Home Based Principal Psychologist Veterans Service Job in United Kingdom Recruiting by St Andrew’s Healthcare

Principal Psychologist

Community Partnerships/Op COURAGE Integrated Veterans’ Mental Health & Wellbeing Service

Location: East of England, remote working & travel required

Would suit someone living in Milton Keynes, Bedford, Peterborough, Cambridge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire or Essex as travel into the community will be required

Career Level C / Professional (NHS Band 8b)

Salary: £59,325 - £63,000 Per annum. pro rata (depending on experience)

Permanent / 30 hours / 4 days per week

Are you looking for an opportunity to be part of a dynamic, passionate, supportive and highly skilled team where you can use your skills to support veterans? Our service is looking for a Principal Psychologist to join us in delivering therapy to veterans accessing specialist support in relation to mental health and trauma.

The Service

Community Partnerships specialises in developing and delivering community based services for St Andrew’s, a mental health charity. Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. Op COURAGE can support with the transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Services (DMS); helping individuals to recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma; providing support and treatment for substance misuse and addictions; helping individuals to access other NHS mental health services if you need them; liaising with charities and local organisations to support wider health and wellbeing needs and supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping them to access local services

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our team in the Op COURAGE Integrated Veteran Mental Health & Wellbeing Service Treatment Pathway. The service is commissioned by NHSE Armed Forces and delivered through a collaborative partnership with a range of NHS, charity and third sector organisations. St Andrews supports the delivery of psychological assessment and intervention in Midlands Op COURAGE and East of England Op COURAGE. The post holder will support the delivery of individual and group psychological interventions in the East of England Op COURAGE as well as supporting the team and both services more widely in relation to supervision, consultation, training, service development and evaluation. We will particularly welcome applications from individuals with a strong interest and high level of knowledge in trauma informed practice and working with complex presentations.

Op COURAGE holds the veteran at the heart of all we do. We are looking for an individual to join our multidisciplinary team who can bring specific expertise in trauma therapy with adults and is confident in working flexibly with complex cases. The Op COURAGE treatment pathway offers specialist psychological advice, consultation, assessment, formulation and intervention and works alongside colleagues in other parts of the service, as well as local NHS services, armed forces charities and other organisations to support veterans with their mental health & wellbeing. The treatment pathway offers intervention that is focused on recovery from trauma, where a veteran would benefit from the specialist approach and knowledge available, alongside their wider care and support. Interventions will be offered both remotely and face to face across the East of England region so the ideal candidate would be comfortable with both modalities and also be able to travel.

The Person

The successful applicant will join a highly motivated, supportive and friendly regional team that includes Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Psychological Therapists, Assistant Psychologists, Mental Health Social Workers and Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Psychiatrists and Veteran Liaison Support Officers and will report directly to the Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

Given the nature of the client group and the geographical needs of the service, we are looking for a clinician with significant experience in treating complex mental health needs in an autonomous capacity. Whilst previous experience of working with Veterans or military personnel would be an advantage, full training will be provided to clinicians who have relevant clinical experience, attitude and who have a genuine interest in developing skills to help Veterans improve their quality of life and wellbeing. We are looking for a clinician who is clearly able to demonstrate a minimum of four years’ (post-qualification) experience in treating trauma and complex mental health needs according to evidenced based guidelines. Experience of using a range of therapeutic modalities including CBT, EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy among others would also be an advantage. Equally important would be your ability to work both autonomously within community-based settings, as well as collaboratively with other teams and professionals. The ability to consider and find creative and flexible solutions to engage individuals in psychological treatment is an essential skill in this pathway. 

Within the role, you will be encouraged to develop your strengths and skills through clinical supervision and opportunities for professional development. St Andrews provides opportunities for research, training and continuing professional development and you will also have access to peer support from the wider Op COURAGE pathway, wider Charity, as well as regular CPD events. Due to the innovative nature of this service, there will be opportunities for service development including co-production with service users and an interest and enthusiasm in these areas is desirable. You will be supported to develop your role within our service according to your specific strengths and areas of professional interest.

In order to be eligible for the role, the successful applicant will need to be HCPC registered.

Our patients and your colleagues will expect you to live the St Andrew’s CARE values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence every single day and to hold trauma informed practice at the heart of the way you work.