Principal Clinical/ Counselling Psychologist - Learning Disabilities inBillericay inBillericay PUBLISHED WED 2 OCT 2024

EPUT's Learning Disabilities Psychology and Behaviour Therapy service in South Essex is expanding. This is an exciting time for a Principal Clinical or Counselling Psychologist who is passionate about service transformation and leadership to join and develop the service.

This post is available on a part-time basis of 22.5hrs p/week (0.6 wte). The postholder will jointly lead a vibrant team that comprises a full-time Principal Psychologist, two Senior Psychologists, a Behaviour Therapist & 2 Assistant Psychologists. They will work to improve and implement care provision for adults with learning disabilities considering assessment, intervention/therapeutic support. This work will be on an individual basis, involve family/carers, support staff, liaising with others involved in their lives, as appropriate. They will also contribute to the development of a trauma informed and responsive service in line with the Trust's objectives.

The postholder will also be involved in offering training and consultation to the MDT and agencies involved. They will be joining a well-established multi-disciplinary team and will be part of the senior leadership team within the service. The service includes Community Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, & Psychiatrists. There are opportunities for wider collaborative working in the Essex Learning Disability Partnership including the development of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Dementia & Challenging Behaviour Pathways.

The Principal Psychologist is responsible for ensuring the systematic provision of a high standard psychology service to adults within the remit of the Learning Disability team's responsibilities. This will include providing assessment and intervention/consultation for individuals, families. carers, members of the multidisciplinary team and other agencies involved in the individuals care.

The post holder will work closely with relevant community and inpatient teams within health and voluntary sectors.

This will require a range of specialist skills and competencies in order to deliver highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment of patients with Learning Disabilities, along the treatment pathway. In addition he/she will offer advice and consultation on clients' psychological care to other professionals, carers, and those otherwise involved in client-care.

The post holder will be responsible for

• continually delivering and maintaining high standards
• continuous service improvement
• leadership and development of others
• ensuring national targets and standards are achieved
• continuous personal development
• building trust and developing relationships to ensure service user involvement
• data quality assurance
• ensuring information is managed and applied appropriately and effectively
• championing improvement through effective change management
• ensuring equality and diversity values underpin the day to day working of the practice area.

About us

We offer a CPD package of up to £6,000, calculated pro rata, to be used in the first three years of employment following successful completion of the probationary period and linked to the appraisal process as agreed with your line manager.

• To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
• To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.
• To ensure that all members of the treating team have access to a psychologically based framework for understanding and care of clients of the service through the provisional advice and consultation and the dissemination of psychological research and theory.
• To provide expertise, advice and support to facilitate the effective and appropriate provision of psychological care by all members of the treatment team.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for a full list of detailed responsibilities.