Overview: We are seeking a skilled and compassionate clinical psychologist to provide senior specialist psychological assessment, including neuropsychological assessment, support, liaison, and staff consultation for stroke patients seen across the stroke pathway in Gloucestershire. Job purpose: To provide highly specialist psychology input at an individual and organisational level to patients across the stroke pathway from hyper acute inpatient through to community early supported discharge. The role will support the development of a psychologically informed approach to stroke patient wellbeing. This includes developing and providing specialist interventions at an individual level and consultation for colleagues. Development of staff training across the pathway including skills development in neuropsychology, will be an important part of the role. The post forms part of the Clinical Health Psychology Department, based at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Required to act independently and be accountable for own actions within professional guidelines and trust policies. The post holder will be required to closely liaise with the Stroke Clinical Teams across the different stages of the pathway. Dimensions Organisation Chart/Accountability: The post holder will be managed within the Clinical Health Psychology Dept and supported by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Service Lead for Stroke. Within the stroke psychology service there is a further Band 8a Clinical Psychologist supporting the acute team and Band 4 assistant support across the pathway. Knowledge, skills and experience: Doctoral Degree in Clinical or Counselling Psychology Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council Significant understanding of, and experience with, working with people with physical health issues, including in an acute hospital setting Significant understanding of, and experience with neuropsychological assessment methods and working with people with cognitive or communication difficulties Significant understanding of, and experience with, evidence-based psychological models and therapeutic approaches to health and illness, (eg Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). A thorough knowledge of National Stroke Service Model and how it applies to the psychological and neuropsychological care of stroke patients across the pathway Experience in training other health professionals, including senior colleagues Experience in supervising psychologists and other health professionals Evidence of a commitment to continuing professional development Knowledge of psychometric scale development, use and evaluation within physical health settings and experience in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of audit and clinical data Knowledge of IT systems for clinical, training, and research purposes including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint Knowledge and experience of user involvement and equality of opportunity issues and their relevance to people working within health settings Experience of the clinical assessment of psychological functioning, cognitive abilities, mental health needs and capacity for therapeutically supported change using a range of strategies including clinical interview, patient reported outcome measures, and evaluation of information from other sources Skills required To communicate in a highly sensitive and skilled manner sensitive information to /with patients, family members, staff members and colleagues in a compassionate and effective way, for example where there are high levels of distress, psychological risk, anger, cognitive difficulty, or where barriers to self-care exist. Ability to undertake detailed and brief neuropsychological assessments, to use the outcome of that assessment to inform patient care, and support / train the wider MDT to do the same Ability to contain and work therapeutically with people in extreme psychological distress including depressive withdrawal, anger, suicidality, anxiety / panic, loss and bereavement, relationship breakdown Ability to put psychological theory into practice in novel and complex clinical settings, synthesising data and theory from a range of evidence-based sources to create individual, group, team intervention plans Ability to deliver training on psychological concepts in clinical settings at a variety of levels to staff and to evaluate / audit training Ability to evaluate and prioritise competing clinical demands and to use planned and ad hoc supervision as part of coping with these Mobile to meet the requirements of the post Initiative and flexibility Key Result Areas/ Main Duties of PostThe post holder will be required:Clinical, organisational, and leadership To provide specialist psychological and neuropsychological assessments of patients under the care of the acute and community stroke teams in Gloucestershire based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of sources including self-report measures, semi-structured interviews with patients and family members, and neuropsychological testing. To formulate and implement plans for management of patients psychological difficulties in relation to their physical health based on appropriate conceptual framework of the patients problems and employing methods of proven efficacy. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and high complex factors concerning historic and developmental processes that have shaped the individual. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals to contribute directly to the patients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. To build strong relationships with key stakeholders. To work independently and use own initiative in the day to day organisation of the role. To ensure outcome and service data is routinely collected (eg to contribute to SSNAP analysis) to demonstrate the impact of the interventions and to share learnings within and outside of the Trust, e.g. at meetings and conferences. To participate in service development projects, working closely with the Clinical Health Psychology leads and the other members of the team and to advise the lead of the need for service developments, policy, protocol or guideline developments. To provide clinical supervision to junior clinical psychology colleagues, assistants, students and trainees. To be aware of and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures and the professional practices for psychologists at GHNHSFT. To liaise with other disciplines and agencies working in the specialism to promote effective interventions and ensure best practice. To agree a job plan and undertake performance review for professional development with Line Manager, implementing the agreed plan for this on an annual cycle or more frequently as required. Professional To maintain and further develop high standards of clinical psychology practice through co-operative work with clinical colleagues. To adhere to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulations required as a registered Practitioner Psychologist, and to fully observe the BPS Code of Conduct and the DCP Professional Practice Guidelines To adhere to any professional guidance from the British Psychological Society, Department of Health, and the Trust, with particular reference to: informed consent, note-taking, confidentiality, information sharing and safeguarding. To engage with the appraisal process, continuing professional development, essential training and clinical supervision, as required by the Trust and the HCPC. To attend and actively participate in professional and clinical speciality meetings, and to keep the team updated with key issues, updates, developments, and risks. To provide cover within Clinical Health Psychology as needed. To maintain and regularly update practice within the current evidence base. To undertake applied clinical research and audit programmes, using a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies with the aim of improving health outcomes of patients. To be aware of and comply with legislation, guidance and training pertaining to safeguarding and the wellbeing of staff and patient safety. Use appropriate information technology to support teaching and training. An important characteristic of the job responsibilities is that the post holder is autonomous and personally accountable for his/her clinical decisions. To this end it is a requirement that the post holder ensures an appropriate level of consultation/supervision is undertaken and that appropriate overall supervision arrangements are made in accordance with professional practice guidelines to support this high level of clinical responsibility. Additional Contact: Name: Dr Aileen Thomson Job Title: Clinical Psychologist Email: aileen.thomson@nhs.net Phone: 03004228523