Clinical Psychologist

Transformation Unit; Shaftesbury; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 27-33 days

Health and wellbeing services

Flexible working options

Training and career coaching

Preceptorship programme

NHS discounts

Job summary

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Clinical Psychologist (Band 8a) to join the Older People’s Psychology Service in Shaftesbury. The post is part-time (22.5 hours/week) with flexibility; a full-time option via an additional inpatient post may be possible for some applicants.

You will undertake highly specialist psychological assessments and treatments for older adults within CMHTs, with supervision and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Membership of HCPC.
• Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for older adults.
• Work within CMHTs as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Promote psychologically informed care through consultation and staff support.
• Supervise and mentor trainees and junior colleagues as appropriate.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement.

Education

Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology

Job description

Main area Older People's Psychology Grade Band 8a Contract Permanent: Part-time Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Flexible) Job ref 152-M396.26

Employer Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Westminster Memorial Hospital Town Shaftesbury Salary £34,516 - £38,850 p.a. Salary period Yearly Closing 24/11/2026 23:59

Clinical Psychologist

Band 8a

Job overview

We welcome applications from enthusiastic clinical/counselling psychologists and qualified psychotherapists with an interest in working with older people. The post is suitable for a Band 8a practitioner; however, Band 7 applicants are encouraged to apply and can be supported through a structured preceptorship programme.

This is a varied and rewarding role, offering opportunities to develop skills in psychological therapy, formulation, systemic practice, neuropsychology and multidisciplinary team working. You will be encouraged to pursue professional development, contribute to service improvement and work alongside experienced and supportive colleagues.

You will join the Older People's Psychology Service, a friendly team of psychologists and art psychotherapists. The team is known for being welcoming and supportive, with opportunities for peer learning, joint working and developing specialist interests. Regular supervision, peer support and continuing professional development are integral to the role.

The post is part-time (2.5-3 days per week). Applicants seeking a full-time position may combine this role with an additional 2-day inpatient psychology post.

The successful applicant will contribute to psychological services across the Wimborne and Shaftesbury localities.

Informal enquiries and visits are welcomed. For further information, please contact Debbie de Wet, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, on 01305 361700 or [e-mail].

Main duties of the job

As a clinical psychologist, you will provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for older adults within Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs). Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will promote psychologically informed care through consultation, formulation and staff support, helping colleagues to understand and respond effectively to the needs of older adults experiencing mental health difficulties.

You will work closely with families, carers and partner agencies, providing specialist advice and support where needed. The role involves managing a complex caseload autonomously, drawing on evidence-based approaches and a range of therapeutic models to inform assessment and treatment planning. You will monitor and evaluate clinical outcomes through regular review of interventions and the use of appropriate outcome measures.

Depending on experience and development goals, there will be opportunities to provide supervision and mentorship to trainee and junior colleagues, supporting their professional development and clinical practice.

The post also offers opportunities to contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives and the development of clinical leadership skills.

Working for our organisation

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate’s individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [e-mail]

Person specification

• Membership of HCPC
• Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS or HCPC

Skills and experience

• Experience of working psychologically with older people
• Experience of working in the CMHT/wards
• A range of specialist therapies
• Experience of neuropsych assessments
• Experience of working with people with dementia

Consultancy and training

• Experience of increasing psychological mindedness in MDTs
• Skills in providing formulation to teams
• Experience of providing supervision

Additional

• Valid driver's licence and ability to travel

At Dorset HealthCare we want to offer all our staff the opportunity to work flexibly, putting health and wellbeing first, whilst continuing the delivery of excellent patient care. Flexible working looks different for everyone and we welcome applicants to discuss flexible working opportunities with the recruiting manager.

What working for us will provide:

• 27 days of annual leave, rising to 33 over ten years (for staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions)
• Health and wellbeing services
• Flexible working options, including family-friendly hours
• Free training and one-to-one career coaching to reach your career goals
• Preceptorship programme for newly qualified nurses and AHPs
• Access to nine staff networks - have a voice and transform our Trust
• Relocation costs where applicable
• Salary sacrifice scheme opportunities - including childcare vouchers, car lease and cycle scheme, home technology equipment, and buying annual leave
• NHS discounts to save on your shopping, gym membership and more

Visit our careers website to learn more about our culture, staff stories, benefits, development programmes and opportunities.

Regrettably, we are not able to offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you attempt to apply for a role that we do not offer sponsorship for, you will receive notification of this at the time of starting your application and you will not be able to proceed. At this point, we wish to thank you for your interest in working for us and apologise we cannot take your application any further.

Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Further guidance can be found on the gov.uk website. It is vital that you provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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.

Name Debbie de Wet Job title Clinical Lead for Older People's Psychology Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01305 361700 Additional information

Laura Bassett - [e-mail]