Community Psychologist (Clinical / Counselling Psychologist) | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Community Psychologist (Clinical / Counselling Psychologist) based in Mental Health and Wellness Team - Band 8a - Preceptorship post

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative psychologist to join our small but expanding group of psychologists working in Mental Health and Wellness Teams (MHWT) across the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. Please note that the post is also open to B7 and those preparing to qualify in 2024. The post holder will sit within a MHWT but focus on outward facing work with communities to develop projects with grassroots organisations using community psychology principles and frameworks. Within MHWT they will be expected to lead on championing psychologically minded work with their MDT colleagues and trauma informed care.

The community work focus will be informed by local demographics and is part of the Trusts commitment to address health inequalities experienced by our communities. This is a really exciting and novel post within the NHS so we are inviting a clinician who is very passionate about systems and social activism to apply.

The post holder will join a collaborative of Psychological professionals across East London working within a community psychology framework. The purpose of the collaborative is to build connections across east London and provide support to clinicians working in this way in an NHS context.

The main duties will be working closely alongside other community psychologists and the leadership to identify and build relationships with third sector organisations. They will work mainly amplifying the voices of those who are well less served in mainstream, statutory services. They will do this using community engagement models and working alongside grassroot projects. We are keen to move people through services and back into communities and believe these posts to be pivotal in this work.

The successful candidate will work closely with secondary psychology colleagues to add to an already passionate and dynamic psychology provision in Barking and Dagenham. This group of psychologists are forward-thinking and value diversity. We encourage critical thinking and promote difference. The team has a range of specialist interests i.e., members who are BABCP accredited, trained in Open Dialogue, CBTp and FIp trained, and experience in delivering a range of trauma specific therapies i.e., EMDR and NET.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

This post also attracts payment for High-Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,313 and a maximum payment of £5,436 per annum pro rata).