This is an exciting and important opportunity to set up, lead and provide the GSTT Infected Blood Psychological Service (IBPS) which is based within the GSTT Haemophilia Centre. We welcome applications from HCPC registered Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologists with substantial post-qualification experience relevant to this context.
We aim to attract a committed, diverse, and talented workforce who are passionate about delivering psychological care within an acute hospital setting and adapting approaches to meet the needs of our services and service users. In return, we offer a supportive, dynamic work setting where you can link with colleagues and develop your career.
The GSTT IBPS is one of several new services across England commissioned by NHS England (funded for 5 years initially) following the recent Infected Blood Inquiry with the aim to support patients and their families infected/affected by contaminated blood products. The GSTT IBPS comprises of 1.0 wte 8b Lead Practitioner Psychologist, 0.7 wte 8a Practitioner Psychologist and 0.8 wte Advanced Social Worker. The service provides multidisciplinary care for those infected and affected by contaminated blood products by: a) conducting outreach and psychosocial assessments led by a social worker and b) providing psychological therapies. It collaborates closely with its Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), while maintaining a distinct identity.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the job are:
1. Lead on the implementation of the GSTT Infected Blood Psychological Service.
2. Work with the consultant psychologist and relevant leads within the directorate to oversee and deliver/implement key tasks and promote good governance.
3. Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, referrals and treatment to the service users as part of an MDT.
4. Independently report and manage individual caseload and to support the GSTT Haemophilia Centre MDT based on workload capacity.
5. Lead on the collection and analysis of data and to utilise research skills for audit, research and service development purposes.
6. Support outreach and engagement efforts with the service beneficiaries.
7. Supervise and manage prequalified/qualified psychologists.
8. Supervise, manage and oversee the contributions of other professionals (e.g. patient navigator/social worker, admin team) within their competencies as a psychologist and in conjunction with their professional leads and the Consultant Psychologist as required.
9. Engage with the service's supervision, training and education activities.
10. Contribute to the profession through attendance of Trust wide meetings as well as those regionally.
11. Routinely attend clinical and research meetings held by IBPS, GSTT Haemophilia Centre, HPS and GSTT Psychology.
12. Foster close collaborations with other regional providers of IBPS and with relevant third sector organisations.
About us
GSTT is an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the communities it serves. We are committed to equity and would particularly welcome applicants who can add to the diversity of the psychology service and who value working with diverse communities. As a flexible working organisation, we are open to discuss flexible working on appointment.
You will work in a team which values your unique experience, ideas and interests. You will work as part of the wider IBPS and the GSTT Haemophilia Centre MDTs. You will be supervised and line managed by the Consultant Clinical/Health Psychologist in Haematology and have close links with the Haematology Psychology Service (HPS) which has been providing psychological support to patients with blood disorders and their families at GSTT for over 20 years. The HPS is comprised of Practitioner Psychologists at various stages in their career and provides regular placements for Doctoral clinical psychology trainees, MSC healthy psychology trainees and psychology undergraduates. The team has a strong ethos of supporting each other, with access to reflective practice, learning spaces and Trust wellbeing initiatives. We meet regularly with other psychologists across GSTT and are involved in Trust-wide initiatives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
* Substantial experience of working as a qualified practitioner psychologist at the highly specialist level with clients presenting with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in the context of physical health problems, grief and trauma.
* Experience of supporting families through distressing experiences over time.
* Experience of providing supervision and management to qualified, pre-qualified and trainee psychology staff.
* Experience of representing psychology within an MDT, showing respect for different approaches and a desire to work collaboratively to enhance team cohesion and support.
* Experience of developing and carrying out complex audit, research and service evaluation projects.
* Experience of initiating and leading an area of service development.
* Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
Desirable
* Experience in the psychological management of haematological disorders and with those infected or affected by infected blood products.
* Experience in the psychological support of trauma relating to experiences of healthcare and associated impact on relationship to services.
* Experience of working with stigma.
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
* Doctoral level qualification or its equivalent in Clinical, Health or Counselling Psychology as accredited by BPS.
* Registered with HCPC as practitioner psychologist.
* High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies and how to apply these in a flexible way, according to a person's main and presenting concerns and relevant to the care of those infected and affected by contaminated blood products.
* Highly specialist knowledge of the literature on psychological problems associated with physical health problems, grief and trauma.
* Knowledge of how power may be exercised in discriminatory ways within healthcare, and to show skill in addressing acts of discrimination at the level of the individual and organisation.
* Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
Desirable
* Training and/or qualification in a specific area of psychological expertise beyond Doctorate.
* Knowledge of policy and guidelines relevant to the care of those infected and affected by contaminated blood products to inform psychological ways of working with both individuals and the wider system supporting them (professionals and significant others).
* Received formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
Skills
Essential
* Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professionals both within and outside the NHS.
* Well-developed leadership skills and ability to work effectively as a resource and role model for the inter- and multidisciplinary team, and contribute to effective team functioning with colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
* Significant experience and ability to undertake risk assessment of clients in relation to self and others, and refer on to appropriate services as necessary.
Desirable
* Skill to sensitively manage staff's performance-related concerns.
Employer details
Employer name
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address
St Thomas' Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
196-LIS9183 #J-18808-Ljbffr