Job Summary
Band 8a Clinical Psychologist (or Band 7-8a Preceptorship)
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Older People's Psychological Service, working alongside Community Mental Health Teams across the East Kent Directorate. Based in Thanet, this role offers the chance to join a supportive and regarded psychology service while enjoying the benefits of one of Kent's most attractive coastal locations.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and compassionate Clinical Psychologist with a genuine interest in working therapeutically with older adults.
The post involves psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for older people experiencing a range of mental health difficulties including dementia and cognitive impairment. Experience of, or an interest in, working with cognitive difficulties and an understanding of the psychological needs of older adults are essential.
Applications are welcomed from experienced Band 8a Clinical Psychologists, newly qualified psychologists and those approaching qualification through a Band 7-8a preceptorship pathway. Band 7 applicants will benefit from a structured programme including supervision, senior psychological leadership, protected development time and a clear competency framework to support progression to a substantive Band 8a role.
This is an excellent opportunity to develop specialist expertise in older adult mental health within a collaborative multidisciplinary service. Informal enquiries and visits are warmly welcomed.

Main duties of the job
You will join the Older People's Psychological Service, working closely with Community Mental Health Teams across Thanet, with a focus on Memory Services and the development of psychologically informed care for older adults.
This rewarding role sits within a well-established multidisciplinary service, providing psychological expertise to older people experiencing complex mental health difficulties, including dementia. You will work across community and inpatient settings, delivering high-quality, person-centred care. Experience in neuropsychological assessment for dementia is essential.
As a senior psychologist, you will contribute to service development and support the enhancement of psychological provision across East Kent. The role includes line management and clinical supervision of qualified and trainee psychology staff, alongside consultation and support to multidisciplinary colleagues.
The successful candidate will be required to travel between sites across East Kent in line with service needs.

About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Key responsibilities

• Providing specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Offering consultation and support to carers, families and professional teams.
• Delivering supervision, training and reflective practice.
• Facilitating therapeutic groups.
• Contributing to service evaluation, audit and quality improvement initiatives.

Additional requirements
The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Person Specification
Qualification (Essential)

• DClinPsy
• Eligibility for Chartered Status with the BPS.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a psychologist

Experience (Essential)

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

Experience (Desirable)

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
• Experience of working with women during the perinatal period.
• Experience of working with family or carers.

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