Principal Clinical/ Counselling Psychologist

Job Purpose

To develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a psychology service to service users of Bentley House Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH) and personally provide highly specialist clinical input. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment. To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead psychology specialist To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychologists within Bentley House CMHH. To undertake service evaluation, audit, research and policy development. To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters. To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

Key Responsibilities

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care To develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a highly specialist psychology service to service users of Bentley House CMHH. To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in CMHH. To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required. To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans. To act as a named worker and take responsibility for initiating planning and reviewing care plans and associated tasks to support the wellbeing of service users of the CMHH. KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning To co-ordinate (and chair) meetings to ensure effective functioning, review and quality of the psychology service within Bentley House CMHH. To take a lead in ensuring a psychologically informed framework for the CMHH. To take a lead in developing the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities. To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services. To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients. To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members. KR 3 Policy and service development To implement policies and procedures in own area of work. To identify any aspects of Bentley House CMHH, which could be improved and propose changes to practices or procedures that affect Bentley House CMHH and may also affect other services. To initiate and implement service development projects, as agreed with clinical/professional lead. To participate in the ongoing implementation of new initiatives (e.g. national guidelines) across relevant services. To lead the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities. KR 4 Care or management of resources To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources. To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed. KR 5 Management and supervision To provide clinical leadership to more junior psychologists, psychotherapists and other professionals, as appropriate. To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists. To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism. To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate. To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate. KR 6 Teaching and Training To undertake teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate. To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the CMHH by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and adult mental health and by implementing knowledge gained in practice. To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles. KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures. To ensure the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry, in those parts of the service for which the post-holder has leadership responsibility. KR 8 Research and development To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits To initiate and carry out appropriate research and service evaluation to support the ongoing development of the service. To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the ongoing development of the CMHH. To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same. KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines. To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies. To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these. To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures. To ensure that all psychology and psychotherapy staff for whom the post-holder has leadership responsibility, maintain professional standards and continuing professional development. KR 10 General To travel within the Harrow area for home visits as appropriate and across the Trust when required. To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management. To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.