Band 8a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist - Bristol

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health organization is seeking a Practitioner Psychologist to lead psychological practice in Bristol's MINT. This role involves providing leadership, therapy, and training to diverse teams and communities. Candidates should hold a Doctoral qualification in Clinical/Counselling Psychology and have HCPC registration. Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and evidence-based interventions is essential. The position promotes a positive work environment and values diversity, aiming to support those with mental health needs efficiently.

Benefits

Supportive work environment

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in providing psychological assessment and therapy.
• Advanced knowledge in clinical psychology specialism.
• Ability to supervise and train others in psychology.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to the MINT team.
• Deliver formulation-based psychological care.
• Supervise trainee psychologists and provide consultation.

Skills

Experience working in multidisciplinary teams

Communication skills

Empathy and engagement skills

Reflective practice skills

Ability to work flexibly

Education

Doctoral Clinical/Counselling Psychology qualification

HCPC Registration

Post qualification specialist training

Job description

Job Summary

We are looking to recruit a Practitioner Psychologist to clinically lead and oversee psychological practice in the Mental Health Integrated Network Teams (MINTs) in Inner City and East Bristol. Bristol is a vibrant, multi‑cultural city and this post provides opportunities for close working with diverse local communities. As part of the Community Mental Health Framework, we are delivering an exciting transformation programme to support people with mental health needs who can fall through the ‘gaps’ of current pathways to get the personalised help they need efficiently, and close to home.

You will provide leadership and training as well as delivering specialist psychological assessment, formulation, therapy and consultation. You will support MINT staff in delivering psychological interventions and psychologically informed practice under supervision. The ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and across networks will be essential to your role. It will be important for applicants to be aware of the latest evidence‑based interventions and be able to evidence outcomes. Experience or interest in the application of Critical Community Psychology principles into this post will be advantageous.

We will consider 7 to 8a preceptorship for candidates with previous experience of the client group including community outreach and engagement work with marginalised populations.

Main Duties of the Job

• To provide clinical leadership alongside the MINT team manager to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Integrated Network Team (MINT), including guiding principles of the clinical framework, the delivery of a psychologically informed service, psychological interventions, and Quality Assurance of those interventions.
• To use specialist psychological knowledge and skills to provide a formulation‑based care service to inform effective work with service users, families and carers.
• To provide leadership and direction to the MINT in line with the Community Transformation Framework and Trauma‑Informed Care, delivering a service dedicated to reducing oppressive practice and addressing structural inequality in mental health‑care.
• To provide highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy to service users and carers as appropriate to the service.
• To provide highly specialist advice and consultation on clients’ formulation and psychological management to non‑psychologist colleagues.
• To clinically supervise/line manage trainee clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, Clinical Associate Psychologists (CAPs) and less experienced psychology staff, and other professionals where indicated.
• To contribute to audit, research, policy and service development within the areas served by the MINT and the Psychological Therapies Service/CPI.
• To develop and deliver training to multidisciplinary staff.

About Us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community‑based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person‑centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence‑based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Person Specification

Education and Qualification – Essential

• Doctoral Clinical/Counselling Psychology qualification or equivalent.
• HCPC Registration.
• Post qualification and further specialist training in specified specialist intervention.

Desirable

• Supervision Training.

Experience and Knowledge – Essential

• Experience of working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Training others in mental health services topics.
• Clinical supervision/consultation with other professionals.
• Evidence based therapeutic interventions with client group.
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in the specialism. Ability to use this knowledge to think systemically/organisationally.
• Experience of risk assessment and management.

Desirable

• Relevant R&D or clinical audit work post qualification.
• Clinical supervision of clinical/counselling psychology trainees and/or assistant psychologists.
• Understanding of Critical Community Psychology Framework.
• Experience of delivering short term individual or group based interventions.

Skills and Abilities – Essential

• Ability to work effectively and flexibly as an integral member of a team.
• Good communication and liaison skills.
• Ability to utilise reflective practice skills.
• Empathy/engagement skills with the client group.
• Ability to work independently.
• Self‑awareness and emotional resilience.

Legal and Registration Requirements

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.

Recruitment and Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Contact

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Inner City and East Bristol MINT (The Sofa Project)
Second Floor – Changing Futures, 48–54 West Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS2 0BL