Job summary

Community Partnerships / Op COURAGE Integrated Veterans MentalHealth & Wellbeing Service

East of England, remote working & travelrequired

Permanent / 30 hours / 4 days per week

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

The Service

CommunityPartnerships specialises in developing and delivering community based servicesfor St Andrews. Op COURAGE is an NHS mentalhealth specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave themilitary, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. Op COURAGE cansupport with the transition from military to civilian life by providing mentalhealth care with Defence Medical Services (DMS); helping individuals torecognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as moreadvanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma; providing supportand treatment for substance misuse and addictions; helping individuals toaccess other NHS mental health services if you need them; liaising withcharities and local organisations to support wider health and wellbeing needsand supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems,including helping them to access local services

Main duties of the job

Weare seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Clinical or CounsellingPsychologist to join our team in the Op COURAGE Integrated Veteran MentalHealth & Wellbeing Service Treatment Pathway. The service iscommissioned by NHSE Armed Forces and delivered through a collaborativepartnership with a range of NHS, charity and third sector organisations.St Andrews supports the delivery of psychological assessment and interventionin Midlands Op COURAGE and East of England Op COURAGE. The post holderwill support the delivery of individual and group psychological interventionsin the East of England Op COURAGE as well as supporting the team and bothservices more widely in relation to supervision, consultation, training, servicedevelopment and evaluation. We will particularly welcome applicationsfrom individuals with a strong interest and high level of knowledge in traumainformed practice and working with complex presentations.

OpCOURAGE holds the veteran at the heart of all we do. We are looking foran individual to join our multidisciplinary team who can bring specificexpertise in trauma therapy with adults and is confident in working flexiblywith complex cases.

About us

The Op COURAGE treatment pathway offers specialistpsychological advice, consultation, assessment, formulation and interventionand works alongside colleagues in other parts of the service, as well as localNHS services, armed forces charities and other organisations to supportveterans with their mental health & wellbeing. The treatment pathwayoffers intervention that is focused on recovery from trauma, where a veteranwould benefit from the specialist approach and knowledge available, alongsidetheir wider care and support. Interventions will be offered both remotelyand face to face across the East of England region so the ideal candidate wouldbe comfortable with both modalities and also be able to travel.

You can achieve more at St Andrews Healthcare

St Andrews Healthcare is a charity providing specialist mental healthcare services. We work in partnership with a number of NHS, voluntary, educational and research organisations to deliver a range of specialist inpatient and community mental healthcare services, education and research that helps to improve the lives of people with complex mental health needs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

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.

For further information about the role please contact Dr Melanie Coxall, Clinical Lead on 01604 616305 or via email on or James Farrelly 07827856634 or

Our patients and your colleagues will expect you to live the St Andrews 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC Registered Psychologist

Desirable