Consultant Psychologist- Inpatient Eating Disorders

Priory Group is the UK’S leading independent provider of mental health care and education services. We have an outstanding reputation both for the service we deliver and for the investment we make in our people and in our environment.

Set within landscaped gardens in Cheshire, Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal (close to Manchester) offers a range of complex mental health services, providing clinical excellence in our eating disorders, adolescent, rehabilitation, acute and PICU services. We use an eclectic model of care and intervention, drawing on a variety of evidence-based approaches.
We are looking for a qualified Practitioner Psychologist (must be HCPC registered) to lead the psychological therapies provision into the Eating Disorders Units. Priory is the UK's largest independent provider of Eating Disorder Services. We have a national offering of both outpatient and specialist residential services and inpatient services. The Eating Disorder services at Cheadle Royal have recently adopted the Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA) as the main therapeutic approach; however practitioners across the service also employ other interventions as appropriate to meet the needs of the client group.

The successful applicant will work with a multi-disciplinary therapies team, including a Clinical and a Counselling Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Family Therapist and Assistant Psychologists, which is embedded within a wider multi-disciplinary team of clinical professionals. The care and treatment provided addresses both the physical consequences of the eating disorder, as well as the related underlying psychological and social factors. The basic aim of treatment is to help to restore a healthier eating pattern whilst providing psychological support to help with the feelings that emerge during this process.

The clinical aspect of the role will involve psychological assessment, formulation, delivering both group and individual therapies, providing a psychological perspective to decision making around patient care, attendance at ward rounds and CPA review meetings, and working closely with and providing support to ward teams to foster a holistic approach to care. The post holder will form part of the leadership team within the psychological therapies department and will be involved in providing positive and containing leadership, supervision and consultation, and service development.

Suitable candidates will have relevant post qualification clinical experience of working with individuals with complex eating disorders and a confident grasp of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other relevant therapeutic modalities. Suitable candidates will also have training and experience in providing supervision. Experience in clinical leadership and service development is desirable. Interested applicants should have a strong interest in developing innovative practice, working with complexity, and working in teams. They should have effective leadership skills including self-motivation, effective communication, the ability to support and motivate others, and the ability to ensure the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.

There are excellent CPD and training opportunities for employees within this service, and funded and accredited training opportunities will be available and agreed as part of the role (subject the completion of a probationary period). Attendance at national conferences and research interests are also encouraged. The psychology department also has strong research links with local Universities, and provides placements for trainees from a number of different courses on both core and specialist placements.

Benefits include:

• Free onsite parking

• Subsidised lunches

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and your birthday off.

• Online benefits and cashback rewards

• Dedicated career pathway

• Competitive salary

For further information, please contact Dr Rebecca Dunn, Head of Psychological Services, 0161-428-9511 or rebeccadunn@priorygroup.com