Principal Clinical Psychologist

A 12-month Principal Clinical Psychologist post in the At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) service for psychosis, covering Northumberland and North Tyneside alongside the early intervention teams. The postholder leads clinically while keeping a caseload, deciding who is accepted, supervising staff and trainees, and running audit and training. The role suits a clinician with substantial psychosis experience who wants to shape a new service, and involves travel across a large area. Fit depends on HCPC and BPS-accredited doctoral training and enhanced DBS clearance.

What the job involves

• Provide clinical leadership to the ARMS service while working as an active clinician
• Make the key clinical decisions on acceptance to the ARMS service
• Provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment to service users and their families
• Deliver evidence-based bio-psychosocial interventions to people at risk of developing psychosis
• Provide clinical supervision to the ARMS service and other psychological therapists in early intervention in psychosis
• Provide supervision, consultation and training to the team
• Manage audit and training requirements for the service
• Assess for symptoms of psychosis and risk of transition, acting as a resource in complex assessments
• Work closely with other professionals in the service
• Provide care across a large geographical area

Qualifications

• Doctoral training in clinical or counselling psychology covering psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, neuropsychology, lifespan developmental psychology and two or more distinct psychological therapies
• Accredited practitioner in cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist

Experience

• Substantial post-qualification experience of specialist assessment, formulation and treatment across outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings
• At least 50 hours of clinical supervision as a clinical psychologist over a minimum of 18 months, or an alternative agreed by the Psychological Services Professional Lead
• Substantial experience of delivering evidence-based psychological therapy training to professional groups
• Substantial experience of providing clinical supervision
• Substantial experience working with psychosis or people at risk of developing psychosis

Skills & knowledge

• Communicating complex, technical and clinically sensitive information orally and in writing to clients, families, carers and colleagues
• Well-developed teaching and training skills
• Well-developed clinical supervision and consultation skills, with formal training in supervising trainee clinical psychologists and other staff
• Managing the emotional impact of highly distressing work through self-management and supervision
• Excellent skills in assessing for psychosis and risk of transition, including familiarity with the CAARMS measure

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS clearance before starting

Other

• Able to meet the mobility requirements of the post
• Interest in service development

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