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Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Employer
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Location
Watford
Salary
£55,877 to £62,626 per annum pro rata inc. 5% of HCAS
Closing date
13 Dec 2024
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An exciting opportunity of a one year secondment or fixed term contract (to cover maternity leave) has arisen for a Psychologist within the Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT) based at Watford. The MHLT works at integrating physical and mental health care for people attending the general hospital. The aim is to provide a multidisciplinary approach in understanding people presenting with co-morbid mental and physical health difficulties within a general hospital setting. The post holder will mainly focus on the provision of specialist assessment and intervention within a physical health context including the provision of psychology across hospital specialities, e.g. gastroenterology, diabetes, respiratory, dementia/frailty, and pain whilst also focusing on supporting with secondary care mental health presentations e.g. complex personality disorder.

Main duties of the job

The post allows opportunities to engage in service development initiatives, provide teaching/training and consultation across the acute care context. There is therefore scope for the post holder to develop specific areas of specialism and expertise and to develop and follow their own initiatives. Examples of such initiatives include projects focused on reducing frequent attendance to the Accident and Emergency (A& E) department based on a consultation model, group programmes for Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS), reflection work with acute general hospital staff and proactive psychological support for individuals at risk of lengthy hospital admissions. There is a keen focus on supervision, personal development and peer support opportunities.

The post will ideally suit a dynamic psychologist with excellent clinical skills who enjoys working within an MDT context in a fast paced, rapidly changing context. Whilst previous experience of working within a physical health setting would be advantageous, it is not a necessary as applications from those with an interest and desire to work within a physical health context and at the interface of mental and physical health would be welcomed. Enthusiasm, personal resilience and ability to work flexibly are essential.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will mainly focus on the provision of specialist assessment and intervention within a physical health context including the provision of psychology across hospital specialities, e.g. gastroenterology, diabetes, respiratory, dementia/frailty, and pain whilst also focusing on supporting with secondary care mental health presentations e.g. complex personality disorder.

The post allows opportunities to engage in service development initiatives, provide teaching/training and consultation across the acute care context. There is therefore scope for the post holder to develop specific areas of specialism and expertise and to develop and follow their own initiatives. Examples of such initiatives include projects focused on reducing frequent attendance to the Accident and Emergency (A& E) department based on a consultation model, group programmes for Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS), reflection work with acute general hospital staff and proactive psychological support for individuals at risk of lengthy hospital admissions. There is a keen focus on supervision, personal development and peer support opportunities.

The post will ideally suit a dynamic psychologist with excellent clinical skills who enjoys working within an MDT context in a fast paced, rapidly changing context. Whilst previous experience of working within a physical health setting would be advantageous, it is not a necessary as applications from those with an interest and desire to work within a physical health context and at the interface of mental and physical health would be welcomed. Enthusiasm, personal resilience and ability to work flexibly are essential.

For a More in-depth Person and Job Description please read attached before applying or

For further information, please contact: Dr Ikbal Kaur Bahia (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) 07747475297

Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

  • Relevant professional qualification i.e. Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Practitioner Psychologist Clinical
  • Professional qualification doctoral level or equivalent, which should include knowledge and application research methodology


Desirable

  • Experience of working in Mental Health Liaison Services


Area of Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of Psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the lifespan and presenting with the full range of clinical severity.
  • Knowledge of and some experience of cognitive and neuropsychological assessment
  • Knowledge of dementia and psychological issues associated with aging
  • Knowledge of the theory and practise of at least one evidence-based psychological therapy
  • Knowledge of research methodology and research design as practised within the fields of psychology / psychotherapy
  • Evidence of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
  • Abilities to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
  • Abilities to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
  • Abilities to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
  • Awareness of Child and Adult and Older Adult Safeguarding procedures
  • Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments
  • Knowledge of legislation, national strategies, DOH documents and NICE guidelines pertaining to Older people and understanding and knowledge of clinical/ practice governance
  • Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to older people with and without dementa
  • Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team


Desirable

  • Knowledge of physical illness and its impact on psychological health
  • Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research,
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision
  • Experience of working in a setting involving the assessment, treatment or care of people with both a physical and psychologicaldifficulties
  • Experience of service development/project management


Communication skills

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to communicate 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 NHS
  • Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating
  • Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multi-disciplinary team and the ability to respect and value other members' contributions and to encourage participation of all involved
  • Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
  • Ability to alert line manager/professional lead/team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public
  • Ability to time manage effectively and to work under pressure and to prioritise a clinical workload


Analytical skills

Essential

  • Positive problem solving approach
  • To critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work
  • High levels of numeracy, accuracy and interpretation of test results required for cognitive and neuropsychological assessment


Diversity

Essential

  • Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and boundaries with clients from diverse back grounds
  • Ability to apply clinical psychology in different cultural contexts
  • Ability to recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality and diversity


Physical Skills

Essential

  • Car Driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
  • IT Skills including the use of Microsoft Office and Outlook, entering data onto electronic patient records
  • Keyboard skills


Physical Effort

Essential

  • Ability to travel and work flexibly across different sites in Hertfordshire


Mental Effort

Essential

  • Ability to think clearly and express self
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Ability to deliver complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration


Emotional Effort

Essential

  • Ability to recognise signs of stress and seek the appropriate support
  • Ability to work with people whose behaviour is personally challenging


General

Essential

  • Ability to comply with professional standards (e.g. ACAT and IJKCP) and current developments in the field of eating disorders
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice
  • Flexible and positive approach to changing circumstances
  • Ability to identify own developmental needs and takes responsibility for personal development
  • Ability to act consistently with legislation, policies, procedures and other quality approaches and the ability to encourage and develop others to do so


Desirable

  • Personal experience of mental health problems


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Shrodells Unit

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

367-A&UC-8949

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