidisciplinary teams is key. The position offers opportunities for professional development and contributes to an inspiring work environment.

Benefits

Regular training opportunities

Support for professional development

Integration within a supportive team

Qualifications

• Experience working with community mental health teams.
• Ability to develop complex formulations.
• Experience managing and supporting student psychologists.

Responsibilities

• Support newly developed clinical pathways in trauma-informed care.
• Lead governance and oversight of team psychologists.
• Conduct service evaluations and strategic initiatives.

Skills

Evidence-based therapies

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Supervision and consultancy

Therapeutic interests (CBT, DBT, EMDR)

Education

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Job description

Overview

This role is within the Mental Health division of BCHFT. The MH Division is the largest clinical division in the Trust and includes Community, Urgent care, and Clinical Health Psychology services. Although the role is Wolverhampton based, psychology resources may be supplemented in other adult community mental health localities in the future, which may require moving the base to a different geographical area.

As a Principal Applied Psychologist in Wolverhampton South CMHT you will work alongside colleagues and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist to support newly developed clinical pathways and trauma-informed care. Evidence-based therapies for psychological trauma, personality disorder, psychosis and bipolar disorder and other secondary care level mental health presentations are anticipated. There is an opportunity to join the DBT pathway. You will be part of an integrated team and will take a lead on governance and oversight of the psychologists and psychological practitioners in the team. You will work alongside another Principal Applied Psychologist (in the Wolverhampton North CMHT) to achieve these aims, taking a lead on strategic and service development initiatives, service evaluations and other projects as agreed with your professional leads.

We are linked closely to Birmingham, Aston and Wolverhampton Universities. The successful candidate will support and manage student psychologists on placements within the team, including undergraduates, masters students and trainee clinical, counselling and forensic psychologists.

Members of our psychology team have a wide range of therapeutic interests including psychodynamic, CAT, DBT, CBT and EMDR, as well as expertise in consultancy, supervision and training. This creates an inspiring and supportive network.

The post holder will work in a multi-disciplinary environment, develop complex formulations, offer supervision, consultancy, and training to multi-disciplinary colleagues and other members of the psychology team, and help to develop multidisciplinary understanding of psychological approaches to mental health recovery.

As part of Community Transformation, psychological therapies are fully integrated into four CMHTs across our four localities (Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall). We work within a strong multi-disciplinary ethos, with good links with Tier 1 (Primary Care and Talking Therapies), the Recovery College and VCSE partners. The CMHTs are supported by specialist services which include psychological therapists in: Complex Emotional Needs Service; Eating Disorders; Perinatal Services; 18-25s Transitions Team; Early Intervention in Psychosis; Clinical Health Psychology.

In BCHFT we promote cohesiveness and wellbeing in our psychology staff group. There are Trust initiatives that support this and regular opportunities to engage, learn and share good practice. We value our staff groups and work to ensure that people feel valued for their effort and delivered outcomes, reflected in regular feedback. We are pleased to utilise all Regional or National opportunities for training when they arise. Current training initiatives within community services include the National PT-SMHP framework, which has allowed several staff to undertake post graduate diploma training in NICE based therapies.