We are delighted to be recruiting to the post of Assistant Psychologist for the Evelina London Cleft Service (ELCS). This is an exciting two-year fixed term post providing a wide variety of experiences since it is a lifespan service seeing individuals with a range of physical and psychological needs.

We are looking for a motivated individual who has an undergraduate degree in psychology and an interest in gaining relevant experience to pursue a career in psychology. The post holder will join a well-established and highly valued team of psychologists embedded within the multi-disciplinary cleft team. This role will be to support and contribute to the psychological care of families and children receiving medical care from the ELCS. This will include specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes, under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist. The role involves working closely with professional colleagues in a collaborative manner to provide high quality, holistic care.

Main duties of the job

The ELCS is a multidisciplinary team including nurses, speech and language therapists, surgeons, orthodontists, and paediatric dentists, as well as psychologists. The standard care pathway takes patients from diagnosis through to the age of 20 years but the service also sees adults of all ages who are returning for care. Our psychology team provides input to children, young people, adults and their families (CYPF) across the age range. We are a regional service and, whilst the post holder will be based at St. Thomas' Hospital, they will have a remit across our wider region.

The post holder will support and complement the work of the Cleft Psychology team. They will work under supervision to provide psychological assessments as well as evidence-based interventions (including individual therapy and co-facilitating group interventions). The post holder will use databases and undertake statistical analyses to support the team to audit and carry out research.

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate emotional resilience and a capacity to maintain a compassionate approach even in stressful situations. The post holder will be self-motivated and professional, and enjoy supporting placement students. The post holder will benefit from the support of individual and peer supervision, and will be encouraged to undertake relevant CPD activities.

About us

The Evelina London Cleft Service (ELCS) was formed in 2000 following a report from the Clinical Standards Advisory Group in 1998 which recommended that the expertise and resources for cleft lip and palate services should be concentrated within a small number of designated centres throughout the UK. The ELCS provides highly specialised care to all patients with a cleft lip and/or palate in the South Thames region.

The service is currently delivered through outpatient and inpatient sites at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital (GSTT) and out-reach clinics throughout the region.

There are currently approximately 4500 active patients in the Cleft Service, with approximately 140 babies with cleft lip and/or palate being born each year in the network. The service follows the entire patient care pathway, from before the birth of the child through to twenty years old and to adults returning for further care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

See attached job description and person specification for full and complete information.

We would be very happy to share more about the post. For further information or an informal discussion please contact Dr Hollie Clark, clinical psychologist (hollie.clark@gstt.nhs.uk).

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
• Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential

• Work with individuals affected by physical ill-health and/or medical conditions/disability
• Interest in psychological difficulties affecting those born with a cleft lip and/or palate'
• Experience of using computers for databases or dataanalysis, especially SPSS for Windows

Desirable

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision
• Experience of working in health (Hospital) setting
• Experience of conducting audit and/or research of clinical relevance
• Experience of group work

Skills

Essential

• Sound knowledge of psychological research methodology & statistical analysis
• Good communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to engage & interact with individuals with health problems
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to families, carers and colleagues and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
• Ability to identify & employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to maintain the highest quality standards in clinical practice
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning

Desirable

• An interest in working with individuals and families affected by physical ill-health and/or medical conditions/disability and specifically visible difference and/or speech impairment
• Knowledge of the impact cleft can have of individuals and families

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-LIS8723