Consultant Clinical Psychologist / Young Onset Dementia Team Lead

The NHS GG&C Young Onset Dementia Service works with people who are under the age of 65 with a diagnosis of dementia; and their families/carers. The service is multi-disciplinary, comprising Clinical Psychology staff, a Community Psychiatric Nurse (0.6 wte) and administrative support. The service provides specialist training, case consultation and guidance on assessment and diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia; and a range of psychological interventions to younger people with dementia and their families/carers. The service is delivered in partnership with Adult and Older Peoples Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), other specialist Mental Health Services e.g. Forensic Services, Acute Hospital specialties and Third Sector organisations e.g. Alzheimer Scotland.

The Consultant Clinical Psychologist will ensure the systematic provision of a high quality Clinical Psychology service to people with Young Onset Dementia and will fulfil the responsibilities of Clinical Lead for the Young Onset Dementia service, including operational management responsibilities for other disciplines working within the service. They will work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service and to ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for clinical delivery and professional supervision and support of all other staff within the service for which the post holder has designated responsibility, including clear systems for effective recruitment, professional appraisal, and the identification of CPD needs across the service/sector team. They will act as a highly specialist resource to the wider professional community and, as a major requirement of the job, to carry out research activities, audit, policy and service development.  

This post sits within the NHS GG&C Older Peoples Psychology Service (OPPS). OPPS provides a highly specialist service to older people within the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde area.  The mental health arm of the service is delivered through participation in Community Mental Health Teams for Older People around the health board area.  The department also includes an Acute Hospital Liaison Clinical Psychology service for older people in acute hospital settings; the GG&C Older Peoples Mental Health In-patient Psychology Team (OPIP); a Care Home Liaison Psychology Service in Glasgow HSCP; and the OPTIMAL Team, tasked with widening access to evidence-based PI/PTs across GG&C.  

The post holder will be a senior member of this psychology department and will provide leadership to the YOD Service. Professional leadership is via the Older Peoples Psychology Service and the Psychology Directorate.  The post reports to the Professional Lead for the Older Peoples Psychology Service. 

Informal Contact: Susan Conaghan, Professional Lead on or susan.conaghan@ggc.scot.nhs.uk             

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service can be found within the Candidate Information Packs 

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