Job Description

AWP Secure Inpatient Services are looking for an experienced clinical, forensic or counselling psychologist with an interest in working with people with significant mental health difficulties such as psychosis, who present a significant risk to others.



There are opportunities to work both within our men's and women's services, depending on the interests and experience of the candidate. We would be very happy to discuss this with anyone who may be interested in applying. We would also be happy to discuss whether there might be an opportunity for part-time working.



Secure Inpatient Services consists of Fromeside, an 81 bed medium secure unit and Wickham, a 30 bed low secure unit, both based on the Blackberry Hill Hospital site in north Bristol. The service includes a specialist women's ward and a specialist 8 bedded ward for men with learning disabilities and/or autism. We have a large, friendly psychology team with expertise in working with people with a wide range of presenting difficulties including; violence, sexual offending, fire setting, learning disabilities, autism, personality disorders and psychosis.



The role will involve providing direct clinical work, consultation, teaching and staff support, supervision for assistant psychologists and band 7 psychologists, and working collaboratively with other members of the MDT including psychiatry, nursing, arts psychotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. The role will involve completing specialist assessments, developing complex formulations and designing and delivering individualized therapeutic interventions; as well as facilitating therapeutic groups and engaging in complex systemic work. There will also be the opportunity to engage in service development projects.



The successful post-holder will need be adaptable, creative, to have good communication and team working skills, and to have experience and/or interest in working with people with significant mental health difficulties such as psychosis, who present a significant risk to others. There will be regular supervision and support for the role.



Given the nature of this role, we consider a visit to our service an essential part of the recruitment process. We would welcome discussion and visits from applicants prior to any application or interview.

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust); a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.



We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.



Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care



At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.



To provide highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy to patients and carers as appropriate to the service.



To provide highly specialist advice and consultation on clients' formulation and psychological management to other non-psychologist colleagues.



To use highly specialist psychological knowledge and skills to contribute to the more effective management of patients by the various teams in the area and where appropriate outside of the area.



To clinically supervise trainee clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, less experienced psychology staff, and other professionals.



To contribute to audit, research, policy and service development within the areas served by the Psychological Therapies Service.



To develop and deliver training in psychological therapies for multidisciplinary staff.