Band 8a Clinical Psychologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. A) Clinical:

1. To take a lead role in coordinating, planning and delivering specialist psychological services to the client group with needs under the care of the relevant service, including:

• Enabling the recognition and assessment of psychological needs at key points in the patient pathway
• Enhancing the psychological skills of frontline staff in dealing with mild to moderate psychological distress
• Developing criteria for referral to clinical psychology services
• Delivering highly specialist psychological interventions for clients experiencing significant psychological distress

1. To carry a caseload of clients requiring highly specialist psychological interventions and to assess, formulate, plan, deliver and evaluate their psychological care.

1. To provide specialist advice and consultancy on appropriate psychological interventions at different levels of need.

1. To provide specialist supervision, mentoring and support to staff within this service.

1. To provide a psychological perspective to the multidisciplinary teams to enhance the care and support given to the client group of the team.

1. To develop a highly specialist knowledge base and skills in the assessment and application of evidence based interventions for the relevant client group.

1. To contribute to team development and enhance team functioning.

1. To ensure effective communication and liaison with colleagues.

1. B) Teaching and Training:

1. To provide training to the multidisciplinary team in appropriate psychological care for the client group in line with national guidance including:

• Identifying, assessing and signposting for psychological distress.
• Developing general clinical skills to enhance the psychological care given e.g. communication skills, behaviour change strategies etc.
• Developing specific skills for supporting patients with mild to moderate psychological distress e.g. Level 1 and 2 skills.

1. To undertake and co-ordinate the supervision of Clinical Psychology trainees on placement from regional training courses.

1. To provide training and supervision to any assistant psychologists that may be in post.

1. To contribute to the teaching of students and trainees in psychology, medicine, nursing and other health care disciplines where appropriate.

1. C) Service Development:

1. To contribute to relevant service planning and strategic development, including the development of care policies and protocols where necessary.

1. To identify service priorities and initiate service developments within this service, in consultation with the Lead Psychologist/Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Health and relevant clinical managers.

1. To play a lead role in the development of multi-disciplinary services including staff training, service development and evaluation.

1. D) Professional:

1. To fully adhere to the Policies and Procedures of the HCP, including maintaining up-to-date registration.

1. To fully observe the BPS (2009) Code of Conduct and the DCP Generic Professional Practice Guidelines (2008).

1. To participate in clinical and caseload supervision arrangements provided by the psychology service.

1. To participate in the appraisal process, including identifying own professional needs and formulating a programme to address these needs.

1. To undertake such training/CPD as might be required to maintain ones own appropriate level of expertise.

1. To participate in such meetings as are necessary for the performance of the post e.g. clinical and team meetings within the service.

1. To participate in the Psychology Service team, business and professional meetings.

1. To be aware of and comply with all policies, procedures and directives of the Psychology Service and the appropriate Trust.

1. To maintain and further develop high standards of clinical psychology practice through co-operative working/networking with other qualified psychologists and involvement in professional audit.

1. E) Research and Audit:

1. To return accurate activity levels as required.

1. To participate in audit, peer review and personal review activities as required.

1. To participate in and develop service evaluation measures for annual use and contribute to an annual report.

1. To participate in audit and service evaluation activities examining the effectiveness of current service delivery and informing the development of services.

1. To engage in research relevant to service priorities as appropriate.

1. Clinical/Service Governance:

1. To support the development and implementation of effective Clinical Governance across the Psychology Service.

1. To promote the use of effective interventions and evidence-based practice in the service.

1. To participate in Clinical Governance processes in the specific service and in the Psychology Service.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Accredited British Psychological Society (BPS). Doctoral Clinical Psychology qualification or equivalent. Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Eligible for Chartered Psychologist status

Desirable

• Further specialist training relevant to the post Formal supervision training/qualification

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

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Great Western Hospital

Swindon

SN3 6BB

Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)