Job summary
We have an exciting vacancy for a Band 8b Clinical Psychologist in the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
Join our friendly multidisciplinary team dedicated to supporting patients with complex neurological conditions in an intensive care setting. Your role will include providing specialised neuropsychological and psychological assessments, working closely with the clinical team to offer guidance on cognitive and psychological care, reducing distress, and promoting recovery. You will also participate in follow-up clinics, including post-critical care and bereavement support, playing a crucial role in supporting families.
As part of the Critical Care Unit, you'll join one of the largest Neuropsychology Departments in the UK, renowned for its clinical services and research. You'll benefit from CPD opportunities, research involvement, and regular team meetings.
Main duties of the job
This post is ideal for clinical psychologists with a background in neuropsychology and experience in adult neuropsychology assessment and intervention. Candidates must have:
- A postgraduate qualification in Clinical Psychology recognized by the British Psychological Society
- Registration with the HCPC
- Experience in conducting and interpreting complex neuropsychological assessments.
You will collaborate with senior team members to enhance neuropsychology input to the service, develop audits, research, and service development projects, and contribute to training and meetings. Strong communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team are essential.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree in psychology or related disciplines, and a Doctorate and/or PhD level in clinical psychology / clinical neuropsychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
- Doctoral level research completed in a relevant area of clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology
- Specialist knowledge of neuropsychological syndromes and functional neuroanatomy
- Knowledge of interventions and neuro-rehabilitation and an ability to guide and advise medical / nursing and therapy staff on these principles.
- Specialist knowledge of psychological assessment and interventions relevant to use in an acute setting for complex patients.
- Post-qualification in specialist psychological intervention (eg CBT, systemic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, psychosocial interventions)
Experience
Essential
- At least four years experience post-qualification of the application of clinical neuropsychology to specialist settings.
- Previous experience of working on acute neurology wards with complex patients (e.g. acute stroke care) with experience of neuropsychological assessment and psychometrics
- Experience of working across a range of clinical settings, client ages and neuropsychological syndromes
- Previous experience of working directly with families of neurological patients and delivering interventions individually or in groups
Desirable
- Previous experience of palliative care and bereavement work
- Experience of teaching, training and clinical supervision of other neuropsychologists and trainees
- Experience of working with people experiencing trauma or PTSD
- Post-qualification experience using cognitive rehabilitation techniques and psychological interventions (eg CBT, brief interventions, counselling, psychosocial interventions) with patients who have neurological conditions and their families
Skills & Abilities: Communication & Customer Care
Essential
- Demonstrates understanding of, and ability to, manage the needs of patients with acute and complex disability, including the use of supportive counselling skills as appropriate
- Demonstrates professional and effective verbal and written communication skills including excellent negotiation skills with patients, carers and other health professional staff in service delivery
- Ability to communicate highly sensitive information to cognitively impaired and/or psychologically vulnerable people and their carers, who may have significant barriers to understanding or acceptance
- Management of behavioural disturbances eg verbal aggression, inappropriate behaviour and risk of physical aggression from people with a behavioural / cognitive disturbance.
Personal & people development
Essential
- Ability to establish good rapport and professional working relationships within multidisciplinary teams and other agencies for extended periods of time
- Ability to show leadership, initiative and utilise clinical supervision in different services effectively
- Ability to identify areas for own personal / professional development through highly developed reflective practice skills and integrate knowledge gained into own practice
- Effective time management and ability to prioritise own workload
- Ability to autonomously manage own caseload
- Ability to represent clinical psychology in multi-disciplinary group settings and within specialist clinical services.
- Ability to complete clinical and research duties in an autonomous fashion.
Academic and research
Essential
- Previous experience of research indicating the ability to conduct research autonomously, with supervision as required.
- Interest in conducting scientific research within relevant areas of clinical neuropsychology
- Ability to critique and evaluate scientific data and best practice clinical guidelines
Quality and service improvement
Essential
- Evidence of working effectively in multidisciplinary teams
- Evidence of effective clinical reasoning in the assessment and management of complex neuro-disability.
Information processing (IT skills)
Desirable
- Competent IT skills (word processing, spreadsheets, statistical packages)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- A high level of interpersonal and communication skills.
- Must be able to cope with highly emotive and psychologically challenging demands of working with neurologically impaired patients for long periods of time.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a sensitive, caring and non-judgemental manner.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree in psychology or related disciplines, and a Doctorate and/or PhD level in clinical psychology / clinical neuropsychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
- Doctoral level research completed in a relevant area of clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology
- Specialist knowledge of neuropsychological syndromes and functional neuroanatomy
- Knowledge of interventions and neuro-rehabilitation and an ability to guide and advise medical / nursing and therapy staff on these principles.
- Specialist knowledge of psychological assessment and interventions relevant to use in an acute setting for complex patients.
- Post-qualification in specialist psychological intervention (eg CBT, systemic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, psychosocial interventions)
Experience
Essential
- At least four years experience post-qualification of the application of clinical neuropsychology to specialist settings.
- Previous experience of working on acute neurology wards with complex patients (e.g. acute stroke care) with experience of neuropsychological assessment and psychometrics
- Experience of working across a range of clinical settings, client ages and neuropsychological syndromes
- Previous experience of working directly with families of neurological patients and delivering interventions individually or in groups
Desirable
- Previous experience of palliative care and bereavement work
- Experience of teaching, training and clinical supervision of other neuropsychologists and trainees
- Experience of working with people experiencing trauma or PTSD
- Post-qualification experience using cognitive rehabilitation techniques and psychological interventions (eg CBT, brief interventions, counselling, psychosocial interventions) with patients who have neurological conditions and their families
Skills & Abilities: Communication & Customer Care
Essential
- Demonstrates understanding of, and ability to, manage the needs of patients with acute and complex disability, including the use of supportive counselling skills as appropriate
- Demonstrates professional and effective verbal and written communication skills including excellent negotiation skills with patients, carers and other health professional staff in service delivery
- Ability to communicate highly sensitive information to cognitively impaired and/or psychologically vulnerable people and their carers, who may have significant barriers to understanding or acceptance
- Management of behavioural disturbances eg verbal aggression, inappropriate behaviour and risk of physical aggression from people with a behavioural / cognitive disturbance.
Personal & people development
Essential
- Ability to establish good rapport and professional working relationships within multidisciplinary teams and other agencies for extended periods of time
- Ability to show leadership, initiative and utilise clinical supervision in different services effectively
- Ability to identify areas for own personal / professional development through highly developed reflective practice skills and integrate knowledge gained into own practice
- Effective time management and ability to prioritise own workload
- Ability to autonomously manage own caseload
- Ability to represent clinical psychology in multi-disciplinary group settings and within specialist clinical services.
- Ability to complete clinical and research duties in an autonomous fashion.
Academic and research
Essential
- Previous experience of research indicating the ability to conduct research autonomously, with supervision as required.
- Interest in conducting scientific research within relevant areas of clinical neuropsychology
- Ability to critique and evaluate scientific data and best practice clinical guidelines
Quality and service improvement
Essential
- Evidence of working effectively in multidisciplinary teams
- Evidence of effective clinical reasoning in the assessment and management of complex neuro-disability.
Information processing (IT skills)
Desirable
- Competent IT skills (word processing, spreadsheets, statistical packages)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- A high level of interpersonal and communication skills.
- Must be able to cope with highly emotive and psychologically challenging demands of working with neurologically impaired patients for long periods of time.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a sensitive, caring and non-judgemental manner.
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH
Queen Square
London
WC1N 3BG
Employer's website
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
