Job summary
Thisis an exciting opportunity for a qualified clinical psychologist to developand/or build upon existing neuropsychological and neurobehavioural skills andknowledge. This may form part of workingtowards the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (QiCN), and as such,funding and provision of time to do so will be considered as part of the role.
StPeters Hospital is a 51-bedded neuropsychiatric hospital based in Langstone,Newport. It caters for people withorganic conditions, including dementia, Huntingtons disease, alcohol-relatedbrain damage, and acquired brain injury.The people we support and treat often present with behavioural andpsychological symptoms, including behaviours that challenge. We are looking foran enthusiastic, committed, and values-driven person to join our psychology team.
Main duties of the job
The successfulcandidate will deliver psychological input across the hospital. The postholder will work alongside acomprehensive multidisciplinary team including Senior Nurses, ConsultantPsychiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists,Dieticians and Physiotherapists. The post is supported by a WTE Assistant Psychologistsand is overseen by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. You will have akey role in informing and providing effective, evidence-based care pathwayswithin the service.
Although thepredominant focus of work is neuropsychology and dementia, there areopportunities for working with people with severe and enduring mental healthproblems, forensic histories and learning disabilities. Staff team work and risk assessment /management are components of the role.Therefore, we welcome applications from interested candidates who mayhave experience in specialties outside of neuropsychology, and would considercreating a job plan with a focus upon one or more of these particular areas.
About us
St PetersHospital is increasingly recognised as a centre of excellence and bestpractice. We are rigorous in following professional, clinical and policyguidance in order to support high quality care. We take a recovery andperson-centred perspective to all of our work and are committed to the currentagenda around reducing restrictive practice and improving relationally focusedcare. The service is an inaugural member of the Royal College of PsychiatryNeuropsychiatry Quality Network. The successful candidate will provide clinicalsupport, training and consultancy to our staff teams and there will beopportunities to inform service development.
Ourorganisation places a strong emphasis and value on psychological services andwill invest in your ongoing development. You will be part of a large clinicalservices department across our group with access to clinical and forensicpsychologists and allied health professionals. Research and networkinginterests are supported and encouraged. We have good links with local clinicaltraining courses and academic centres.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title: Clinical / Forensic Psychologist - Band 7 with preceptorship to Band 8
Base: South Wales
Hours of Work Hours of work per week according to the needs of the clients and the service.
Reports to: Head of Psychology / Local Lead Psychologist
Accountable to: Clinical Director
Conditions of Service: Ludlow Street Healthcare Group terms andconditions
Overall Objective: To provide specialised psychological assessment and therapy to clientsof the Ludlow Street Healthcare Group
To work autonomously in accordance with The British Psychological Society Code of Conduct, Ethical Principles & Guidelines, HCPC professional standards, and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures
To contribute to the development of local team policies and procedures in order to facilitate improvements in service quality
To train other professionals and contribute to the training of trainee clinical/ forensic psychologists
To utilise specialised research skills for audit, policy and service development, and research.
Health & Safety: All employees have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable LSH to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.
CLINICAL
To exercise autonomous professional responsibility and be legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional practice
1. To provide specialised psychological assessments using a wide variety of methods, including psychometric assessments, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care
2. To analyse, interpret and integrate complex assessment information where the data are often contradictory
3. To formulate plans for formal psychological therapy, based on a number of provisional hypotheses derived from psychological theory and evidence-based practice
4. To be responsible for implementing a range of specialised psychological interventions, for individuals, carers, families and groups
5. To adjust and refine psychological formulations and therapy options based on continual re-assessment of clients during therapy, monitoring and evaluating progress during the course of bout uni- and multi- disciplinary care, in order to maximise the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions
6. To be available to multi-disciplinary team colleagues for the provision of psychological advice on clinical practice
7. To communicate effectively with the client, his/her family and all others involved in the network of care, including professionals from other agencies
8. In highly sensitive clinical situations, to communicate, in a skilled and persuasive manner, complicated information about assessment, formulation and therapy plans with clients who may be confrontational or have major communication difficulties or be difficult to engage and maintain in therapy
9. To attend clinical supervision with appointed supervisor and to work under the managerial direction of the Head of Department
POLICY, SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE
10. To contribute to the development of multi-disciplinary policies and procedures
11. To suggest changes to the teams working practices in order to improve service quality
12. To make suggestions to service management on aspects of the service related to the team where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing
13. To contribute to clinical governance, escalate patient safety concerns, and adhere to internal and external ethics and safeguarding processes as appropriate.
MANAGEMENT AND RECRUITMENT
14. To exercise delegated responsibility for managing assistant psychologists, within the framework of the team/services policies and procedures
15. To act as a panel member in the short-listing and interviewing of assistant psychologists within the team, and other staff, as appropriate
TEACHING, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
16. To receive clinical, professional and managerial supervision and undertake appropriate Continuing Professional Development
17. To provide clinical supervision for designated assistant psychologists within the team and to provide clinical supervision for multi-disciplinary staff within the team, as appropriate
18. To develop and provide pre- and post-graduate teaching of clinical psychology as appropriate
19. To develop and provide basic training to other disciplines across a range of settings and agencies, where appropriate
RESEARCH AND SERVICE EVALUATION
20. To plan and carry out audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service, in order to help develop service provision
21. To maintain specialised skills in the critical appraisal of relevant research literature, for the purposes of adhering to, and developing, evidence based practice
22. To undertake appropriate research within the team
23. To provide research advice to other staff undertaking research within the team
FINANCIAL & PHYSICAL RESOURCES
24. To exercise a personal duty of care in respect of Ludlow Street Health Care Group
INFORMATION RESOURCES
25. To make appropriate notes of clinical sessions and accurately record and analyze observational data, psychological test results and research findings
26. To use the computer as necessary for clinical work, including literature searches, word processing, developing and maintaining training packs, information leaflets, inputting data, e-mailing, report writing and other tasks for the efficient running of the service
27. To maintain and promote the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance
28. To provide the post-holders line manager with an adequate data set of personal clinical activity and timesheet or other work record
GENERAL
29. To develop and maintain the highest standards of own professional practice
30. To contribute to the development of best practice in psychology by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner
31. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health
32. To comply with all Ludlow Street Healthcare Group policies, procedures and guidelines
33. To undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the post holders line manager
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
34. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are keen to hear from people who are looking for a developmental opportunity to progress in their careers, where additional support will be provided on the developmental pathway. There are opportunities to access specialist training in Neuropsychology. You may already hold approved clinician status. Applicants without such status can be supported and encouraged to work towards portfolio submission to support an application to register as an approved clinician if that is an area of development interest.