Consultant Clinical Psychologist - Head of Neurodivergence Services

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About Us

EPUT provides community health, mental health and learning disability services to support more than 3.2 million people living across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Also:

• We are among the largest employers in the in the East of England region, with more than 10,000 staff working across more than 200 sites.
• We run the COVID-19 vaccination programme across mid and south Essex and Suffolk and north east Essex.

EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). A new leadership team was established at the Trust in 2020.
Our vision and values

Our Vision

"To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care".

Our Purpose

"We care for people every day. What we do together, matters".

Our Values

• We Care
• We Learn
• We Empower

Our strategic objectives

• We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.
• We will enable each other to be the best that we can.
• We will work together with our partners to make our services better.
• We will help our communities to thrive.

Our services

• Mental Health Services
• Community Health Services
• Learning Disabilities Services
• Social Care

Find out more about the services we offer in our service directory.

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to continue to develop services for neurodivergent individuals across the EPUT footprint. You will be providing clinical leadership in service provision for neurodivergent individuals, supporting the Trust and the Psychological Services Care Unit in developing a neuroaffirmative approach across all areas as well as further developing specialist Autism and ADHD services for adults.

We want someone who is passionate about change for the better, is able to drive opportunities in the face of challenges, is creative and flexible, is invested in striving for the very best, and who is stimulated by new ideas.

We are inviting you to join an established, cohesive Senior Management Team of Consultant grade Psychologists and Psychotherapists providing OPMH, Adult Community, Forensic & Secure, EIP, Crisis & Home Treatment, Personality Disorders & Complex Needs, NHS Talking Therapies, psychological services for people with Intellectual Disabilities, Adolescent in-patient, Psychotherapy, Perinatal & Parent Infant Mental Health, and Clinical Health Psychology Services.

If you would like to be a part of shaping and contributing to innovation in delivery of services to neurodivergent individuals, are a champion of quality initiatives, have an interest in delivering interventions and supporting the Trust in being a neuroaffirmative organisation, then we are keen to interview you.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work closely with assistant psychologists, Clinical Associate Psychologists, qualified clinical psychologists, nurses and psychiatrists to ensure that individuals in neurodivergent services receive high-quality services around assessment, pharmacological and non pharmacological treatment.

You will hold your own caseload, including providing highly specialist assessments, advice and consultation to other professionals/services across EPUT and other agencies.

You will be responsible for liaising with Commissioners about key performance indicators, contract specifications and budgets in providing services for neurodivergent individuals, to interpret and implement NSF, NICE guidelines, Trust guidelines, and professional body minimum standards, in addition to providing highly specialist Autism and ADHD assessments and clinical intervention for individuals referred to the services.

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The summary information is above but please see the detailed job description and person specification for the post

Person specification

Education/Qualification

Essential criteria

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
• Further training in specific tools of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment and Diagnosis as required in NICE Guidance.
• Eligible for Graduate Membership and Chartered Psychologist registration with the BPS. HCPC Registered.

Desirable criteria

• Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised area of psychology practice or management.
• Knowledge of the working/structure of NHS organisations.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups. Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
• Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HCPC

Skills and experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience of multi-professional management of teams or services within mental health sector.
• Post qualification experience within autism spectrum disorder and ADHD services.
• Experience of representing the profession in local policy fora.

Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered 'suitable alternative employment' to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Important Professional References

Make sure that as a part of your application you have professional references with business contract information covering your last three year employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post, the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Applications for Job Share are positively welcomed.

Equal Opportunities Employer

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email epunft.recruitment.adverts@nhs.net and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Covid Vaccination

Although Covid vaccinations are no longer a mandatory requirement within the NHS we continue to encourage and support the vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against Covid19. The safety of our staff and patients is a top priority for us at EPUT.

If you would like to book a Covid vaccination or would like more information please contact us by emailing epunft.cv19hr@nhs.net.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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

• JD 8c Head of ND Service (PDF, 784.3KB)
• PS 8c Head of ND Services (PDF, 416.6KB)
• EPUT Pledge - Step into Health (PDF, 211.0KB)
• Candidate Privacy Policy (PDF, 336.6KB)
• Right to Work Information (PDF, 293.6KB)
• Employer Recognition Scheme - Gold Award (PDF, 27.7KB)
• Trust Vision and Values (PDF, 168.9KB)
• Values of the NHS Pension (PDF, 151.3KB)