Are you interested in the relationship between physical and psychological health? Then this could be the post for you! At the Plymouth Dialysis Unit (PDU) we are developing our Clinical Psychology provision, and we are looking for an enthusiastic psychologist to join our multi-disciplinary team.

The PDU supports individuals experiencing significant physical health challenges. Dialysis has a huge impact on the daily lives and wellbeing of individuals with renal failure. Our team strives to provide holistic care and we have taken action to address the historic lack of specialist psychological support for our client group. This post will be part of the developing Renal Psychology Service.

We are excited to be advertising a new Clinical Psychologist role for 37.5 hours per week. There may be opportunities in other areas of clinical health psychology within University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHPT), which could top up these hours to full time please do ask for more information about this if you are interested.

This is an opportunity to be inspired by remarkable individuals, from our service users and staff team to input into innovative service development and to develop your career in a nurturing environment. We would love to hear from you if you are interested in this exciting post.

Main duties of the job

As a Principal Clinical Psychologist at the Plymouth Dialysis Unit (PDU), you will be developing the renal psychology service within the unit. You will develop standard operating procedures, based on the best evidence available and after thorough assessment of the needs of the unit, its staff, service users, and their loved ones.

You will support the expansion of the service, including Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Psychologists and Undergraduate Students.

We encourage interest from applicants with experience in renal services or other areas of clinical health psychology. We urge candidates with diverse experiences and backgrounds, both personally and professional, to apply for this role. You will have protected CPD time to focus on your professional development and will be very much supported by the PDU team.

A job plan will support you to maintain a balance of direct clinical work, systemic working with the team, administrative duties, and professional development. You will have regular clinical supervision and line management. You can rely on a supportive network of local psychologists working in clinical health psychology at UHPT, and connections with the South West regional Renal Psychologists group. You will lead on developing our relationship with the local universities for teaching and trainee placements.

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

As a Principal Clinical Psychologist at the Plymouth Dialysis Unit (PDU), you will be developing the renal psychology service within the unit. You will develop standard operating procedures, based on the best evidence available and after thorough assessment of the needs of the unit, its staff, service users, and their loved ones.

You will support the Clinical Psychologist (Band 7) within the team, offering line management and supervision. You will support the expansion of the service, including Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Psychologists and Undergraduate Students.

Developing a psychologically informed workforce is a priority for the PDU. You will lead on training, consultation, reflective practice and facilitating team formulations, to embed clinical psychology within the service. You will offer consultation to support staff to meet the needs of individuals with the most complex psychological needs. Where appropriate, you will liaise with external agencies to provide the best possible care for the individuals accessing the PDU.

A job plan will support you to maintain a balance of direct clinical work, systemic working with the team, administrative duties, and professional development. You will have regular clinical supervision and line management. You can rely on a supportive network of local psychologists working in clinical health psychology at UHPT, and connections with the South West regional Renal Psychologists group. You will lead on developing our relationship with the local universities for teaching and trainee placements.

Detailed Job Description and Key Dimensions:

Clinical Responsibilities

To provide consultation to multi-disciplinary colleagues, formulating based on these consultations and advising the team on appropriate support and intervention.

To develop an understanding of the psychological needs of the wider dialysis population, identifying themes to inform service development and psychological care provision.

To use the clinical cycle (assessment, formulation, intervention, and evaluation) to shape individual work and wider service development.

To be able to communicate, verbally and in writing, psychological formulations, and treatment plans to an individual, appropriate professional colleagues and to family members and carers, as appropriate.

To have knowledge of several psychological models of understanding and managing clinical difficulties.

To develop and provide evidence-based group interventions where appropriate and in response to identified needs within the client group.

To adapt communication style to meet the needs of the individual, team, and context. Overcoming barriers to communication, such as those who have limited understanding or experience of psychological services.

To develop and maintain a high level of communication and relationship skills in highly emotive situations.

To contribute a psychosocial perspective within the multidisciplinary team including for those service users not directly on the psychological therapy caseload and attend individual service user reviews and risk management meetings where appropriate.

Liaise and work in partnership with other health service providers in the relevant areas and work with statutory and voluntary agencies in the community where appropriate, dependent on the needs of service users.

To respond appropriately to any risks or safeguarding issues identified. Communicating appropriately to service users, their families and liaising with other relevant services.

To ensure receipt of clinical and personal supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines for all clinical psychologists.

Systemic and Organisational Responsibilities:

To develop, facilitate and evaluate reflective practice sessions with the multidisciplinary team within the Plymouth Dialysis Unit and wider Renal services, where appropriate.

To support the multi-disciplinary team in developing an understanding of the psychological needs of the individuals they support, through facilitating team formulations. Particularly considering the needs of service users who are unable or unwilling to access direct psychological support.

To develop and facilitate appropriate staff training, meeting the specific learning needs of the multi-disciplinary team.

To provide supervision to the Clinical Psychology (Band 7) and other junior members of psychological staff (e.g. Assistant Psychologist, Undergraduate Student Placements).

To provide clinical supervision to non-clinical psychology members of the service, as appropriate (e.g. Young Adult Worker, Team Leads and Senior Nurses).

To facilitate group supervision for larger groups of staff (e.g. Healthcare Assistants, Nurses, Housekeeping and administrative staff).

To contribute with the development and monitoring of performance of the psychology service.

Professional Practice Responsibilities:

To prepare for and receive regular clinical supervision in individual and peer group formats.

To participate in mandatory training.

To ensure the development, maintenance, and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes and courses.

To engage regularly in personal line management reviews, including annual individual performance appraisal with line manager.

To attend regular regional renal psychology group meetings.

To engage with the wider University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust Clinical Health Psychology team.

To be an active member in national and regional renal operational delivery networks, representing renal psychology and the Plymouth Dialysis Unit.

To develop relationships with local universities to expand provision of teaching and placement opportunities.

To adhere to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Policies and Procedures.

For further details please see attached JD& PS.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• -A Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent e.g. Masters level qualification in Clinical Psychology if qualified before 1996.
• -Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC.

Desirable

• -Post-qualification specialist therapy/assessment training relevant to clinical health psychology.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• -Proven knowledge of the policy and legislative context of clinical psychologists working in physical health settings.
• -Understanding of clinical health psychology assessments and contribution to decision making around physical healthcare and treatment.
• -Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with service users, their families/carers.
• -Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team and across agencies.
• -Demonstrable experience representing clinical psychology within the multi-disciplinary team and advising staff groups supporting vulnerable individuals.
• -Demonstrable experience of undertaking specialist psychological assessments and providing evidence-based interventions, with the ability to work with individuals with complex needs and undertake risk assessments.
• -Demonstrable experience of providing teaching, training and/or supervision.

Desirable

• -Clinical demonstrable experience working with people with renal disease, chronic health conditions or during end-of-life care.
• -Demonstrable experience of the assessment of capacity to consent and providing consultation to capacity assessments across a range of issues.
• -Record of having published in peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books.
• -Proven knowledge of legislation and national standards and guidelines that relate this client group.

Aptitude & Ability

Essential

• -Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• -Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the organisation.
• -Demonstrable experience that evidences an ability to attend to diversity and work in a way that promotes anti-discriminatory practice.
• -Competence in research and audit/evaluation.
• -Ability to work under pressure and set priorities.

Desirable

• -Demonstrable experience in undertaking leadership roles within NHS clinical psychology services and contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary, multi-agency contexts.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford and Plymouth Dialysis Unit

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

216-YM-M6468250