Job summary
Practitioner Psychologist 8a: Bariatric Services
Fixed term 18 months 0.1wte
We are delighted to offer this opportunity to re-instigate specialist psychology services to tier 4 bariatric surgery. GHFT delivers approximately 100 bariatric surgeries per annum (range 50-100). It is a statutory requirement of NG246 (2025) and BOMSS (British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery) to provide Clinical Psychology in the bariatric MDT and psychological assessment for bariatric surgery. The Practitioner Psychologist is considered a vital part of the team.
This post has been vacant for a while, and we seek to employ someone at fixed term 18 months in the first instance with a view to trialling different ways of providing this service in the small number of hours available.
We encourage potential applicants to get in touch with both the psychology and the bariatric team for further information and discussion.
Additional working pattern details: Postholder required to work Fridays for the MDT
Main duties of the job
We are seeking a skilled and compassionate HCPC-registered practitioner psychologist to provide a specialist psychology service to tier four bariatric surgery and work alongside the multidisciplinary teams to address the psychological needs of these patients. To manage and hold clinical responsibility for a specialist caseload and provide highly specialist assessment and interventions focusing on identifying and treating complex psychological issues associated obesity specifically in the context of bariatric surgery intervention. To provide highly specialist advice, consultation, supervision and training as appropriate to colleagues within the Service and to work effectively within the multi- disciplinary health team. To contribute to service evaluation, audit, research and policy development. To promote psychological thinking in collaboration with MDT colleagues. To provide clinical and/or research supervision to less experienced psychologists.
About us
An innovative, stimulating and well organised environment - part of a well-established Clinical Health Psychology department employing a range of applied psychologists. A friendly and supportive team of colleagues, excellent peer support and regular supervision, with an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
At Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust we take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.
With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals.
As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To apply specialist knowledge and psychological skills to support individuals, with psychological changes related to weight management and bariatric surgery including assessments, formulation, therapeutic interventions, family / carer support, and teaching and consultation to the wider multi-disciplinary healthcare team.
- To deliver patient group education sessions that support self-management and psychological adjustment.
- To undertake comprehensive pre-surgical consultations which include psychologically based risk assessments and risk management planning.
- To actively involve people in developing and agreeing their own care plan, to act as an advocate and ensure that there is proper regard for their dignity, choice, self-esteem, racial, cultural, sexual, generational and religious needs and preferences.
- To work in partnership with the multi-disciplinary team and other care partners as required.
- Effective communication of highly complex, delicate and often unwelcome information to patients, carers and staff within a highly emotive atmosphere, in a rapidly changing context. This involves working alone with patients who may be in a highly emotional or distressed state. This requires a high level of communication skills.
- Provide specialised advice, supervision and consultation on care, therapy, and psychological aspects of health to multidisciplinary teams and HCPs.
- Take responsibility for managing own time, planning of patient clinics and other clinical work. Organising workload of, and supervising trainees / students / assistant psychologists where appropriate.
- To have responsibility for maintaining clear and accurate patient records in the department and in hospital health care records, including letter writing and reports to other health care colleagues and other relevant agencies.
- Application of current evidence based interventions in clinical/counselling/psychology.
- There will be a frequent requirement for intense concentration during sessions and exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances. This may include occasionally dealing with verbally or physically aggressive patients.
Contact Details
Dr Julie Highfield (Chief Psychological Professions Officer)
julie.highfield1@nhs.net
0300 422 8513
June Beharry (Dietitian in Bariatric Surgery, Site Lead Nutrition and Dietetics)
june.beharry@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To apply specialist knowledge and psychological skills to support individuals, with psychological changes related to weight management and bariatric surgery including assessments, formulation, therapeutic interventions, family / carer support, and teaching and consultation to the wider multi-disciplinary healthcare team.
- To deliver patient group education sessions that support self-management and psychological adjustment.
- To undertake comprehensive pre-surgical consultations which include psychologically based risk assessments and risk management planning.
- To actively involve people in developing and agreeing their own care plan, to act as an advocate and ensure that there is proper regard for their dignity, choice, self-esteem, racial, cultural, sexual, generational and religious needs and preferences.
- To work in partnership with the multi-disciplinary team and other care partners as required.
- Effective communication of highly complex, delicate and often unwelcome information to patients, carers and staff within a highly emotive atmosphere, in a rapidly changing context. This involves working alone with patients who may be in a highly emotional or distressed state. This requires a high level of communication skills.
- Provide specialised advice, supervision and consultation on care, therapy, and psychological aspects of health to multidisciplinary teams and HCPs.
- Take responsibility for managing own time, planning of patient clinics and other clinical work. Organising workload of, and supervising trainees / students / assistant psychologists where appropriate.
- To have responsibility for maintaining clear and accurate patient records in the department and in hospital health care records, including letter writing and reports to other health care colleagues and other relevant agencies.
- Application of current evidence based interventions in clinical/counselling/psychology.
- There will be a frequent requirement for intense concentration during sessions and exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances. This may include occasionally dealing with verbally or physically aggressive patients.
Contact Details
Dr Julie Highfield (Chief Psychological Professions Officer)
julie.highfield1@nhs.net
0300 422 8513
June Beharry (Dietitian in Bariatric Surgery, Site Lead Nutrition and Dietetics)
june.beharry@nhs.net
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling
- Evidence of regular CPD
- HCPC registration
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a clinical setting in the NHS and of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
- Significant understanding of, and experience with, evidence-based psychological models and therapeutic approaches to health and illness
- Experience of providing advice, consultation and supervision to other healthcare professionals regarding psychological aspects of care
Desirable
- Experience of working in a surgical or bariatric setting
- Experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist in medical or acute healthcare settings
- Significant understanding and experience of working with people with physical health issues, ideally in an acute hospital setting, 1:1, with family members and groups
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Able to communicate in a highly sensitive and skilled manner, sensitive information to patients, carers and with staff members and colleagues in a compassionate and effective way, for example where there are high levels of distress, psychological risk, anger, or where barriers to self-care exist.
- Ability to put psychological theory into practice in novel and complex clinical settings, synthesising data and theory from a range of evidence-based sources to create individual, group, team intervention plans
- Highly-developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment including the use and evaluation of psychometric scales within physical health settings; experience in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of audit and clinical data
Desirable
- Further relevant training eg; in specific therapeutic approaches or consultancy.
- Experience of brief interventions.
- Knowledge of healthcare systems and the contribution of psychology to these
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling
- Evidence of regular CPD
- HCPC registration
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a clinical setting in the NHS and of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
- Significant understanding of, and experience with, evidence-based psychological models and therapeutic approaches to health and illness
- Experience of providing advice, consultation and supervision to other healthcare professionals regarding psychological aspects of care
Desirable
- Experience of working in a surgical or bariatric setting
- Experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist in medical or acute healthcare settings
- Significant understanding and experience of working with people with physical health issues, ideally in an acute hospital setting, 1:1, with family members and groups
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Able to communicate in a highly sensitive and skilled manner, sensitive information to patients, carers and with staff members and colleagues in a compassionate and effective way, for example where there are high levels of distress, psychological risk, anger, or where barriers to self-care exist.
- Ability to put psychological theory into practice in novel and complex clinical settings, synthesising data and theory from a range of evidence-based sources to create individual, group, team intervention plans
- Highly-developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment including the use and evaluation of psychometric scales within physical health settings; experience in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of audit and clinical data
Desirable
- Further relevant training eg; in specific therapeutic approaches or consultancy.
- Experience of brief interventions.
- Knowledge of healthcare systems and the contribution of psychology to these
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
