An exciting opportunity has arisen for a fixed-term (12 months) placement for a Trainee Counselling Psychologist, to provide psychological assessment, formulation and therapy to patients with long-term physical health conditions within the Medical Psychology Service at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The main base is at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

The Medical Psychology service provides psychological assessment, support and treatment to medical patients within South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Please note that registration with a Counselling Psychology Doctoral training programme is a requirement for this post.

Main duties of the job

To provide, under supervision, a specialist medical psychology service to patients with long-term physical health conditions, ensuring effective, caring and compassionate services to patients.

To provide psychological assessment for patients with a variety of different long-term health conditions. Examples of long-term conditions may include: rheumatology conditions persistent pain chronic fatigue syndrome/ME diabetes renal conditions life changing injury/disability.

To develop psychological formulations in collaboration with the patient, taking into account complex biopsychosocial interactions and iatrogenic issues.

Following assessment, to provide appropriate signposting and/or referral to other services if required. This will require liaison with local talking therapy services and mental health teams.

To provide one-to-one psychological therapy for patients with long-term health conditions. Therapy will be focused on adjustment and self-management of long-term conditions. Therapeutic models may include Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT).

To support the long-term conditions psychology team with the delivery of therapeutic and psycho-educational groups for patients.

To work independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures

About us

Medical Psychology

The Medical Psychology service is made up of Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, Health Psychologists, Psychological Therapists and Counsellors. We deliver psychological assessment, intervention and support to patients with a range of medical conditions across the lifespan. We utilise third wave therapies (especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness) alongside CBT as the core therapeutic modalities, with training and supervision provided to support delivery of these approaches. We also carry out clinical audit, research and service evaluation. We have strong links with the Doctoral Training Programmes at the University of Teesside, and we provide teaching, placements and research projects for Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology and Health Psychology trainees.

The Trust encourages innovation and service development, and we actively support this within the Medical Psychology service. All clinicians are expected to take on service development and service governance duties as part of their role, both within the Psychology service and within the wider MDTs in which we work. We provide mentoring and support to deliver this.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions

Your Leadership Impact

Leading your Team to Success

Leading Into the Future

Service Improvement for Beginners

Developing your Service Improvement Skills

Lean Practitioner

The leadership and improvement programme aims to:

• Explore leadership within the NHS
• Promote Trust values and behaviours
• Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
• Equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.

After you complete these six and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house and externally provided courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Undergraduate degree in Psychology, or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society
• Must be registered on a BPS approved Doctorate in Counselling Psychology Programme.

Desirable

• Awarded a 2.1 or above for undergraduate psychology degree
• Qualification in one or more models of psychological therapy

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Good level of knowledge of Counselling Psychology theory and therapeutic approaches

Personal attributes

Essential

• Self-aware and emotionally resilient
• Compassionate and supportive attitude to patients and colleagues
• Keen to learn and develop, personally and professionally

Desirable

• Genuine interest in working with clients with physical health problems

Experience

Essential

• Experience of completing psychological assessments
• At least one year of experience providing psychological therapy
• Ability to use clinical supervision to support own practice

Desirable

• Experience working with clients with physical health problems
• Experience of working in the NHS, e.g.: as an Assistant Psychologist, Research Assistant, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Healthcare Assistant, etc.

Employer details

Employer name

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The James Cook University Hospital

Marton Road

Middlesbrough

TS4 3BW

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

328-NSC-6444304