Principal Clinical Psychologist

Based at our England North hub in Greater Manchester

Status: Permanent
Salary: Band 8b, £58,568 - £67,725 per annum, dependent on experience
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

About Us:
Combat Stress was established in 1919. We are the UK’s leading charity for the provision of veterans’ mental health services.
We underwent a transformation of our services in 2021 and are delivering evidenced-based, phased treatments for veterans with complex trauma-related mental health difficulties as a consequence of their military service.
We offer psychological interventions following multiple military traumas (primarily for Complex-PTSD, but not exclusively) after a single holistic assessment and formulation of needs within an integrated interdisciplinary care pathway. Stabilisation and reintegration phases include access to art therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric treatment, substance misuse interventions and programmes of support for veterans’ partners, their families and organisations that work alongside them, such as employers. We also have a highly regarded peer support service, run by veterans for veterans that benefits from excellent clinical governance and which supports all stages of their recovery. Psychological interventions span the range of evidenced-based therapies for PTSD and C-PTSD, including TF-CBT, NET, CPT, CFT for trauma and PE.
We have invested significantly in our digital service delivery, and are offering equivalent treatments online to those we deliver in-person, both individual and group interventions. These will continue to be a core part of our services going forward to maintain and increase accessibility to treatment. We are also investing in becoming a trauma-informed and veteran-centric organisation at every level and benefit from a Veteran Voice group that is embedded in all aspects of strategy and service delivery.
It is an exciting time to be joining Combat Stress. Combat Stress remains one of the UK’s most well established and innovative clinical services positively shaping the future of Veterans’ mental health provision. We have a robust CPD programme and a highly active Reseracah Department. As such, we benefit from innovative clinical and research collaborations with international experts in the field to trial and deliver effective interventions for Complex-PTSD.
Benefits of working for Combat Stress as a Principal Clinical / Counselling Psychologist / Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist

• Actively contribute to the leadership and delivery of specialist and innovative clinical services for complex trauma-related mental health problems, particularly Complex-PTSD
• Have access to a senior psychological therapies peer group across the UK who are innovative, collaborative and lead the provision of psychologically-informed care across a phasic, interdisciplinary pathway
• Be part of a passionate workforce who work with veterans to co-produce and deliver services with a continual focus on quality improvement
• Work in a service trusted by veterans due to our expertise in working with this client group and longevity in the field
• Contribute to cutting edge translational research and benefit from our formal affiliation to Centre for Military Mental Health, King’s College London
• Have developmental opportunities in corporate activities that are normally at a distance from clinical service delivery, such as marketing and communications projects, development of digital services and access to media training
• Have significant opportunity to contribute to organisation-wide clinical strategy
• Acess a comprehensive Induction and Mandatory Training Programme that will support you in this role
• Have funded CPD opportunities beyond those typically available in the NHS

About the role:

• The Principal Clinical Psychologist / Counselling Psychologist / Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist take a senior clinical role in an interdisciplinary team comprising occupational therapists, psychological therapists, psychiatrist, nurses Peer and Family Support colleagues, within specialist clinical services for Veterans with complex trauma-related mental health problems as a result of their military service.
• They will provide clinical and professional leadership of the psychological therapies team in the region and offer specialist assessment, formulation and psychological interventions to address Veteran needs within an integrated interdisciplinary care pathway
• To be a member of the clinical hub’s Senior Management Team and Local Clinical Quality and Governance Group.
• Clinically supervise Band 8b deputy and Band 8a/7 psychologists/cognitive behavioural psychotherapists and trainees/assistants.
• They will deliver psychological interventions in at least tow of the following evidence-based therapies for PTSD and C-PTSD, including TF-CBT, NET, CPT, CFT for trauma and PE.
• They will support and advise colleagues on all issues relating to psychological therapies, psychologically informed service provision and trauma-informed care.
• They will support external relationships to improve cross-service collaborative working relationships, improved care pathways for Veterans and increase awareness of Combat Stress in the North of England.
• Our England North region covers a large geographical area including: the North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber.

About you:
We are looking for someone who is keen to take a senior clinical role in the delivery and development of our services in England North, and contribute to the leadership of the same. You will be developing as a compassionate leader and skilled clinician, who is committed to clinical effectiveness, service innovation and delivering trauma-informed services.
As a healthcare environment, and for the health and wellbeing of our staff, veterans and visitors, we encourage everyone at Combat Stress especially professionals that are veteran facing to take up the offer to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19
What we offer:
You will work within a reputable charity that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our veterans, that has a fantastic cause and a committed follower base.
Benefits:

• 30 days paid holiday plus bank holidays. After 10 years continuous service, this will increase to 33 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.

• Competitive stakeholder pension scheme - contributions matched up to 11% of salary

• Discount shopping vouchers

• Cycle to work scheme

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme

• Flexible working

• Access to Blue Light Card scheme

• Death in Service Scheme

Plus many more.
How to apply:
To apply, send an up to date CV and covering letter to recruitmentnorth@combatstress.org.uk
For further information about the role please contact Dr Naomi Wilson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist – Associate Clinical Director and Head of Psychological Therapies on Naomi.Wilson@combatstress.org.uk

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £58,568.00-£67,725.00 per year