Job Description
Service
Wirral Integrated Recovery Service
Job Title
Clinical Psychologist
Base
TBC
Hours
37.5 FTE
Salary
CRI Point 38-40 £33,573.92 - £35,596.44
Reports to
Services Manager / Lead Clinical Consultant
Operating
Principles
CRI has developed a number of operating principles that it believes are
essential to providing effective and inspirational care and support for its
service users. They should be viewed as overarching expectations for all
roles at CRI.
All staff will contribute to the ongoing development of an ambitious,
inspirational and outcome focussed culture at every level of service
delivery.
All roles will tangibly contribute to provide hope, connection,
empowerment, choices and opportunities that promote people reaching
their full potential as individuals and community members.
All service delivery will model the belief that we all have the potential to
make positive changes and to lead meaningful and purposeful lives, as
involved and contributing members of society.
To support these operating principles, managers will embrace CRI
values:

True to our ethics and charitable objectives

Excellence in Service Delivery

Commitment, Professionalism, Positivity

Business Focus
In doing this managers will be assessed on their competencies and
behaviours in the following areas: Judgement, Open Minded, Diversity,
Courage, Communication and Influence, Emotional Intelligence,
Leadership and the delivery of results.”
Purpose of Job
As directed by the Services Manager and Clinical Consultant, the
post-holder will be an integral member of a team delivering
comprehensive clinical psychology services to drug & alcohol
substance misusers. The post holder will provide a key part of the
comprehensive assessment and intervention response process
and will be responsible for the overall specialist high intensity
psychological therapeutic interventions provided by the service.
The post-holder will contribute to the service to ensure that drug
and alcohol users consistently receive high quality services that
adhere to the best practice guidelines and achieve high
professional standards.
The post holder will aim to reduce the distress and improve the
psychological well-being of clients. You will use psychological
therapy methods and research to make positive changes to their
clients' lives and offer various forms of treatment.
Working alongside the medical team and multidisciplinary team in
your work with high severity and complex patient problems such as
but not limited to:

Varying levels of depression

adjustment to physical illness;

PTSD

neurological disorders;

addictive behaviours;

eating disorders;

Childhood trauma

personal and family relationship problems;

learning disabilities
You will be required to record and input client data and information
in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative
and financial requirements.
You will be required to work flexibly across a number of operational
sites as required and work flexibly within an agreed number of
hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision.
This will include evening and weekend working.
You will be expected to take responsibility for personal
development, identifying personal training needs and participate in
regular supervision and appraisal.
This is a standards based job description that incorporates the National Occupational Standards
relevant to the job, as well as DANOS and other occupational standards such as CJNTO.
Key Activities:

Engaging with drug and alcohol users who have varying health problems and co
existing co-morbidity related mental health problems.

Provide specialist assessments to opiate, stimulant, tranquilizer, barbiturate and
alcohol dependent clients.

Oversee and co-ordinate the range of key evidence-based psychosocial interventions:

Assessing a client's needs, abilities or behaviour using a variety of methods,
including psychometric tests, interviews and direct observation of behaviour;

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside doctors, nurses, social
workers, education professionals, health visitors & psychiatrists.

Devising and monitoring appropriate programmes of treatment, including
therapy, counselling or advice, in collaboration with colleagues;

Provide sound evidence-based clinical practice to facilitate effective treatment
decisions.

To be responsible for organising initial and ongoing training, co-ordination and clinical
supervision of required named staff.

Offering therapy and treatments for difficulties relating to mental health problems such
as anxiety, depression, addiction, social and interpersonal problems and
challenging behaviour

Carrying out applied research, adding to the evidence base of practice in a variety
of healthcare settings.

Develop, review and audit care plans

Provide training, advice and support to other staff to ensure safe and effective
service delivery.

Take an active part in the implementation, adherence and development of internal
and external clinical governance procedures.

Utilise motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural techniques and brief
interventions in both one-to-one and group settings to promote engagement in
treatment services, encourage self-esteem, well-being, self-responsibility and
enhanced motivation.

