Principal Clinical / Health / Counselling Psychologist - Specialist Palliative Care, Band 8b
This is a newly configured post presenting an exciting opportunity for an innovative psychologist to develop inpatient psychology provision for specialist palliative care across our trust and within the oncology centre. The post is part of an award-winning psychology service and integrates with oncology and specialist palliative care services where psychology is highly valued.
Part-time hours may be considered - please contact us to discuss.
Additional Contact:
Samantha White, Clinical Lead for Specialist Palliative Care for further information: samantha.white4@nhs.net.
The proposed interview date is Thursday 6th February.
Main duties of the job
As a newly reconfigured post, this is an opportunity for a creative professional to engage in service development alongside existing posts in specialist palliative care (SPC), cancer & haematology. The post spans inpatient & outpatient clinical work, training, consultation & supervision, with an emphasis on a systems approach to the integration of psychologically informed care for services across both hospital sites.
As a highly experienced practitioner psychologist, you will be responsible for the development, systematic provision & evaluation of psychological services for people affected by life-limiting conditions known to SPC teams & oncology in GHNHSFT. The role works closely with MDT & managerial colleagues to achieve effective, evidence-based psychological provision for people accessing care under SPC services, with close links to oncology services & other key medical disciplines. You will work autonomously within professional guidelines ensuring that services provided are high quality, cost-effective, culturally appropriate & based on best clinical & professional practice, national strategic & policy guidelines.
The post is permanent & is split between the two sites of Cheltenham General & Gloucester Royal Hospitals with the post holder required to work in both locations. The service has strong links with Psycho-oncology services across the region & with local hospices, alongside a supportive & friendly clinical health psychology department with access to funded CPD.
About us
The role offers:
* An autonomous 8b role with the flexibility to develop and shape the service going forward, well integrated with the teams it serves.
* An innovative, stimulating and well-organised psychology department - part of a well-established Clinical Health Psychology department employing a range of applied psychologists.
* A friendly and supportive team of colleagues, excellent peer support and regular supervision.
* A commitment to the training and support of applied psychologists and active involvement in the local clinical doctoral courses.
* Dedicated time within the role for advancing special interests and funding for professional development from the Trust and with access to Macmillan funded education grants.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates, access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
* To work with a systems approach to support the psychologically informed care of patients and their families with specialist palliative care needs.
* To liaise closely with multi-disciplinary teams to provide specialised advice and consultation on psychologically informed care for people with cancer and other life-limiting conditions to non-psychologist colleagues, particularly where psychological factors are related to symptom burden, decision-making, treatment access or tolerance, ethical considerations or other complexities.
* To attend specialist palliative care MDT meetings.
* To provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy within the scope of the role.
* To contribute to the delivery of teaching, training and supervision for non-psychologist colleagues, for example, developing and promoting ways to identify psychological factors and respond appropriately.
* To formulate plans to support patients where there may be communication or cognitive difficulties or where reasonable adjustments are needed.
* To utilise research skills for the purposes of audit, policy development and research, joined with other practitioner psychologists and national colleagues.
* To contribute to service evaluation and service development in line with service objectives and with the aim of meeting national and local guidelines and targets.
* To liaise with multidisciplinary team colleagues, other health and social care agencies and staff involved with the care group, and with other psychologists both locally and nationally for professional development.
* To provide supervision to other qualified psychologists, such as the 8A haematology / palliative care clinical psychologist.
* To provide supervision for other psychological professionals where appropriate, including undergraduate and postgraduate psychology placement students, assistant and trainee psychologists.
* To support the development of clinical health psychology services and pathways through formal and informal links with practitioner psychologists providing clinical health psychology and liaison psychology services in both the hospital and local community.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling/health psychology as accredited by the BPS.
* Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable
* Further training in psychological approaches re palliative care, cancer or other life-limiting conditions.
Experience
Essential
* Substantial and demonstrable post-qualification experience of working as a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist with experience working with people with medical problems.
* Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the full range of clinical severity and across a range of care settings (outpatients, community, inpatients).
* Experience delivering highly skilled psychological assessments, interventions, follow-up and data monitoring utilising at least two therapeutic models.
* Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified healthcare professional and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary team approach.
Desirable
* Experience of working in specialist palliative care, cancer or other relevant acute service environments.
Knowledge/ Skills
Essential
* Ability to cope with a fast-paced work environment, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
Desirable
* Well developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies relevant to working with patients & families in an acute healthcare environment.
* A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multi-professional and uni-professional audit, and a desire to continue to develop expertise in the area.
Employer details
Employer name
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital & Cheltenham General Hospital
Gloucestershire
GL1 3NN
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