Dumfries and Galloway NHS
Workforce Directorate
Human Resources
Recruitment Team
High East, Crichton Hall, Dumfries DG1 4TG
Fax: 01387 244043
Email: dg.recruitment@nhs.net
JOB DESCRIPTION for the following vacancy:
VACANCY REF No:
930.15
VACANCY (Post Title):
Psychological Therapist – 2 Posts
GRADE:
Band 6
SALARY:
£26,302 - £35,225 pro rata
HOURS:
Both 37.5hpw
Both Fixed Term for 9 Months
Description of the Role:
Band 6 Psychological Therapist in Older Adults, Clinical Health & Neuropsychology
Specialty. Full Time (37.5 hours) - Fixed Term for 9 Months
Vacancies have arisen in our Department for two psychological therapists to work with older
adults throughout the region. Applications are invited from enthusiastic and energetic staff who
want to play key roles in offering evidence-based psychological therapies in both primary and
secondary care settings to adults with a wide range of psychological issues.
As well as working directly with service users, the postholders will also support training and
supervision of other health professionals who are using psychological approaches in their work.
The Department, which now has a complement of around 60 staff, has psychologists and
psychological therapists in all major specialties and is a friendly, supportive and lively place of
work. We currently have strong links with Edinburgh and Stirling Universities and take trainees
from the Edinburgh Doctoral course and from the MSc course in Stirling. We also provide
placements and supervision for trainee CBT and other psychological therapists.
The post has dedicated CPD and supervision time.
Informal enquiries/visits are welcomed. To arrange a visit or for further information please
contact John Higgon, Consultant Clinical Psychologist or Ian Hancock, (01387) 244495, Director,
Department of Psychological Services, Cree West, Mental Health Directorate, Crichton Royal
Hospital, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4TG.
Interviews will be held on 16th December at Crichton Hall, Glencaple Road, Dumfries
Closing Date:
Thursday 26th November 2015 at 5.00pm
Dumfries and Galloway NHS
Candidate Information Sheet
Return of Applications
It is preferable that applications are returned electronically to the following email
address dg.applications@nhs.net. Please ensure that you read the job description
and person specification carefully, complete all applicable sections of the application
and that your Statement in support of your Application clearly demonstrates how you
meet the requirements of the post. We do not accept Curriculum Vitae so any CVs
or copies of certificates submitted instead of, or in addition to the standard NHS
Application Form will not be processed
We are unable to access late applications.
Decisions to shortlist candidates for interview are made ONLY on the contents of
your application form. If you are not shortlisted you will not receive any further
communications.
Criminal Record Check
With effect from 28th February, 2011 posts considered to be within "Regulated
Work" with Children and/or "Regulated Work" with Protected Adults will require
membership of the Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme
(PVG Scheme) as a condition of employment.
PVG
You do not have to do anything about PVG Membership when submitting your
application form for the post. Candidates selected for appointment will be advised on
how to become a PVG Scheme Member prior to taking up the position.
Further information on the PVG Scheme Membership can be found at the
following https://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/index.htm
Standard Disclosure Check
For other roles not considered to be within "Regulated Work with Children" and/or
"Regulated Work with Protected Adults", a Standard Disclosure Check may be
required and the cost of this will be met by NHS Dumfries & Galloway.
Applicants who have lived outside the UK within the last five years, if offered a
position, in addition to a Disclosure Scotland Check, will be required to provide a
completed police record check (Certificate of Good Conduct) from the police
authority in the country or countries in which they were resident.
Dumfries and Galloway NHS
JOB PURPOSE
To provide a high quality, accredited specialist psychotherapy service within psychological services in
accordance with NHS protocols and the professional, ethical framework of United Kingdom Council for
Psychotherapy (UKCP), British Council for Psychotherapy (BCP), British Association of Cognitive Behavioral
Psychotherapy (BABCP), or other relevant professional body.
To provide individual and/or group specialist psychotherapy to clients with a broad range of complex
problems.
SCOPE AND RANGE
The post holder provides specialist psychotherapy for men and women aged 65 and above, covering
primary and secondary care settings in the Dumfries & Galloway region.
As well as individual client work, the post includes supervision, teaching and consultancy to other staff in
the Health Board as may be required.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Responsibilities
 To provide a high quality psychological service for clients and referrers by ensuring that the best
professional standards of assessment, formulation, communication and treatment are applied and
maintained
 To undertake specialist psychotherapy with patients with complex problems
 To assess new referrals in order to determine appropriateness for specialist psychotherapy
 To provide clinical consultation to other staff within the Health Board
 To attend supervision sessions as appropriate and as agreed with the clinical manager
Provision of Training
 To provide training in the form of supervision, lectures and seminars at the following levels:
i) introductory – for staff who wish to develop basic levels of specialist psychotherapy skills eg. Nurses,
junior doctors, GPs, psychology trainees
ii) intermediate – for staff who wish to develop a further interest in specialist psychotherapy.
Clinical Governance
 To work with the policies and procedures of the Clinical Governance Framework, including
participation in clinical audit and issues of clinical effectiveness, risk management and research and
evaluation
