Practitioner Psychologist/ Senior Practitioner Psychologist

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

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Haywards Heath seeks an experienced psychological practitioner to enhance crisis services for children and young people. This full-time role includes working with young individuals in need of intensive psychological support both at home and in hospital settings. Applicants should possess a doctoral-level qualification in applied psychology and be registered with HCPC. The position offers flexible working patterns, supervisory opportunities, and a chance to innovate within mental health services.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or applied psychology.
• Experience working with diverse client groups across the lifespan.
• Experience applying psychology in different cultural contexts.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessments, consultations and interventions.
• Support young people and families facing crisis situations.
• Ensure targeted assessment and evidence-based psychological interventions.

Skills

Risk management

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Organizational skills

Compassion

Education

Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology

Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with HCPC

Job description

We are seeking to recruit an experienced and creative psychological practitioner to add to our team of skilled multi-disciplinary colleagues to continue developing an enhanced crisis / home treatment seven day a week service, as an alternative to inpatient admission for children and young people experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

Your role will be broad and will offer you the opportunity to work clinically with young people and their families who are at the point of crisis, and in need intensive psychological care either at home or in a hospital setting. You will also be offered an opportunity to further develop your supervisory and leadership skills.

You will be part of developing the service to give children and young people living in Sussex a more appropriate and integrated range of services to meet their clinical needs. As the practitioner psychologist/ senior practitioner psychologist, you will work alongside the existing clinical team to ensure that young people and their families receive timely, targeted assessment/ formulation and evidence-based psychological interventions.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties

Working alongside the Clinical Team as part of the Sussex CAMHS COAST you will be responsible for ensuring the provision of assessment, consultation and interventions. You will use your clinical experience to assess and support the young person, alongside their parent and carer to enhance their clinical outcomes and quality of life.

The post is being offered as a preceptorship. We welcome applicants applying for a B7 role, who are keen to progress to a band 8A role, as well as applicants wanting to apply for the band 8A role. The role is full time and Sussex-wide. We would consider flexible working patterns and job‑sharing opportunities for the ideal candidate(s).

You will receive supervision from our CAMHS acute consultant psychologist, and have opportunities to network with a range of psychological professionals across CAMHS in Sussex. As part of the Trust-wide group of psychological professions you will be offered opportunities to grow and develop in your career.

About us

SPFT provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex. The trust is rated as 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by the CQC.

SPFT encourages flexible working. We know that a positive work/life balance brings about huge health related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, flexible start/finish times. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation

This is an excellent time for Psychology Professions to be joining Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as we have launched our Strategy and can offer the following to you:

Regular Professional and Clinical supervision with a focus on enhancing wellbeing at work

The opportunity to ensure that Children and Young People benefit from increased access to Psychological Therapies

A commitment to improving matters of Equality, Inclusion, Diversity and Human Rights for Children and Young people, their families and staff.

The opportunity to participate in a range of quality improvement work and service innovations.

Access to a wide range of training and CPD opportunities through

The Psychological Professions Practice Networks

The Leadership Programme for Senior Psychological Professions.

Job responsibilities

• Registered with HCPC
• Experienced in risk management
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced and varied role
• Able to communicate effectively in complex and challenging circumstances to support professional decision making
• Adaptable, organised, compassionate and a team player
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Experience working with families who are facing tough times and have a particular affinity for working with young people

Informal discussion is encouraged prior to application. It would also be advantageous if you have your own car as the role will involve direct work with young people and their families in their homes and communities across Sussex.

Please email Fabio Caggi (Service Manager, Acute CAMHS COAST) [e-mail] to arrange a time to speak about the wider team, service and role.

You are also welcome to contact Dr Carlotta Raby (Consultant Clinical Psychologist‑Acute CAMHS): [e-mail] to discuss the role and working as a practitioner psychologist/ senior practitioner psychologist within the trust.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Post‑graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Pre‑qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Knowledge/Experience

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, and inpatient settings.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of applied psychology.
• Experience working with diverse client groups across the lifespan, managing a range of clinical severity, while maintaining professionalism in the face of emotional distress, verbal abuse, and potential physical threats.
• Experience of applying psychology in different cultural contexts and working within a multicultural framework.
• Proficiency in at least two specialised psychological therapies and neuropsychology, with continued practice or training post‑qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Experience of offering teaching, training and/or supervision.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.