Clinical To provide highly specialist psychological assessments requiring advance theoretical and practical knowledge of a variety of psychological models to a broad range of patients i.e. inpatients, hospice residents, nursing home residents, outpatients and members of staff employed by the Trust, referred to the clinical health psychology service. This will be based upon the appropriate use, interpretation, and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, specialist knowledge within oncology & palliative care, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and others who may be involved in the patients care. To be responsible for formulating and implementing highly specialist psychological intervention plans for the formal treatment and/or management of a patients physical and psychological health problems based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patients difficulties employing evidence-based methods of efficacy, across the full range of health-care settings. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, including members of staff, carers, families and groups, within and across teams, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. To evaluate and decide on treatment options utilising physical and psychological theoretical and therapeutic models (e.g., systemic, cognitive-behavioural therapy) and highly complex factors, based on past psychological and mental health history and ongoing psychological developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family, or group, as well as constraining factors associated with the patients medical treatment, physical health status and prognosis. To decide upon appropriate courses of action (consulting as appropriate with supervisor / peers) and exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients whose problems are managed by psychologically based treatment plans according to a professional code of conduct. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to a patients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. To facilitate a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all patients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the patient group. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual patients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. To act as care co-ordinator, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating the planning and review of case conferences, advising on psychological management and reviewing psychological care for the individual with their family, carers, referring agents and others involved in the network of care. To communicate complex information in a highly developed, skilled and sensitive manner (respectful of patient confidentiality as appropriate) concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients and their families/carers. This is to include situations that may present with hostility and high emotion or that involve overcoming major barriers to acceptance, and to monitor and review progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care. Information may be of a highly sensitive nature, e.g. child sexual abuse, domestic violence, suicidal ideation. To provide highly specialist clinical assessment and therapy which will involve sitting still for substantial periods of time requiring intense concentration, exposure to aggression and highly emotive or distressing situations. To work face-to-face without staff nearby, with any associated risk of dealing with people with mental health problems such as aggression and self-neglect. This is in addition to the regular hazards of seeing inpatients, including exposure to infectious agents (such as MRSA) and offensive odours. To provide expert advice and support, training and development to facilitate the effective and appropriate provision of psychological care by all members of the oncology and palliative care treatment teams. To have an advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of clinical health psychology services provided by the NHS and other agencies for patients with a broad range of health difficulties Teaching, Training and Supervision In common with all clinical psychologists, to receive regular clinical professional supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines from a more senior clinical psychologist. To continue with the development (and recording) of acquiring highly specialist experience and skills relevant to areas of interest in clinical psychology and/or the service through protected CPD (as agreed with the professional psychology manager following BPS/DCP guidelines up to two sessions per month). To provide expert advice, consultation, training and supervision, to other members of the general team and specialities (as agreed) for their provision of psychologically based interventions to help improve patients functioning. To undertake and continue developing skills in the teaching of psychologically related workshops to health professionals covering a range of related clinical topics on an individual or group basis (e.g. Stress Management, Breaking Bad News, assessment of psychological distress). To contribute to, and continue developing skills, in the teaching of psychologically related workshops to patients e.g. Pain and Anxiety management / Adjustment to Illness. To advise/support/provide professional and clinical supervision of Clinical Psychologist colleagues, trainee, assistant Clinical Psychologists and other psychological practitioners to develop necessary clinical skills, knowledge and competencies. Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development To continue to develop and manage and be responsible for the delivery a highly specialist psychology service to meet the psychological needs of general health psychology patients. To work in partnership with other senior colleagues in the team to ensure development, co-ordination, evaluation and monitoring of a high quality, responsive service To represent Clinical Psychology on relevant strategic planning groups for relevant patient groups to advise, as appropriate, senior clinicians and managers on psychological aspects of patient care and to contribute to the strategic business planning process. To be aware of relevant government policies, reports, National Service Frameworks and clinical guidelines in relation to the development of the oncology and palliative care services. To participate as a clinician in the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. To support the working practices of clinical and non-clinical staff (students and postgraduates) within the framework of the service policies and procedures. To participate, as appropriate, in the shortlisting and interviewing process as a member of the interview panel for assistant, trainee and qualified clinical psychologists. To jointly plan psychology services for the general patient population with the Director of Clinical Health Psychology and team, and to advise the Director of necessary changes and developments in the service. Research and Service Evaluation To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members. To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research. To undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision. To work in collaboration with universities and other agencies as appropriate. General To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the postholders professional and service manager(s). To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology within and across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and annual appraisal. To include maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and its related disciplines through identified training needs. To undertake responsibility for maintaining the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, HCPC and Trust policies and procedures. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national, local and reporting of Trust policies (through journals / courses / intranet / internet distribution) in relation to the specific patient groups. To lead meetings within the department and across the general service and provide feedback to other team members as appropriate. To be familiar with equipment in the department. To drive to patients place of residence, or place of intervention (if appropriate) to conduct psychological assessment and appropriate intervention. To observe personal duty of care taking into account health and safety issues for self and others.