Clinical Psychologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

To provide specialist psychological assessment of clients referred to the Early Intervention Service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.

Support the delivery of Behavioural Family Intervention and CBTp in line with NICE guidelines for Service Users on the Early Intervention care pathway.

Deliver evidence-based Interventions with the families of service users experiencing first onset psychosis.

Facilitate Early Intervention Team staff in providing service users and their families with a service that is culturally sensitive, needs led and ensure that these are of the highest standard in terms of equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

Contribute to multi-disciplinary mental health, and psychological assessments of service users and their families referred to the team.

Formulate, recommend and, where agreed, implement plans for formal treatment and/or management, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings

Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

To provide service users and their carers with clear information to assist them in making informed decisions about their assessments, treatment and care.

Provide specialist expertise, advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to formulation, diagnosis and a treatment plan for people experiencing a first episode of psychosis.

Utilise an evidence based approach to negotiate and manage clinical opinions and team discussions.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individuals including children and young people and to provide advice to other professions on risk assessment and risk management.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.

Managerial

To support the team in developing and building effective communication around the First Episode of Psychosis pathway between CNWLs mental health services and other external agencies

To contribute and lead on the implementation of local and national objectives.

Contribute to ensuring that a positive learning environment exists for clinical staff to ensure professional standards and training opportunities are made available.

To support the team manager in ensuring effective caseload management.

To represent the Early Intervention team at local mental health forums.

Identify aspects of the service which need to be improved and implement appropriate changes in conjunction with the team manager.

Work closely with and assist the team manager with team development and implementation of CNWL polices, contributing to policy formulation and review.

To support the team in meeting key performance indicators, targets and standards identified by the trust, with particular emphasis on therapeutic service delivery.

Ensure the promotion of health and safety, well-being and interests of clients, staff and visitors that come in to contact with the Early Intervention Team.

In conjunction with other senior team members ensure that implementation of clinical/management supervision for Early Intervention team staff in line with the trust policy and appropriate professional guidelines.

As negotiated and within time constraints, the post holder will be expected to attend and contribute to relevant clinical meetings of local adult services.

Educational

Receive regular clinical professional supervision from a relevant lead/head of profession and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues

To be responsible for ones own practice, supervision and personal development. This will be supported by the trusts performance and appraisal policy.

To maintain own professional portfolio in line with professional registration.

Provide advice, consultation, supervision and training to professionals working within the team and related services.

Undertake clinical audits within the service and participate in clinical trials when required.

Research and service evaluation

To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service valuation and audit

To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where clinical and/or organisational matters need addressing

To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members

To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research

To familiarise themselves with, and to comply with, the Trusts requirements on research governance.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes

To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in systemic and family therapy and delivery of CBTp across the service

To use computer software packages to prepare reports, presentations and documents relevant to working duties

To undertake administrative tasks in line with service requirements, making appropriate use of administrative support available.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology Or its equivalent, as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS
• HCPC registration
• Substantial specialist knowledge, theory and skills of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, including CBT for psychosis
• Critical understanding of the relevance of studies of human development, psychopathology, psychology, social issues and evidence based practice.

Desirable

• Accreditation as a CBT therapist
• Training in Family Interventions.
• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Skills

Essential

• Skills in the use of methods of cognitive behavioural therapy assessment, intervention and management including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and to develop formulations upon which to base treatment
• Well-developed skills in the effective communication of highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide variety of recipients in a range of settings within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce comprehensive and coherent letters, reports and associated documentation.
• Skills in working in multidisciplinary settings.
• Skills in providing advice and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Ability to work as a lone practitioner. To plan, organise and prioritise own work and patient caseload.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of family interventions in psychosis.
• Awareness of other models of Psychotherapy.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the speciality and mental health generally.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of specialist cognitive-behavioural psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment of adult patients in a mental health setting and presenting with problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
• Experience delivering evidence-based interventions to clients with psychosis, including CBTp
• Experience of the application of psychotherapy in difference cultural contexts
• Experience of working within an MDT setting.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering family interventions for psychosis.
• Experience of setting up and running groups.
• Experience of teaching, training and supervision.

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).

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

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

27-29 Fairlight Avenue, Harlesden, London, NW10 8AL

27-29 Fairlight Avenue

Harlesden London

NW10 8AL

Employer's website

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