We are seeking a Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist with experience of working with people with complex mental health difficulties associated with long-term physical health conditions, Cancer or persistent pain to join our Clinical Health Psychology team. The post-holder will undertake individual and group work, consultation, supervision. The post offers opportunity to develop leadership skills such as joint referrals management and service development tasks alongside the Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

We are a positive, committed psychology team co-located with our Clinical Health Psychology colleagues, as such has peer opportunities with psychologists working into specialist posts in cancer, bariatrics, critical care, spinal injuries and paediatrics. There will be potential for accessing formal training and peer support in a therapy relevant to the client group. We are keen to build our skills mix and welcome applications from a range of theoretical perspectives.

We will consider applications from people whose main area of work since qualification has been in an adult mental health setting if they can demonstrate a good understanding and interest in the impact of physical health conditions.

We are unable to consider applications if you are yet to qualify, as registration with HCPC as a qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist is essential.

Informal visits or discussion encouraged, contact:

Dr Sobia Khan - Consultant Clinical Psychologist -01782 275188

Main duties of the job

To deliver a highly specialist service to outpatients as an integral member of the Clinical Health Psychology team consisting of a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Psychologists and Psychological Therapists. To provide psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to individuals and groups in order to facilitate emotional adjustment and promote improved quality of life. The post involves working with people experiencing psychological distress and complex mental health difficulties associated with living with cancer, persistent pain, long-term health conditions and medically unexplained symptoms. Consultation, referral screening, pathway / service development, clinical supervision, training and risk management will form part of the duties.

About us

Outstanding- our journey continues

We're proud to be only one of two specialist Mental Health Trusts in England rated Outstanding by the CQC. And we are not stopping there. Our aim is to be Outstanding in ALL we do and HOW we do it. And that's OUR aim for YOU.

You will be joining a growing and thriving clinical health psychology department, with strong links with the University Hospital of North Midlands and MPFT. There will be opportunity to get involved in projects related to service development and consultation across the various service areas for interested candidates. The Trust has opportunities for those who would like to develop their leadership skills and we will support further training e.g. in EMDR or ACT.

Stoke-on-Trent has excellent transport links and is easy to commute to from many areas. This is supported by a flexible working policy and the ability to work from home for at least 2 days per week. We would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with any interested candidates.

Job description Job responsibilities

Key Duties/Responsibilities

Clinical

To provide specialist psychological assessment of adults with mental and physical health difficulties utilising information from a broad range of structured psychometric and semi-structured clinical methods. To integrate this information into a psychological formulation of the client and his/her psychosocial environment, drawing on a range of psychological theoretical perspectives.

To provide psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to individuals and groups in a community clinical health psychology team setting in order to facilitate emotional adjustment and promote improved quality of life.

To undertake a range of psychological therapeutic interventions, drawing on a number of psychological models and employing a range of modalities. To make decisions about treatment options taking into account highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

To keep up to date with best practices and advances in practice.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the care of the liaison service integrating the contribution of other professionals on the basis of client need.

To take substantial professional responsibility and exercise autonomous judgement with regard to his/her professional practice.

To be responsible for providing a specialist psychological perspective in the multi-disciplinary assessment of service users and their families or carers.

To contribute highly specialist psychological advice and consultation to the multi-disciplinary formulation of appropriate therapeutic approaches or intervention plans, and to be involved in, or oversee specialist psychological aspects of their implementation in collaboration with other staff.

To undertake psychologically based risk assessment and risk management for relevant clients and to provide advice on the psychological aspects of risk to the multi-disciplinary team.

To consult with and provide specialist psychological guidance to carers and families of service users.

Policy and Service Development

To participate in multi-disciplinary meetings concerned with the delivery and development of clinical services and contribute a psychological perspective as appropriate.

To contribute/advise, as required, to the planning and development of the operational policies and service delivery in the Team through undertaking agreed project work.

To develop increased understanding of organisational and strategic development issues and to contribute to service developments as required.

To identify appropriate developments in the services provided with a view to address identified need, and to make recommendations, taking responsibility for implementing such developments as required.

To carry out service related development and project work under the direction.

To develop and maintain good communication links with the NHS, Social Services and other agencies working in the area of Adult Mental Health.

Teaching/Training/Supervision/Consultation

Where appropriate, to provide clinical training placements for Trainee Clinical Psychologists from appropriate courses, undertaking clinical supervision and teaching on placement, organising and monitoring workload and assessing clinical competence.

To provide training to the team, and wider staff as required.

To provide professional and clinical supervision as required

To be responsible for regularly consulting to and advising colleagues from other professions on psychological assessment and treatment methods.

Evaluation/ Research/Development

To remain informed of and critically evaluate current theory and research to support evidence-based practice in own professional work and to contribute this perspective in the multi-disciplinary team.

To contribute to the evaluation of the Service by participating in service-related audit, research and evaluation projects. To contribute to the project management of audit, assisting colleagues to develop service provision.

To initiate and conduct psychologically based research relevant to the care those people using the service.

To provide advice to members of other professions as required on research design and methodology.

Information Technology

Produces clinical case notes and reports in electronic format and manages them in accordance with Trust policies and professional guidelines.

Uses advanced computer skills including word-processing, desktop publishing, internet searching, email, databases and statistical analysis as appropriate.

Professional Standards and Guidelines:

Has a personal duty of care to ensure all equipment is used safely and effectively, following manufacturers instructions, immediately reporting any defects in accordance with local procedures.

Uses available resources efficiently and effectively.

Works as an autonomous practitioner accountable for own professional practice in respect of assessment, therapy and discharge of clients within defined caseload.

Works within the Professional Codes of Conduct of the relevant accrediting body.

Professionally accountable to the Principal Clinical Psychologist in Clinical Health Psychology.

GENERIC CLAUSES

• To maintain a broad understanding of the work of North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust as a whole, and actively contribute your ideas for the improvement of service provision.
• To ensure own actions contribute to the maintenance of a quality service provision.
• To be responsible for the self-development of skills and competencies through participation in training and development activities and to maintain up to date technical and professional knowledge relevant to the post.
• To participate in the Performance and Development Review and to undertake any identified training and development related to the post.
• To undertake statutory and mandatory training as deemed appropriate by the Trust.
• To develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues.
• To adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical / counselling psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• HCPC registration as a clinical psychologist

Desirable

• Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees

Experience Essential

• Experience of working effectively as a qualified clinical psychologist with adults with complex mental health needs
• Therapeutic work with clients with co-existing mental and physical health problems.

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of: Theoretical and applied knowledge of psychological approaches to adjustment to physical illness including specialised psychological assessments and interventions for clients with complex presentations and/or challenging behaviour

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

232-SPL-3793399-B