Job overview An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 8a Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist (0.6 WTE) to join the Brent Community Mental Health Team for Older People.
The postholder will deliver a specialist psychology service to older adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression, psychosis and dementia, as well as providing support to families and carers. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the role includes undertaking complex assessments, developing psychological formulations, delivering evidence-based interventions, and providing consultation and risk management advice to colleagues and partner agencies.
The successful candidate will work autonomously within professional and Trust guidelines, managing a defined caseload and acting as Lead Clinician where appropriate. The role also involves supervising trainee and assistant psychologists and Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioners, and contributing to teaching, service development, audit and quality improvement.
This is a community-based position requiring flexibility, including home visits and travel across sites. The postholder will maintain high standards of clinical governance, record keeping and professional practice while supporting the ongoing development of psychologically informed care within the service. Main duties of the job
Provide highly specialist psychological assessments and evidence-based interventions for older adults with complex and severe mental health difficulties, including dementia and neuropsychological presentations where appropriate.
Integrate complex information from multiple sources to develop psychological formulations and implement treatment plans for individuals, families, carers and groups across community settings.
Manage a defined caseload autonomously, exercising professional responsibility for assessment, treatment, risk management and discharge, and act as Lead Clinician where required.
Undertake comprehensive risk assessments and contribute to multidisciplinary care planning and review processes.
Provide specialist consultation, formulation and psychological advice to MDT colleagues, GPs and partner agencies to promote psychologically informed care.
Deliver and support therapeutic group interventions within the service.
Provide clinical supervision and workload oversight to trainee and assistant psychologists and Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioners.
Contribute to teaching, training, audit, research, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
Maintain high standards of clinical record keeping, report writing and data management in line with Trust and professional guidelines.
Participate in operational meetings and undertake home visits as required.
Working for our organisation Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the largest and most diverse mental health and community healthcare providers in the UK. The Trust delivers a broad range of services including mental health, learning disabilities, substance misuse and community physical healthcare across London and surrounding areas. CNWL is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate, recovery-focused care, placing service users, carers and communities at the heart of its work.
CNWL promotes a culture of inclusion, equality and staff wellbeing, recognising that a supported workforce is essential to delivering excellent care. The Trust supports professional development through supervision, training, leadership, research and quality improvement.
The London Borough of Brent is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the UK. Local services are committed to reducing health inequalities and delivering culturally responsive, accessible care. Brent Older Adults services work closely with primary care, social care and voluntary sector partners to provide integrated, person-centred support to older people and their families.
By joining CNWL in Brent, you will be part of a collaborative team dedicated to improving mental health outcomes for older adults in a diverse community setting. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities
Provide highly specialist psychological assessments for older adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties, including complex mental health presentations and suspected or diagnosed dementia.
Undertake comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessments, integrating information from multiple sources including clinical interview, structured observations, psychometric measures and collateral information.
Develop evidence-based psychological formulations and implement appropriate treatment and management plans for individuals, families, carers and groups.
Deliver a range of psychological interventions across care settings, adapting approaches to meet the needs of older adults and their support networks.
Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for clinical decision-making, including assessment, treatment, risk management and discharge planning.
Undertake and contribute to risk assessments and provide specialist psychological advice regarding risk formulation and management.
Act as Lead Clinician where appropriate, coordinating care and contributing to multidisciplinary care planning and review processes.
Provide specialist consultation and psychological guidance to multidisciplinary colleagues, GPs and partner agencies to promote psychologically informed practice.
Participate in the service’s Initial Assessment Process and attend relevant clinical meetings.
Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality clinical records and reports in line with Trust and professional standards.
Undertake home visits and work flexibly across community and clinic settings as required.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
Provide clinical and professional supervision to trainee psychologists, assistant psychologists and Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioners.
Support and manage the clinical workload of supervisees in line with team policies and procedures.
Contribute to the teaching and training of multidisciplinary staff and, where appropriate, pre- and post-qualification psychology trainees.
Engage in regular clinical and management supervision and participate in appraisal and personal development planning.
Maintain continuing professional development (CPD) in line with professional body and Trust requirements.
Research, Audit and Service Development
Utilise current research, theory and evidence-based practice to inform clinical work.
Contribute to audit, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives within the team.
Support research activity and provide research advice to colleagues where appropriate.
Contribute to the ongoing development and evaluation of team policies and service delivery models.
Management and Leadership
Contribute to the development, monitoring and evaluation of operational policies and service provision.
Provide advice to service and professional management on psychological and organisational matters.
Participate in recruitment processes for assistant and trainee psychologists as required.
Attend and contribute to operational, professional and multidisciplinary meetings.
Maintain awareness of relevant legislation, national guidance and local policies affecting older adults’ mental health services.
Information Governance and IT
Ensure accurate electronic data entry and maintenance of clinical information systems.
Provide statistical and activity data to managers as required.
Comply with Trust policies regarding information governance and confidentiality.
Health and Safety
Adhere to Trust policies relating to health and safety, infection control, fire safety and risk management.
Report incidents, accidents and concerns in line with Trust procedures.
Ensure safe working practices in community and home visit settings.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
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.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the
Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
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