Job Description

The closing date is 14th Jul 2025

Anticipated Interview date(s) 17/07/2025

Job summary

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The post holder will work alongside an experienced and enthusiastic Community Mental Health Team and Dementia Assessment Service and will be responsible for providing a high quality clinical psychological service to older people in the Mendip Neighbourhood. There is a strong emphasis on working alongside CMHT and DAS colleagues to help develop formulations and support staff to implement psychologically informed interventions for older adults with both organic and functional difficulties. This post also involves delivering highly specialist psychological therapy and neuropsychological assessment. This post is part of a well-established Older People's Clinical Psychology Service in Somerset which employs 8 qualified Clinical Psychologists, five Assistant Psychologists and hosts 5-6 Trainee Clinical Psychologists each academic year. There also are good links with other later life practitioners across the Trust and the opportunity to link with psychology colleagues working across other specialist areas. The successful candidate will have an interest and enthusiasm for working with older people. They will be resilient, confident, and well organised and able to communicate effectively with people from a range of backgrounds. They will be able to integrate information from a range of sources and provide practical and psychologically informed advice and support to staff, service users, their families, and carers.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

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Main Duties


You'll be responsible for providing a high-quality clinical psychology service to older people, conducting specialist assessments, including neuropsychological assessments and rehabilitation, and providing psychological therapy and interventions. Clinical psychology services are valued for their work with colleagues, providing supervision and training.


We maintain good links with our clinical psychology colleagues across the Trust and there are excellent opportunities for career development. Ongoing specialist training is encouraged.


Please refer to main job description

About us

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At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:


Flexible working options to help you balance work and life


NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security


Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax


A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential


Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.


We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.


Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.


The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.


Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job description

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Detailed


The following staff working and providing services in the Older Persons Mental Health Service and the Dementia Assessment Service, and related Trust services:

Head of Older Adult Clinical Psychology Head of Older Persons Mental Health Services Mendip Neighbourhood CMHT and DASS Clinical Neuropsychologists in the Older Persons Service Other Clinical Psychologists contributing to the DASS Clinical Psychologists in Older Persons Psychology and other specialities

To provide a consultancy service to CMHT, DASS and Inpatient Older Persons teams and to other professionals in the service, regarding complex functional and organic assessments, and complex case formulation. To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions and planning meetings.


To be responsible for own caseload, work and interventions with even the most complex presentations and for interpretation of agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner and to seek consultation and supervision appropriately from peers, the Head of Older Adult Psychology and Consultant Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists


To provide specialist clinical supervision to practitioners, trainees in clinical psychology, assistant psychologists, and other professionals, as appropriate.


Please refer to main job description

Person specification

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Qualifications

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Essential

Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist


Doctorate Clinical Psychology or equivalent


Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status




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Desirable

Relevant specialist training in Neuropsychology, Psychological Therapy, Supervision and Research Methods

Experience

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Essential

Clinical and audit work in Older Adults


Teaching and training psychologists and other professional staff


Supervision experience with a range of staff


Consultancy experience in a range of settings


Experience of working in multi-professional/multiagency settings




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Desirable

Research and development work in area relevant to Older Adults


Experience of providing a psychological service in the community

Additional Criteria

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Essential

Skills in the use of complex methods and tests in psychological and neuropsychological assessment frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration


Ability to provide rapid psychological assessment and brief psychological interventions, especially in the management of risk


Ability to maintain intense concentration for complex interaction with patients


Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence and have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the trust to meet the needs of the service.


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Desirable

Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings


Strong leadership qualities, resilience and ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

For help with your application, contact:

Kate Redman


kate.redman@somersetft.nhs.uk

Pay scheme

Agenda for Change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

53755.00 to 60504.00 Yearly

Contract

Fixed Term

Duration

12 Month(s)

Working pattern

Full-Time

Reference number

184-OL-BL-2764

Job locations

The Bridge

Glastonbury Road

Wells

Somerset

BA5 1TJ