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University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Assistant Psychologist, Critical Care

The closing date is 21 July 2025

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Job summary

This post is an exciting and challenging opportunity for dynamic and self-motivated assistant psychologist to join the clinical health psychology service for the critical care department at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Derriford Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is comprised of two adjoining wards: a general ICU with up to 18 beds, and a Neuro ICU with up to 10 beds. Derriford Hospital is a Major Trauma Centre and is part of the Peninsula Trauma Network.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

The key component of the role will be clinical: providing assessment and screening of the psychologically and cognitive functioning of critical care patients, providing psychological first aid and psychoeducation and support ICU related rehabilitation. An emphasis with be on the assessment and treatment of patients at high risk of psychological distress and trauma. The successful candidate will work with referrals from the critical care team and other inpatient wards. They will also work with healthcare staff, supporting mental health and wellbeing, and supporting the unit's Expert by Experience group. The post holder will contribute to the department's service evaluation, research and audit activities.

The successful candidate will embrace the challenge of working both in critical care and following patients through onto the ward. The role is part of the multi-disciplinary critical care rehabilitation team, whose focus is on reducing the impact of Post Intensive Care Syndrome, which includes the physical, psychological and cognitive consequences of critical illness. A key part of the role will be multi-disciplinary consultation, assessment and intervention with inpatients.

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.

Details

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year £29,970 - £36,483 Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-LH-M7274029

Job locations

Critical Care, Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

1. The post holder will undertake work with patients on a one-to-one basis, contributing to highly specialist critical care psychology assessments and interventions, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist

2. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of critical care patients. This will include administering psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and carers.

3. The post holder will collate and summarise data, along with an observational record of the assessment session, for their supervisor.

3. To feedback specialist opinions to patients, families, carers and other professionals under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Health Psychologist.

4. To assist in the formulation and delivery of individual and group psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Health Psychologist.

5. The post holder will reliably and accurately record clinical and research information. This will include a combination of written and electronic records, using a range of software packages including Word, Excell, Teams, Access, PowerPoint, and SPSS.

6. To assist in the organisation of the waiting list.

7. To plan and prioritise own workload in respect of clinical, research and other activities.

8. To attend and participate in all relevant clinical and professional meetings.

For further details please see the attached JD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

1. The post holder will undertake work with patients on a one-to-one basis, contributing to highly specialist critical care psychology assessments and interventions, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist

2. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of critical care patients. This will include administering psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and carers.

3. The post holder will collate and summarise data, along with an observational record of the assessment session, for their supervisor.

3. To feedback specialist opinions to patients, families, carers and other professionals under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Health Psychologist.

4. To assist in the formulation and delivery of individual and group psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Health Psychologist.

5. The post holder will reliably and accurately record clinical and research information. This will include a combination of written and electronic records, using a range of software packages including Word, Excell, Teams, Access, PowerPoint, and SPSS.

6. To assist in the organisation of the waiting list.

7. To plan and prioritise own workload in respect of clinical, research and other activities.

8. To attend and participate in all relevant clinical and professional meetings.

For further details please see the attached JD

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience as an assistant psychologist in an applied psychology setting
  • An ability to apply basic psychological theory and knowledge to applied clinical work in a physical health.
  • Well-developed basic research skills, including a proven sound knowledge of psychological research methodology and statistical analysis

Desirable

  • Demonstrable clinical experience in a hospital setting
  • Demonstrable experience of working with critical care patients

Qualifications

Essential

  • Honours degree in Psychology (main subject) 2.1 or above.
  • Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society. Interest in the field of Health psychology.

Desirable

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

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to reliably and accurately record clinical and research information.
  • Ability to adapt communication for patients from different socio-cultural backgrounds, and with varying levels of cognitive, physical and psychological functioning
  • Excellent observational and listening skills, and the ability to communicate information clearly in both oral and written formats.

Desirable

  • Understanding and respect of issues of cultural and ethnic diversity
  • Being comfortable in dealing with uncertainty, lack of control, death and dying
Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience as an assistant psychologist in an applied psychology setting
  • An ability to apply basic psychological theory and knowledge to applied clinical work in a physical health.
  • Well-developed basic research skills, including a proven sound knowledge of psychological research methodology and statistical analysis

Desirable

  • Demonstrable clinical experience in a hospital setting
  • Demonstrable experience of working with critical care patients

Qualifications

Essential

  • Honours degree in Psychology (main subject) 2.1 or above.
  • Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society. Interest in the field of Health psychology.

Desirable

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

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to reliably and accurately record clinical and research information.
  • Ability to adapt communication for patients from different socio-cultural backgrounds, and with varying levels of cognitive, physical and psychological functioning
  • Excellent observational and listening skills, and the ability to communicate information clearly in both oral and written formats.

Desirable

  • Understanding and respect of issues of cultural and ethnic diversity
  • Being comfortable in dealing with uncertainty, lack of control, death and dying

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Critical Care, Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Critical Care, Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Principal Psychologist (Critical Care)

Dr Rachel Clarke

r.clarke1@nhs.net

01752431929

Details

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year £29,970 - £36,483 Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-LH-M7274029

Job locations

Critical Care, Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Supporting documents

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