• Job Description

  Req#: C9184-25-1061?language=en&page=63&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  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 of the job

  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

  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.

  Details

  Date posted

  30 June 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8a

  Salary

  £53,755 to £60,504 a year Maternity cover

  Contract

  Fixed term

  Duration

  12 months

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  184-OL-BL-2764

  Job locations

  The Bridge

  Glastonbury Road

  Wells

  Somerset

  BA5 1TJ

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Detailed Job Description

  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

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Detailed Job Description

  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

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
  • Doctorate Clinical Psychology or equivalent
  • Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status

  Desirable

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

  Experience

  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

  Desirable

  • Research and development work in area relevant to Older Adults
  • Experience of providing a psychological service in the community

  Additional Criteria

  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.

  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

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
  • Doctorate Clinical Psychology or equivalent
  • Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status

  Desirable

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

  Experience

  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

  Desirable

  • Research and development work in area relevant to Older Adults
  • Experience of providing a psychological service in the community

  Additional Criteria

  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.

  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 Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  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 Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  The Bridge

  Glastonbury Road

  Wells

  Somerset

  BA5 1TJ

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  The Bridge

  Glastonbury Road

  Wells

  Somerset

  BA5 1TJ

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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