Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Clinical Psychologist (or Counselling Psychologist with suitable experience) to join the West Essex Community Pain Management Service (WECPMS). The WECPMS is a small, friendly team with a passion to support adults to live well with persistent Musculo-skeletal (MSK) pain. The successful applicant will be a valued and active member of this interdisciplinary team including Consultant Anaesthetist, specialist physiotherapists, clinical nurse specialists, and community pharmacists.

Access to specialist Psychology is an essential element in supporting people to live meaningfully with persistent pain. You'll be working with, and supervised by, a Specialist Clinical Psychologist to deliver psychological assessments and interventions (1:1 and group pain management programmes based on CBT/ACT/CFT). You'll also be providing psychological input to the wider multidisciplinary team and liaising with other community services (e.g. Talking Therapies, community mental health teams) as needed. The post will include both on-site (suggested 3 days per week) and remote working and we value this blended approach.

Main duties of the job
The successful post holder will be integral in delivering improved care and treatment outcomes for adults with persistent pain, through providing training, supervision and consultation in psychological skills and risk management, as well as holding a clinical caseload for individual and group therapy. You will ensure that the most appropriate treatments are offered at the right times with service-user satisfaction at the forefront of all interventions.

You will also provide specialist assessment clinics in community settings, to support other team members in developing individual psychological formulations, and contribute to the fortnightly multi-disciplinary meetings (MDTs). You will also develop group-based psychological interventions utilising evidence-based approaches incorporating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). We will encourage and support you to maintain and build strong links with the local Talking Therapies services, Integrated Mental Health Practitioners (IMHTs) within the local Primary Care Networks (PCNs), secondary care mental health services and with the psychiatric liaison services.

The post is embedded within the WECPMS and EPUT Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) team. The CHP team includes Psychologists in multiple health settings, creating a specialist peer support network.

About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us, calculated pro rata.
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential

• Formal training to Doctoral level in Clinical or Counselling Psychology, or its equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996
• Evidence of engagement in continuing professional development (CPD) and/or willingness to participate in CPD relevant to the requirements of the post.
• HCPC Registration as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist
• Doctoral level (or equivalent) knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.

Desirable

• Further training in models of psychological theory or interventions relevant to the role e.g. Health Psychology, ACT, CFT, EMDR
• Further training in the provision of effective supervision, including model-specific supervision

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
• Knowledge of confidentiality policies and procedures

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies relevant to the needs of individuals living with chronic pain and/or psychological difficulties linked with physical health conditions
• Knowledge and experience of the working structure of NHS organisations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: St Margaret's Hospital, Epping, CM16 6TN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://eput.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact: Lead for Clinical Health Psychology, Dr Helen Sinclair, helensinclair@nhs.net

Reference number: 364-B-549
Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 7
Working pattern: Full-time

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