Jobs

Job Background:

The Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT), Occupational Health and Wellbeing, will be responsible for the autonomous provision of a highly specialised psychological therapy service within OHW Mental Health Services.

The CBT will be responsible for providing a high quality specialist initial assessment and therapy service for line management referrals presenting with anxiety and mood disorders, and psychological trauma to both individuals and groups of serving police officers and police staff. 

Hours of Work: Monday – Friday, 37 working hours per week.

Salary: Depending on which Criteria you satisfy: 

• £35,392 - £42,618 Band 6  (see essential Criteria A)
• £43,742 - £50,056 Band 7  (see essential Criteria B)

Plus £1365 Environmental Allowance

Please note pay scales are currently based on NHS AFC 23/24 rates and will be updated to 24/25 rates following standard PSNI business approvals (back pay will be applied from date of appointment). 

Main Activities: 

The main duties and responsibilities associated with the role include the following:

Managing a specialist caseload of management-referred clients:

• Completing mental health assessments and clinical intervention for line management referrals. Cases include CBT for ‘moderate to severe' range of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and psychological trauma. The clinical caseload will be determined by the mix of individual and group work being undertaken at any one time.
• Formulating, implementing, delivering and evaluating CBT interventions to a range of clients with an emphasis on psychological rehabilitation for return to work. 
• Completing case consultation with other OHW professionals both verbally and on electronic records prior to and between client sessions.
• Updating electronic health records for Initial Assessments, session reviews, GP letter templates, and completing discharge reports for every clinical case
• Completing psychometric assessments and a risk matrix for suicidal risk when necessary for each face-to-face contact.
• Participating in Continuing Professional Development activities on an annual basis and case supervision once per month to maintain an up-to-date level of professional competence in service.
• Providing clinical supervision of CBT trainees, Counsellors and Assistant Psychologists. (**)
• Working in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team and wider stakeholders where necessary.
• Working within the NICE guidelines for depression, PTSD, anxiety and other mental health conditions.
• Undertaking all relevant administrative record keeping tasks under OHW Service Policy for clinical record keeping, and management of caseload.

Evaluating and developing the Mental Health Service:

• Developing, implementing and clinically auditing own caseload.
• Developing psychological service literature for Districts, Departments and clients. (**)
• Attending regular meetings including the monthly multi-disciplinary team meetings and Mental Health Service team meetings.
• Writing, implementing and overseeing any changes to policy directives with contents that are relevant to CBT practices within the service. (**)

** Specific duties will be performed by Band 7 CBT, and amended according to experience and level of qualification.

This Job Description reflects the main duties and responsibilities associated with this position. It is not intended to be exclusive or exhaustive. 

Person Specification   

Essential Qualifications and Experience 

Honours Degree in Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Psychology or Psychotherapy, OR passed BABCP KSA.

And meet either:

Criteria A - Preceptorship Opportunity (***)

The applicant must currently:

a) Be undertaking a postgraduate qualification in CBT. 

b) Have 1 year experience working with adults in a mental health setting (may be as part of a placement). 

OR 

Criteria B - Accredited CBT Therapist 

The applicant must currently have:

a) A postgraduate diploma or MSc in CBT or equivalent. 

b) Current accreditation with British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) as a CBT therapist.

*** Criteria A - Following a period of preceptorship the post-holder will progress to Band 7 under the following conditions:

a) Once post graduate qualification in CBT has been obtained

b) Once accreditation with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) has been approved. 

It is anticipated that this preceptorship position at Band 6 will remain for a maximum of two years.

Essential Other   

• The successful candidate must have access to a form of transport which will enable them to fulfil the responsibilities of the job in full.
• IT literate specifically in the use of the Microsoft Office suite (including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook).

Shortlisting will be carried out based on essential criteria. 

Successful applicants will be retained on a merit list for future opportunities arising.  

We would encourage you to check the spam within your email system for any relevant correspondence.

Selection Methodology 

PSNI uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values to support all policing professionals. You will be assessed against the values and at the competencies level as indicated below. This will include both past and future focused questions.  Further guidance and information about the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) is available here on our website.

Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and essential qualifications and experience will be required to demonstrate their qualifications and experience for the following criteria:

Competency and Values Based Assessment 

Values

• Transparency
• Impartiality

Competencies – Level 2 Criteria A or Level 3 Criteria B

• We Take Ownership
• We Analyse Critically 
• We Are Emotionally Aware
• We Are Collaborative