 To keep up to date by undertaking continuing professional development in psychotherapy and other
relevant aspects of the service agreed with the clinical manager
 To maintain links with other NHS specialist psychotherapists to ensure awareness of new
developments in evidence-based practice
 To maintain accurate and up to date record keeping per departmental guidelines and provide a good
standard of professionalism in written communication to referring agents.
Dumfries and Galloway NHS
SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
 Providing information for Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE)
 Activity sheet completion monthly
 Travel forms completion monthly
DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
Typical judgments made in course of post would be :
 Assess the appropriateness of specialist psychotherapy for service users and, if necessary, refer on to a
more appropriate service.
 Assess what form and mode of treatment (eg individual, group) would be most helpful
 Assess the number of sessions required and frequency of specialist psychotherapy in line with
departmental policy
 Review therapeutic progress and manage accordingly
 Liaise with other professionals as appropriate eg case discussions of complex cases
 Be aware of clinical factors associated with identifying potential risk – both to the individual and the
wider community
 Be aware of appropriate routes, when risk has been identified, of action within the framework of
legislation pertaining to issues of mental health
 Manage caseload across primary and secondary care settings including appropriate liaison with area
managers
COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Good professional communication is required including :
i) the ability to communicate specialist psychotherapeutic ideas and case material in written and
verbal forms
ii) good record keeping according to department guidelines
iii) liaison with other professionals eg GPs, medical consultants, general nurses, psychiatrists,
community mental health teams, social workers, etc. as appropriate especially in relation to the
management of cases
iv) Liaison with manager in relation to the management of complex and high risk cases
v) clarity with the client as to the bounds of confidentiality
vi) expectation that presentation skills will be developed, particularly in relation to training provision
vii) Be capable of good communication in establishing collaborative joint working with complex
patients. Be capable of delivering psychological formulations in a language widely understood
outside of the profession
viii) Be able to demonstrate good negotiation skills – both in clinical work with challenging clients and
in relationships within the organisation and wider community
ix) Communicate in a way that displays both warmth and sensitivity as a basis to motivate clients to
consider change
x) Attendance at monthly managerial supervision and fortnightly clinical supervision is required in
order to inform these decisions and judgements. This is also a professional requirements with
UKCP, BCP and BACP
xi) Attendance at weekly and monthly departmental meetings is required.
xii) It is necessary to adhere to a professional code of ethics.
Dumfries and Galloway NHS
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
The post is largely sedentary. There may be some driving, at times long distance, in a large geographical
region, to provide a service in the different localities
MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
 The work is emotionally demanding, working with clients sometimes with complex problems, some of
whom have diagnosed personality disorders. This involves sometimes working with people with
manipulative or avoidant behaviors and the challenges this presents to the therapeutic process. It is
also emotionally demanding working closely with people who have suffered severe traumas such as
childhood sexual abuse or who have diagnosed life limiting, life threatening, or terminal medical
conditions.
 To work with complex problems within the time limited framework required by the department.
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
The post holder must have
 A recognized training qualification in a specialist psychotherapy such as CBT, Analytic Psychotherapy,
Interpersonal Psychotherapy, CAT
 Accreditation with, or working towards accreditation with, an appropriate professional, national body
such as BABCP, BACP, UKCP
 Supervised experience of working with people with a wide range of psychological health problems
 Awareness of the possible benefits of other models of therapeutic work
 Be aware of the limits of own competence and expertise
 Maintain and update knowledge within own therapeutic model
 Have knowledge of the Health Board’s policies and procedures
 Be able to work sensitively and compassionately with patient’s problems
 Ability to be self- motivating and flexible
Dumfries and Galloway NHS
NHS Dumfries & Galloway
Psychological Therapist
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Qualifications

Experience

Experience of working with
people with a wide range of mental
health problems.

On-going supervision of
therapeutic work.

Up to date knowledge of
therapeutic approach to be
practiced.

Awareness of other therapeutic
approaches.

Confirmed competencies in
working constructively with
clients and with colleagues.

Full current driving licence.

Able to get on well with people.

Good communication skills.

Self motivated and well
organised.

Flexible in approach.
Knowledge/Skills
Personal
Characteristics
Desirable
Recognised training/qualification in
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or other
mainstream single model
of psychotherapy (or working
towards such qualification)
 Mental Health professional
background

Experience of independent working
and of team working.

Experience in teaching in fields
related to psychological therapy.

Able to attend to personal issues
evoked in therapeutic work and to
use them constructively.

Having outside interests away from
psychological therapy which nourish
personal development.
Dumfries and Galloway NHS
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