No expressions of interest in Senior Psychologist post in Carrick-on-Shannon

A question by local councillor Paddy Farrell at the recent HSE Regional Health Forum in Galway revealed that there has been no expressions of interest in the Senior Psychologist post with the local Community Mental Health Team in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Cllr Farrell told the Forum, “We have a fantastic new health centre in Carrick-on-Shannon. I would like to know if the HSE has any plans to open a community psychology unit for adults and children separate to the acute or community mental health team.

Dermot Monaghan, Chief Officer, Community Healthcare Organisation, (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo), replied, “There is a Primary Care Psychology clinic based at the Primary Care Centre at Carrick-on-Shannon for children and adults referred to Primary Care Psychology services.

“This clinic is provided by a Senior Clinical Psychologist and is separate to the Community Mental Health Team for the area.

“It is envisaged that this clinic will increase its availability for child and adult referrals in the coming period.

“A second Senior Clinical Psychologist post was accepted from a national panel in recent weeks. This post is subject to the successful completion of standard HR processes that are underway.

“There is also a Senior Psychologist post with the local Community Mental Health Team in Carrick-on-Shannon. This is a funded post, approved for recruitment and was offered to the national panel in recent weeks. There were no expressions of interest in this post.

“This reflects the national trend at the moment where senior grade psychology posts are difficult to recruit to.

“Recruitment to this post is a service priority but success in filling the post will be difficult to achieve in the immediate future,” the reply concluded.