Band 7 Clinical Psychologist - Bristol

Main area: Community Services Mental Health
Grade: Band 7
Contract: Permanent: Substantive
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 342-SS111-0523

Site: Petherton Resource Centre
Town: Bristol
Salary: £43,742 - £50,056 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 06/06/2023 23:59

Job overview

Position available at Bristol Autism Spectrum Service (BASS).

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic person to join an innovative and expanding multi-disciplinary team working with autistic adults across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. This is a Band 7 post. However, upon the achievement of relevant competencies, the post will be re-banded as an 8a, with additional responsibilities appropriate to this grade added. The post-holder will be supported formally through supervision, training and experience to progress to a Band 8a position over a 2 year period.

The post-holder will contribute to a range of activities. Primarily, providing high quality complex diagnostic assessments for adults suspected of having autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, making a psychologically-informed contribution to consultation and training to other professionals, supervision and reflective practice within the MDT, research and service development and the development and delivery of post-diagnostic interventions to this client group.

Main duties of the job

The primary focus of the post will be to provide high quality, complex diagnostic assessments for adults suspected of having autism spectrum disorder. The post-holder will be expected to make a significant contribution to the development and implementation of a novel, evidence-based diagnostic assessment pathway. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to become increasingly involved in the provision of a range of other services undertaken by the team, including: providing supervision to Assistant and Trainee Psychologists, offering case discussions and reflective practice sessions to the wider MDT, training and supervision of other professionals across the care pathway and clinical audit, research and service development. The post-holder will also make an increasing contribution to the development and delivery of a psychologically-informed post-diagnostic service, which will involve development of groups and the provision of evidence-based therapies, optimised for this client group.

Experience of working with autistic adults is desirable; a demonstrable commitment to working with, and advocating for, this marginalised client group is essential. Excellent interpersonal communication and written skills are also essential. Supervision will be provided by an experienced clinical psychologist.

Working for our organisation

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide high quality, complex diagnostic assessments for adults suspected of having autism spectrum disorder.

To contribute to the development and implementation of a novel, evidence-based diagnostic assessment pathway

To be involved in the provision of a range of other services undertaken by the team, including: supervision of Assistant and Trainee Psychologists, consultation and reflective practice sessions to the wider MDT, training and supervision of other professionals across the care pathway and clinical audit, research and service development

To make a significant contribution to the development and delivery of a psychologically-informed post-diagnostic service, which will involve development of groups and the provision of evidence-based therapies, optimised for this client group.

To be responsible for own clinical activity and interventions and interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner.

Person specification

Essential and Desirable

Essential criteria

Postgraduate qualification in Clinical Psychology.
Some supervision of assistant psychologists and / or other mental health professionals.
Psychological assessment (including neuropsychological assessment), formulation and intervention skills.
Work within multi-disciplinary teams / with other mental health professionals.
Demonstrable commitment to working with, and advocating for, this marginalised client group.

Desirable criteria

Post-qualification training in psychological therapies.
Experience of teaching / training other professionals .
Specialist assessment and intervention with autistic adults, and severe and enduring mental health problems.

We are proud to be fostering a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. A key commitment to this is improving staff representation from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, those from the LGBTQ+ communities, people with ‘lived-experience’ of mental health conditions and people living with disabilities,– we are a ‘Disability Confident Employer’ offering a guaranteed interview to Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service users.

Please apply to join us, we would love to hear from you. Any personal details you supply to us are kept safe in line with the General Data Protection Regulations.

Adverts normally close for application a few minutes before midnight on the closing date and we will let you know if we are offering you an interview by email via our recruitment system ‘TRAC’. We contact all applicants within 4 weeks after the closing date, so please check your emails regularly once you have submitted your application; you are welcome to contact us, via the TRAC system, if you have any queries about your application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Dr Sarah Zohhadi
Job title: Lead Clinical Psychologist
Email address: sarah.zohhadi@nhs.net
Telephone number: 01275 796249

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