Lead Psychologist

NHS; Widnes; On-site; GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking healthcare provider as a Lead Psychologist at a state-of-the-art recovery center. This role offers the opportunity to lead a dedicated team in delivering specialized psychological treatment to individuals with complex mental health needs. You will be responsible for assessing service users, designing therapeutic interventions, and contributing to the development of innovative care strategies. Enjoy a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive environment that fosters professional growth and development. If you are passionate about making a difference in mental health care, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Free meals and parking

Wellbeing support

Career development opportunities

Pension contributions

Life Assurance

Enhanced Maternity Package

Retail discounts

Qualifications

• HCPC registration and Doctorate in applied psychology required.
• Experience in therapeutic work with complex needs is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the psychology department and provide specialist psychological treatment.
• Conduct assessments and deliver therapeutic interventions for service users.

Skills

Psychological assessments

Therapeutic interventions

Team supervision

Problem-solving

Knowledge of trauma

Education

Doctorate in applied psychology

HCPC registration

Charterable status with BPS

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Elysium Healthcare as a Lead Psychologist at their state-of-the-art Gateway Recovery Centre in Widnes, Cheshire. You will have the chance to work with a team of experienced professionals to provide specialist psychological treatment and support to service users with complex mental health requirements. This role offers a competitive salary of up to £70,000 per annum, as well as a comprehensive benefits package and excellent career development opportunities.

Main duties of the job

As the Lead Psychologist, you will be responsible for carrying a caseload that includes assessing service users with complex needs and designing and delivering specialist psychological treatment within mental health care services. You will lead the psychology department in providing a variety of therapeutic approaches to service users, including CBT, EMDR, and DBT, and will provide guidance, support, and supervision to your team of Psychologists and Assistants. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to Clinical Leads and Hospital Governance Meetings, support the provision of psychology services in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and participate in the recruitment of junior psychology staff.

About us

Elysium Healthcare is an established, stable, and agile company with over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 90 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is ample opportunity for career growth and development.

Job responsibilities

Are you an experienced Senior Psychologist looking for a new challenge in a rewarding environment, where you can make a real difference? If so, then join the team at Gateway Recovery Centre in Widnes, Cheshire, as a Lead Psychologist and enjoy support from a regional network of Psychologists as you flourish in your career.

With experience from the NHS or the private sector as a Senior or Lead Psychologist, you will carry a caseload that includes assessing service users with complex needs and designing and delivering specialist psychological treatment within mental health care services.

What you will be doing:

You will work 37.5 hours a week as the Lead Psychologist for a service for men and women with complex mental health requirements.

As a Lead Psychologist, you will be responsible for individual and group interventions, diagnostic and cognitive assessments, MDT working, and risk assessments. You will also support the clinical teams in creating reports with service users to increase engagement through interventions and developing new initiatives.

You'll lead the psychology department in providing a variety of therapeutic approaches to service users, including CBT, EMDR, and DBT, and will provide guidance, support, and supervision to your team of Psychologists and Assistants, including responsibility for mentoring and their training (with support from the Learning & Development Team).

There is a strong emphasis on teamwork, supervision, and CPD, with support from a regional network of Psychologists.

As a Lead Psychologist you will be:

• Attending and contributing to Clinical Leads and Hospital Governance Meetings
• Supporting the provision of psychology services in a specified area, in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
• Participating fully with the multidisciplinary team and ensuring that the service user is fully engaged in their care pathway.
• Supporting clinical team working, including both direct interventions and the delivery of staff training programmes.
• Supporting the clinical team and area of service in developing new initiatives and ways of working.
• Taking a key role in Psychology service developments, providing an evidence-based approach to new clinical initiatives.
• Maximising current opportunities to make improvements to the service area.
• Participating in the recruitment of junior psychology staff.
• Supporting in the development and implementation of policies that enhance staff safety and risk management.
• Working with internal and external agencies to enhance treatment pathways for service users.

To be successful as a Lead Psychologist, you'll have:

• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist and Charterable status with the British Psychological Society
• Doctorate level qualification in applied psychology, enabling registration with the HCPC
• Competence in assessing, formulating, and working therapeutically with service users
• Ability to identify and proactively resolve problems within the service
• Supervisory experience with junior team members
• Knowledge of working with trauma
• Experience with complex needs relevant to the service population
• Skills in psychological assessments and formulation, with a willingness to learn new methods
• Proficiency in cognitive functioning/management tools and formulation
• Experience in using various therapeutic interventions for clinical and forensic issues

Where you will be working:

You will be working at the Gateway Recovery Centre, a state-of-the-art facility providing care for men and women with complex mental health needs.

The hospital is divided into four distinct areas:

• Male Autism Service for adults with Autism and Asperger’s syndrome
• Assessment and rehabilitation for women with complex mental health and personality difficulties
• Specialist inpatient service for older men with complex mental and physical health needs
• Low secure care setting for men with mental illness, with or without personality disorder/mild LD

You will work alongside the team to improve mental health and wellbeing, helping service users develop and maintain healthy relationships. The centre aims to reduce risk behaviors and support patients to live successful, fulfilling lives within the community.

What you will get:

• Annual salary of £70,000
• 33 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays) plus your birthday off
• Free meals and parking
• Wellbeing support and activities for work-life balance
• Career development and training opportunities
• Pension contributions
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced Maternity Package

Additional benefits include retail discounts and special offers.

About your next employer:

You will work for an established, stable, and agile company with over 8,000 employees and a comprehensive approach to care. With over 90 services across England and Wales, opportunities for growth and mobility are available.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care, a global network operating in 10 countries with over 86,000 employees.

Elysium Healthcare promotes safer recruitment and is a Disability Confident employer. All staff must understand their role in safeguarding service users. A DBS check is required for all candidates.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist and Charterable status with the British Psychological Society
• Doctorate in applied psychology, enabling HCPC registration
• Experience in assessment, formulation, and therapeutic work with complex needs

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This role is subject to DBS disclosure under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975, with a requirement for a criminal record check.