Senior Specialist Psychological Therapist

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to deliver psychological services for clients aged 65 and above. Key responsibilities include supervising assessments, expanding older adult psychology pathways, and engaging in community networking. The ideal candidate will have a postgraduate doctorate in psychology, extensive clinical experience, and the ability to work effectively in a team. This role offers opportunities for professional development within a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Post qualification experience in the NHS with psychological assessments and interventions for clients aged 65 and above.
• Experience in secondary care older adult mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and supervise psychological assessments and interventions for clients aged 65 and above.
• Lead the interface with Older Adult Community Mental Health Services.
• Expand the existing older adult Psychology pathway.

Skills

Clinical experience

Knowledge of psychological therapies

Ability to provide culturally competent service

Education

Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology

Postgraduate diploma in High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural psychotherapy

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

The successful post holder will:

Demonstrate best practice in delivering and supervising psychological assessment, formulation and interventions for clients aged 65 and above.

Lead the interface between our service and Older Adult Community Mental Health Services.

Be responsible for expanding on our existing established older adult Psychology pathway within Greenwich Time to Talk.

Disseminate relevant knowledge and skills to the wider team through training and consultation.

Support regular referral management and screening of referrals.

Supervise qualified members of the team and trainees/assistants.

Support the service to maintain safe and stable waiting lists.

Engage in community networking to help increase referrals of clients aged 65 and above.

Lead in promoting the service to secondary care and third sector organisations supporting older adults.

Oversee evaluation and audit within this pathway, supported by team members.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS OR Post graduate diploma in High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural psychotherapy interventions (BABCP accredited).

Desirable criteria

• Additional relevant clinical and/or managerial knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses on Older Adult Psychology.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Post qualification experience of working in the NHS, including experience of psychological assessments, treatments, referral management and supervision relating to clients aged 65 and above.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in secondary care older adult mental health services.

Skills/ abilities / knowledge

Essential criteria

• Robust clinical experience in assessment, formulation and intervention with clients aged 65 and above.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for older adults.
• Ability to provide a culturally competent and non-stigmatising service including an awareness of the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health.

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of the use of neuropsychological assessment for this client group.

Effort and Environment

Essential criteria

• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and able to contain the stress of others.

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently as an independent practitioner, as a mentor and supervisor.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities.

Remember, if you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme - Please ensure you select this on your application form. We would encourage you to be open about your needs so we can work with you to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.

If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.

We encourage applicants to contact the hiring manager before their interview, if they have any questions about the role or the process. This is a great way to get clarity and prepare effectively for the interview.

If you have declared you are part of the armed forces community, you may be asked to provide evidence during the recruitment process. If you misrepresent this information, your offer may be withdrawn. For Armed Forces specific support, see our webpage: https://oxleas.nhs.uk/armed-forces-community/

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you're applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information. AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high volume of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

• Job description and Person specification (PDF, 456.4KB)
• Important Additional Information For Candidates (please read carefully) (PDF, 160.6KB)
• Privacy Notice for Staff (PDF, 268.6KB)
• Staff Benefits (PDF, 2.5MB)