An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Chronic Pain Service for an assistant psychologist to join an innovative team working across the Health Board. The successful candidate will work with adults who have persistent pain and would benefit from working with the MDT, taking a bio-psychosocial approach to pain management.

We are looking for a psychology graduate who is highly motivated, with excellent communication and empathy skills who can work independently and integrate into the multidisciplinary Chronic Pain Service, as well as being proactive in establishing links with other Secondary and Primary Care services and local third sector organisations.

We have strong links with the South Wales Clinical Psychology Programme and encourage participation in local special interest groups. For more information on what Hywel Dda can offer as well as a wonderful place to live, please visit our website.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Chronic Pain Service aimed at working with people who would benefit from a bio-psychosocial approach to pain management.

The successful candidate will contribute to and be a part of an evolving Chronic Pain Service and a wider Clinical Health Service within the trust and will support and work directly under the clinical supervision of a clinical psychologist to help enhance the psychological aspect of pain management within the Chronic Pain Service. This will include carrying out assessments, facilitating group and individual interventions, and contributing to service evaluation.

A high level of computer literacy and service evaluation skills will be required to produce clinical reports, assist with development of systems, and evaluate the projects.

The role involves working across various sites within the region therefore the ability to travel and adopting a flexible working week is essential. Applicants must have a recognised undergraduate degree in Psychology and have the Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society.

Experience of working with clinical populationswould be beneficial.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire

48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services

Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Chronic Pain service has the patient at the heart of everything that it strives to deliver. We believe in enabling people to make informed choices about their health and care, encouraging them to live the best lives possible. We are a three county service, spanning the entire Health Board. Remote working has enabled us as a service to continue serving our population and maintain a standard of care throughout the pandemic.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is situated in West Wales, which offers breathtaking scenery from stunning vast mountains, beautiful green landscapes, lush secluded forests to vast expanse of stunning golden sandy beaches. Its not just all wonderful surroundings with excellent links to the M4 you are never that far away from the cultural city centres of Swansea and Cardiff. Ferry links are on the doorstep enabling easy access to Ireland.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 09/10/2024.

Person Specification

Qualification & Knowledge

Essential

• First or Upper second class honours degree in Psychology with Graduate Basis for Registration with the BPS

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in a relevant area.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant paid or voluntary work with people with mental health or physical health problems

Desirable

• Experience in more than one area of work e.g. Adult Mental Health, Older People's Mental Health.
• Experience in an NHS setting.

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel between community NHS settings in a timely manner

Language Skills

Desirable

• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Employer details

Employer name

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Address

TBC - Hywel Dda UHB

TBC

SA61 2PZ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

100-PST041-0924