Senior Applied Psychologist, LD CAMHS NHS AfC: Band 8a

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country.

Across the whole of the region we provide:

• Adult and older adult mental health services
• Specialist learning disability services
• Mental health services for children and young people
• Community healthcare services for children, young people and families in Dudley

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, with the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.

We currently employ over 3,500 people and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Whatever your role, working in a NHS Foundation Trust, like ours, is a demanding and extremely rewarding experience. Knowing that every day you can help to make a positive difference to someone’s life is a very powerful feeling. We know that our Trust runs on this desire to help and support people, and our Trust vision expresses this. Our vision is to improve health and wellbeing for everyone, especially our colleagues to achieve the best possible work/life balance.

We proudly offer supportive, inclusive and family friendly employment and flexible working policies. We have a wide range of professional services and employee networks to help our colleagues be at their best - and find support if they need it. To find more about our staff benefits, please visit our website: blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and ethnic minority candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Black Country Healthcare we recognise and value all forms of knowledge and expertise, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification or criteria in the job description/person specification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

For further supporting information to help you apply for this role please see documents attached under ‘Additional documents’.

Job overview

We are delighted to offer a Band 8a post for a Senior Applied Psychologist who is passionate and interested in joining our Learning Disability Team in Walsall CAMHS. You will be working in a multi-disciplinary LD CAMHS Team and interfacing with colleagues in Specialist CAMHS.  You will be supervised by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and be a welcome addition to the team.  

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Applied Psychologist in Walsall CAMHS you will have a balanced job plan which meets both the needs of the service and your own development. This will include contributing to initial assessment clinics which will be robustly supported through post assessment multi-disciplinary case discussions. In addition, you will be providing formulation driven, evidence-based psychological therapies. You will also be care co-ordinator for some young people, involving working with the family and wider professional network. You will contribute psychological thinking to the work of this busy, friendly multi-disciplinary service and will supervise the clinical work of assistant psychologists, trainees and other professionals.

Working for our organisation

Walsall CAMHS is part of Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and is a friendly and busy  service.  Walsall CAMHS and partner agencies are currently in the process of aligning with the i-Thrive framework to ensure timely, responsive and needs-led interventions for the children and young people of the Black Country.

Staff that work in Walsall CAMHS describe a supportive multidisciplinary environment. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from the diverse range of communities with which we work. We are based Canalside, where there is parking on site. 

The Trust is dedicated to ensuring that staff feel valued.  Staff are also able to access a range of wellbeing services (e.g. counselling, advice and guidance) and vibrant staff networks including BAME, LGBTQIA+ and lived experience.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached documents to view the Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

Watch our Video, 'Welcome to Psychology in the Black Country: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6HJ-gSdWvA 

Person specification

Essential & Desirable

Essential criteria

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent) as accredited by the BPS.
• HCPC registration as an Applied Psychologist with Chartered Status
• Experience of working as a qualified Applied Psychologist within the designated service line
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable criteria

• Registration with BPS

** Please Note that Internal at Risk Employees will be given preference for this position**

We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward for this vacancy at any time should we receive an overwhelming response of applications. We therefore encourage applicants to apply early if you wish to be considered for this post.

If you do not hear from the recruitment 4 weeks within the advertised closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage. Please ensure that you check your emails on a regular basis for any recruitment updates regarding this vacancy. If you are not successful at the shortlisting stage and would like feedback, please contact the Recruitment Team directly for feedback. 

The salary range quoted is as per NHS Agenda for Change pay structures. This is based on the number of years’ working directly within the NHS at the advertised pay band. Experience gained with other NHS Trusts will apply, but candidates without prior experience working direct for the NHS would normally be appointed at the lowest point unless they can demonstrate the equivalent experience and then be eligible for incremental increases in future years.

Successful applicants for clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the national Care Certificate qualification and will be supported to attain this once in post.

The Trust is committed to equal opportunities, providing opportunities for flexible working and is a non-smoking organisation.

As a Trust we are passionate about Anti-Racism, Disability Inclusion, and LGBTQ+ Equality, and are committed to diversifying our staff team in all areas and at all levels of seniority to better reflect the diverse communities we serve. Therefore, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from people who belong to a minority or marginalised community, including from Black and Asian, Disabled (including hidden disabilities such as Neurodiversity, Mental Health, etc), or Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans or Queer (LGBTQ+) people.    

Furthermore, Disabled applicants have the option of requesting that their application is considered under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). Please indicate your intention to apply under the GIS in the relevant section of your application. Regardless of whether you participate in the scheme or have shared a disability, you will be provided the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the interview process at each stage of the recruitment process.

Due to the nature of the work some posts may be subject to a Standard Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, through the Disclosure and Barring Service as stipulated under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us; this will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances of your offences.