Job Description

The post is advertised as a Band 8b. However, applicants who do not currently meet all the skills and competencies for the Band 8b role are encouraged to apply and, if successful, will be appointed under Annex 21 rules and supported by a development plan for up to 4 years.



We would like to welcome an experienced Principal Practitioner Psychologist into our Older Adult Mental Health Service wo can demonstrate the following:



Compassion whilst working with and supporting the rights and equalities of older people experiencing mental health difficulties in later life.



Expertise to help us shape the way we transform and deliver specialist mental health care pathways for our aging population.



Added value in our efforts to develop, support and upskill our workforce in psychologically informed practice in the face of a changing population demographic.



Click here to hear a member of the Psychology Team; Psychology Recruitment Services Campaign



Oversee and coordinate the provision of high quality, highly specialist, psychological services to service users in the older adult mental health service (geographically dispersed community & inpatient);



Clinical, professional & managerial governance responsibility for psychological practitioners;



Lead role assessing, developing and implementing psychological interventions: including specialist psychological assessment; formulation; intervention; evaluation; consultation and teaching:



Deliver highly specialist clinical supervision to other psychologist, psychological therapy practitioners and non-psychology staff; identifying and address learning & training needs;



Work autonomously (within professional guidelines, policy & procedures) and exercise responsibility for systematic governance of psychological practice within service;



Assist the Head of Service and Consultant Psychologist with the design, implementation and coordination of service delivery and improvement projects across the service;



Expertise and skills (direct application in the older adult population or transferrable) in a range of psychotherapeutic modalities as well as applied clinical risk management, including clinical experience of suicide prevention, risk management, care and treatment pathways, aligning with service delivery priorities.



Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.



We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.



We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

Four main hospitals:

Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest

Five community hospitals:

Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire

Two integrated care centres:

Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings

47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers

Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services



The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.



This will be an excellent opportunity for a qualified practitioner looking for career development. As part of the Annex 21 process, there is no financial penalty to those who apply for this role where the percentage will cause a reduction in pay, subsequently a local protection would be put in place until the pay has caught up.



During the first year payment will be 60% of the top rate of Band 8b pay, second year 65%, third year 70% and fourth year 75%).



Following successful completion and successful attainment of skills and competencies for the role, the post holder will then be paid at Band 8b (minimum point on that scale). Continued support and supervision will be provided in order to develop the practitioner to the Band 8b role.



Failure to achieve the competencies in the designated timeframe could result in redeployment.



The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Three county remit:

negotiable base, can be in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire.



You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.



The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.



The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.



Interviews will be held on 07/11/2025