Job summary
This post holder will be an experienced applied psychologist with some additional post qualification training in their field. They are accountable for their own professional actions and moreover will implement broad policies in order to influence the local implementation of good clinical practices and procedures
The role includes the knowledge, skills and experience:
1. To use highly specialist psychological knowledge and skills to enhance the quality of psychological care provided to critical care patients. The current role is set up at 3 days a week outpatient clinics, 1 day inpatient and 1 day for meetings, supervision, admin and research work.
2. To offer a highly specialist and largely autonomous Critical Care Psychology Service to the Intensive Care service, including providing specialist training, mentoring and support to staff of the service.
3. To provide advanced and highly specialist clinical assessment and interventions to individuals experiencing significant psychological distress referred to the service.
4. To undertake regular teaching and training in psychological issues and approaches to healthcare to other team members.
5. To provide highly specialist advice and consultancy to patients, carers, families and professionals where appropriate.
Main duties of the job
A) Clinical:
1. To take a lead role in coordinating, planning and delivering specialist psychological services to critical care, including:
1. Enabling the recognition and assessment of psychological needs at key points in the patient pathway Enhancing the psychological skills of frontline staff in dealing with mild to moderate psychological distress Developing criteria for referral to critical care psychology services Delivering highly specialist psychological interventions for clients experiencing significant psychological distress
2. To carry a caseload of clients requiring highly specialist psychological interventions and to assess, formulate, plan, deliver and evaluate their psychological care.
3. To provide specialist advice and consultancy on appropriate psychological interventions at different levels of need.
4. To provide specialist supervision, mentoring and support to staff within this service.
5. To provide a psychological perspective to the multidisciplinary teams to enhance the care and support given to patients and ICU survivors.
7. To develop a highly specialist knowledge base and skills in the assessment and application of evidence based interventions for patients and ICU survivors.
8. To contribute to team development and enhance team functioning.
9. To ensure effective communication and liaison with colleagues.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Teaching and Training:
1. To provide training to the multidisciplinary team in appropriate psychological care for the patients and ICU survivors in line with national guidance including:
2. Identifying, assessing and signposting for psychological distress. Developing general clinical skills to enhance the psychological care given communication skills, behaviour change strategies etc. Developing specific skills for supporting patients with mild to moderate psychological distress Level 1 and 2 skills.
2. To undertake and co-ordinate the supervision of Clinical Psychology trainees on placement from regional training courses.
3. To provide training and supervision to any assistant psychologists that may be in post.
4. To contribute to the teaching of students and trainees in psychology, medicine,
nursing and other health care disciplines where appropriate.
C) Service Development :
1. To contribute to relevant service planning and strategic development, including the development of care policies and protocols where necessary.
2. To identify service priorities and initiate service developments within this service, in consultation with the Lead Psychologist/Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Clinical Health Psychology and relevant clinical managers.
3. To play a lead role in the development of multi-disciplinary services including staff training, service development and evaluation.
D) Professional:
1. To fully adhere to the Policies and Procedures of the HCP, including maintaining up-to-date registration.
2. To fully observe the BPS (2009) Code of Conduct and the DCP Generic Professional Practice Guidelines (2008).
3. To participate in clinical and caseload supervision arrangements.
4. To participate in the appraisal process, including identifying own professional needs and formulating a programme to address these needs.
5. To undertake such training/CPD as might be required to maintain ones own appropriate level of expertise.
6. To participate in such meetings as are necessary for the performance of the post clinical and team meetings within the service.
7. To participate in the Clinical Health Psychology team, business and professional meetings.
8. To be aware of and comply with all policies, procedures and directives of the Clinical Health Psychology Service and the appropriate Trust.
9. To maintain and further develop high standards of clinical psychology practice through co-operative working/networking with other qualified psychologists and involvement in professional audit.
E) Research and Audit:
1. To return accurate activity levels as required.
2. To participate in audit, peer review and personal review activities as required.
3. To participate in and develop service evaluation measures for annual use and contribute to related reports.
4. To participate in audit and service evaluation activities examining the effectiveness of current service delivery and informing the development of services.
5. To engage in research relevant to service priorities as appropriate.
F) Clinical/Service Governance :
1. To support the development and implementation of effective Clinical Governance.
2. To promote the use of effective interventions and evidence-based practice in the service.
3. To participate in Clinical Governance processes in the specific service and in the Clinical Health Psychology Service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
3. Accredited British Psychological Society (BPS) Doctoral Clinical Psychology qualification or equivalent Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Eligible for Chartered Psychologist status Working knowledge of the practices and approaches of other key disciplines, professions and agencies involved in the care and management network
Desirable
4. Further specialist training and clinical experience relevant to the post including EMDR Formal supervision training/qualification Highly-developed knowledge of two or more psychological model.
Knowledge
Essential
5. Post-qualification specialist experience in the field of clinical health psychology Experience in working in multi-professional teams. Knowledge of and experience using psychological models and evidence-based interventions for physical health and mood related issues. Post-qualification specialist experience working with complex needs Knowledge of recent developments in the field clinical, research, policy, legislation Significant experience of and evidence of commitment to multi-disciplinary working Knowledge of and experience in supervision models and delivery Experience of teaching and training across disciplines Experience in service development
Desirable
6. Post-qualification experience working with the relevant client group or in the relevant service Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts addressing issues of socio-economic deprivation or marginalization. Supervision of clinical psychology trainees Supervision of other multi-disciplinary professionals Evidence of engagement in research, for example through audit, clinical governance, clinical guideline setting Experience of working with risky clients as well as seeing clients in inpatient and community settings.
Skills
Essential
7. Range of relevant psychological assessment, formulation and intervention skills Evidence of clinical skills relating to the specific client group or service the ability to engage and empathise, promote health behaviour change Good written and verbal communication and liaison skills, including the ability to communicate difficult and/or sensitive information Good consultation, supervision and teaching skills Ability to work effectively and flexibly as an integrated member of a multi-disciplinary team Well organized with good administration and IT skills Ability to work autonomously and to manage own time and caseload Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively Ability to work in clinical situations involving highly distressing or emotional circumstances. Ability to articulate and interpret clearly the role of the profession of clinical or counselling psychology based upon a good understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy. Ability to produce high quality professional materials within specified deadlines.
Desirable
8. Ability to develop audit and evaluation measures and use effectively Competence in keyboard skills and using a range of software. Can manipulate and use psychometric testing equipment as required. Able to make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.