Job Description

Swindon Psychological Therapies Service are seeking a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to provide input to the Swindon Intensive Service (SIS). Psychological input is well established and highly valued within the team.
Swindon Intensive Service (SIS) provide a crisis response to service users and their families. The role will involve working in a fast paced environment, with high levels of risk and acuity.
The post holder will work closely with MDT colleagues to provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and brief intervention. The provision of reflective practice and team formulation are also an important aspect of the role.
The post holder will receive management & clinical supervision from the Swindon Psychological Therapies Service (PTS). They will work closely with other psychological practitioners working across the acute pathway. All psychological practitioners on the acute pathway are trained in the Comprehend, Cope and Connect approach to formulation and this is utilised across the pathway.
The team has a strong emphasis on promoting staff wellbeing, including a monthly wellbeing newsletter, and bi-monthly reflective. We actively support staff in their ongoing professional development and have a bi-monthly CPD Club.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide specialist assessment, formulation and brief psychological intervention for service users during their time with the team. You will work closely with the Clinical Associate Psychologist (CAP) and Assistant Psychologist who are both embedded in the team, as well as colleagues from the wider MDT. The provision of reflective practice and team formulation are also an important aspect of the role. The post holder would be expected to play a significant role in contributing to staff training, alongside other psychologists in the Locality who work in ward based and acute settings.
Swindon Intensive Service are involved in a number of service improvement projects and there would be scope to contribute to these.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Swindon Psychological Therapies Service (PTS) comprises a supportive team of Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Arts Psychotherapists and a Family Therapist . We have established links with local training providers in Clinical and Counselling Psychology, and also take undergraduate placement students from the Bath psychology course. As a team we are supporting several QI projects.
Details
Date posted
01 July 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
53,755 to 60,504 a year pro rata (pending pay award)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
342-SWN051-0725
Job locations
Sandalwood Court
Highworth Road
Swindon
SN3 4WF
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful applicant will be enthusiastic and highly motivated to provide a good quality, evidence based psychological service within a changing and challenging environment. They will have experience of working with individuals with complex psychological difficulties and risk issues within secondary care and a particular interest in working with individuals in acute distress. They will enjoy working as part of a team and thrive on working under pressure.
See Job description and Person Specification for full details Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful applicant will be enthusiastic and highly motivated to provide a good quality, evidence based psychological service within a changing and challenging environment. They will have experience of working with individuals with complex psychological difficulties and risk issues within secondary care and a particular interest in working with individuals in acute distress. They will enjoy working as part of a team and thrive on working under pressure.
See Job description and Person Specification for full details
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• Doctoral Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology qualification, or equivalent.
• HCPC Registered.
• Post qualification and further specialist training in specialist intervention, or models relevant to the setting.

• Supervision Training

• Experience of working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Clinical supervision/consultation with other professionals.
• Evidence based therapeutic interventions with client group.
• Psychological assessment skills and knowledge.
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in the specialism. Ability to use this knowledge to think systemically/ organizationally.
• Experience of risk assessment and management.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation eg MH Act.
• Experience of delivery of training.

• Relevant R&D or clinical audit work post qualification.
• Clinical supervision of Clinical or Counselling psychology trainees.
• Experience of working in an acute or crisis team setting.

• Ability to work effectively and flexibly as an integral member of a team.
• Good communication and liaison skills.
• Well organised with good administration skills.
• Empathy/engagement skills with the client group.
• Ability to cope with workload pressure/ prioritise workload.
• Ability to work independently.
• Self-awareness and emotional resilience.

• Doctoral Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology qualification, or equivalent.
• HCPC Registered.
• Post qualification and further specialist training in specialist intervention, or models relevant to the setting.

• Supervision Training

• Experience of working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Clinical supervision/consultation with other professionals.
• Evidence based therapeutic interventions with client group.
• Psychological assessment skills and knowledge.
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in the specialism. Ability to use this knowledge to think systemically/ organizationally.
• Experience of risk assessment and management.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation eg MH Act.
• Experience of delivery of training.

• Relevant R&D or clinical audit work post qualification.
• Clinical supervision of Clinical or Counselling psychology trainees.
• Experience of working in an acute or crisis team setting.

• Ability to work effectively and flexibly as an integral member of a team.
• Good communication and liaison skills.
• Well organised with good administration skills.
• Empathy/engagement skills with the client group.
• Ability to cope with workload pressure/ prioritise workload.
• Ability to work independently.
• Self-awareness and emotional resilience.