Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist Harrow OA CMHT/Dementia Hub

Job Overview

A special person with a certain aptitude, experience and adaptable mindset is sought for this position. An exciting (0.4) opportunity has arisen to join our specialist team in providing high quality psychology services to older Adults in the London Borough of Harrow.

Main duties of the job

You would work within a supportive MDT to deliver individual, systems and community psychology interventions across multiple agencies to support the psychological wellbeing of older adults and carers within the borough of Harrow.

The postholder would be working within a Multidisciplinary Team comprising of psychiatry, nursing, arts therapy, occupational therapy, and third sector agency support workers. The service accommodates the needs of individuals with difficulties of both functional and organic origins.

The work is varied, and no two days are the same. The work is equally rewarding in playing a part in the lives of experienced people. You will be working with a Team who are committed to CPD for your growth and professional training. We also encourage research and creative community approaches to meet the diverse needs of our culturally rich boroughs of Harrow.

Members of our team have contributed to literature and research on antiracist practice, DIT with Older People, Inpatient Formulation and psychological approaches for hoarding disorder, amongst others.

Working as part of CNWL NHS Trust will also open other opportunities for internal and external CPD offered as part of your career progression. We have a range of live and on-demand CPD available at your convenience to all our Psychology Staff.

The opportunity to work more hours may be available in the future as we look to combine posts within other services.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

KR1: Clinical and Client Care

• To provide highly specialist psychological assessments for older adults presenting with frailty, cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium, complex physical health needs, and associated psychological distress.
• To deliver evidence‑based psychological interventions tailored to older adults, including those with cognitive impairment, sensory loss, or communication difficulties.
• To provide culturally sensitive psychological support and interventions for carers and families, including psychoeducation, coping strategies, and emotional support.
• To assess and manage clinical risk, including self‑neglect, vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
• To act as a keyworker or care co‑ordinator where appropriate, contributing to care planning, review processes, and multidisciplinary decision‑making.
• To support early identification of psychological needs within the frailty pathway to prevent deterioration and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation.

KR2: Contributing to Team or Service Clinical Functioning

• To contribute to a psychologically informed framework, promoting trauma‑informed, person‑centred, and strengths‑based approaches.
• Facilitate and evaluate Community Psychology initiatives (Dementia Hub)
• To support the team in delivering accessible and culturally competent services to diverse older adult populations.
• To challenge discrimination and promote inclusive practice, particularly in relation to age, cognitive impairment, disability, and cultural background.
• To provide specialist psychological consultation to MDT colleagues (e.g., geriatricians, nurses, AHPs, social care, primary care teams).
• To liaise with referrers, GPs, acute hospitals, community teams, and voluntary sector partners to support integrated care planning.
• To use psychological theory and research to inform team practice and service development.

KR3: Policy and Service Development

• To implement and contribute to the development of policies and procedures within the Frailty Service.
• To participate in service development projects aimed at improving psychological care pathways, reducing hospital admissions, and enhancing carer support.
• To support service user and carer involvement in shaping frailty services.

KR4: Care or Management of Resources

• To use Trust resources responsibly and maintain equipment appropriately.
• To identify future resource needs and request supplies as required for clinical work.

KR5: Management and Supervision

• To provide clinical supervision and case consultation to junior psychologists, assistant psychologists, and trainees.
• To supervise the psychological work of MDT colleagues where appropriate.
• To contribute to recruitment and appraisal processes for psychology staff.
• To support the development of psychologically informed practice across frailty and older adult services.

KR6: Teaching and Training

• To deliver teaching and training to MDT colleagues, pre‑ and post‑qualification psychologists, and other professionals on topics such as dementia, delirium, frailty, cognitive assessment, and carer support.
• To maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of developments in clinical psychology, frailty care, and older adult mental health, and to apply this knowledge in practice.
• To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations, reports, and publications.

KR7: Record‑Keeping and Information Governance

• To ensure all clinical documentation meets Trust and professional standards, including accurate electronic record‑keeping.
• To maintain confidentiality and comply with information governance requirements.

KR8: Research and Development

• To initiate, conduct, and supervise service evaluations and audits relevant to frailty, dementia, delirium, and psychological wellbeing.
• To contribute to research activity within the service, including specialist areas such as cognitive assessment or carer interventions.
• To support the development and implementation of outcome measures across the frailty pathway.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Entry‑level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
• Doctorate or equivalent in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice‑based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC

Desirable criteria

• Neuropsychology training

Experience

Essential criteria

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in older adults services.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including dementia, delirium and functional difficulties
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Post‑qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of carrying out post‑doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in acute care and in care homes.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for OA
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Desirable criteria

• CST training

Skills

Essential criteria

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
• To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
• To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
• Well‑developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups

#J-18808-Ljbffr