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Job overview

Forensic Autism Service and Secure Pathway Hub

An opportunity has arisen for a permanent Principal Clinical Psychologist based at Guild Park, Regional Secure Unit, Central Lancashire. This full time post will be split 0.4 WTE into the Secure Pathway Hub, and 0.4 WTE into the Forensic Autism Service.    

An experienced and highly committed candidate is required to provide psychological leadership and clinical supervision into two services. The Secure Pathway Hub is a multi-disciplinary team that provide clinical and risk assessment to clients referred to Secure Services in order to determine appropriate pathways and service provision.  The post holder will provide specialist advice, guidance and consultation to external referrers, particularly where there are significant Autistic Spectrum Condition and Personality Disorder needs. They will contribute directly to client’s formulation, diagnosis and management and/or treatment plan. Knowledge of and/or experience in using diagnostic assessments for personality and autistic spectrum disorders is essential.

 The purpose of the Forensic Autism Service is to work with their natural supports, in-patient colleagues, and other partner agencies and stakeholders to reduce admissions to secure in-patient services, to support discharges and transitions into the community, and to prevent re-admission to hospital.  

Main duties of the job

In FAS, the post holder will work with service users, their natural supports, in-patient colleagues, and other partner agencies and stakeholders.  The functions of the team are to reduce admissions to secure in-patient services, support discharges and transitions into the community, and to prevent re-admission to hospital.  This will be achieved through consultation, specialist case management, system level working, training, and workforce development. 

The team is multi-disciplinary.  The role of the psychologist on the team will be to use consultation and formulation to produce an understanding of the service user.  This understanding will be used to guide direct interventions with service users, and to provide advice to those working with the service user about risk management, intervention, and pathway planning.  The psychologist will be required to offer supervision to their fellow team members and to develop and deliver training to staff external to the team who are working with the service user. 

The role requires the ability to work with clients who present with the full range of clinical needs and risk behaviours, and the ability to engage with, and respond to, highly complex clinical, professional and ethical challenges, and demands on clinicians and services. There will be opportunities to use audit and evaluation, and to develop practice and service provision.

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area. 

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.