Receive regular clinical supervision from a Registered Consultant Clinical Psychologist
with overarching review by the CRI Clinical Director, and managerial supervision from
the Service Manager
General terms of reference:
In carrying out the above duties the post holder will:

Work flexibly across operational sites as required.

Work flexibly within an agreed number of hours of work to maintain the most appropriate
level of service provision.

Seek to improve personal performance, contribution, knowledge and skills.

Participate in appraisal, supervision and Learning & Development processes.

Keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice relevant to the
relevant client group.

Ensure the implementation of the all CRI policies.

Contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment.

Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.
Specific standards (DANOS related where appropriate) for this role include:
Unit
Number
and Title
AA2
Relate to, and interact with individuals
AA3
Support individuals to access and use services and facilities
AA4
Promote the equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities of individuals
AA6
Promote choice, well being and the protection of all individuals
AB1
Support individuals who are distressed
AB2
Support individuals who are substance users
AB3
Contribute to the prevention and management of abusive and
aggressive behaviour
AB4
Contribute to the protection of individuals from harm and abuse
AB5
Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
AB8
Contribute to assessing and act upon risk of danger, harm and abuse
AC1
Reflect on and develop your practice
AC2
Make use of supervision
AC3
Contribute to the development of the knowledge and practice of others
AD1
Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects
AD4
Develop and disseminate information and advice about substance use,
health and social well-being
AF1
Carry out screening and referral assessment
AF3
Carry out comprehensive substance misuse assessment
AG1
Develop, implement and review care plans for individuals
Unit
Number
and Title
AG3
Assist in the transfer of individuals between agencies and services
AH4
Support individuals to undertake and monitor their own health care
AH7
Support individuals through detoxification programmes
AI2
Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan
BA3
Contribute to the development of organisational policy and practice
BB1
Promote your organisation and its services to stakeholders
BD3
Support the health and safety of yourself and individuals
BE2
Receive, analyse, process, use and store information
BE4
Supply information for management control
BI5
Promote effective communication for and about individuals
BI1
Develop productive working relationships
BI6
Develop and sustain effective working relationships with staff in other
agencies
BI7
AI3
Participate in inter-disciplinary team working to support individuals
Counsel groups of individuals about their substance use using
recognised theoretical models
Person Specification
Essential criteria:
 Experience of working with substance misuse including alcohol and mental health issues
and a clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services.
 British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited psychology degree with a degree
classification of 2:1 or above.
 Post Graduate training and registration with BPS as either a clinical or counselling
psychologist.
 Sound and demonstrable knowledge and understand of addiction.
 Knowledge of the issues facing substance misusers including appropriate psychological
interventions, social care and health issues.
 Ability to assess and care plan service users and formulate written reports as necessary.
 Community based support practices.
 Maintain professional boundaries and work effectively with partnership agencies.
 Demonstrate skills to undertake administrative duties and PC literacy.
 Experience of contributing to project development.
 Clinical auditing skills to inform evaluation of the service and identify areas for development.
And the ability to:
 empathy and a person-centred approach to clients;
 tolerance of stress;
 the ability to recognise your own limitations and respond to difficult situations; the
ability to apply your knowledge of academic psychology and research to
clinical problems;
 the capacity to be critical and analytical and to work in a self-motivated,
independent way;
 excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to deal with people
in distress;
 the ability to collaborate with colleagues from other disciplines;
 the determination to succeed;
 a strong understanding of the profession and the role of a clinical psychologist, and
an awareness of current NHS issues.
 Communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing.
 Respond flexibly to the demands of the post.
 Work as a member of a team.
 Show a capacity to work alone and the ability to keep calm under pressure.
 Understand and have a commitment to the principles of equal opportunity and
diversity.
 Employ a professional, empathetic and non-judgmental attitude towards service users.
 Show commitment to facilitating positive outcomes for service users.
Desirable criteria:
 Access to own transport.
 Knowledge of local services and geography.
 Knowledge of mindfulness based cognitive therapies
This post is subject to a DBS check at an enhanced level.
Amendments: This description accurately reflects the present position; it may be
amended and reviewed. Any change will be made following a proper period of
consultation.