Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

The post-holder will work within our Community Learning Disability Teams (CLDTs) providing appropriate psychological assessment and therapy for service users across the footprint. They will work as an integral part of the clinical MDT to deliver high quality psychological therapies within the specialised area of Learning Disabilities.

The post holder will work to provide assessment, formulation and, where appropriate, intervention to service users who present with complex mental health problems. Delivery of staff training and support for supporting teams/services regarding psychological principles is fundamental to this role.

The post holder will be responsible for the systematic provision of specialist psychological services for people suffering primarily from common and complex mental health problems. In particular, to provide services that meet the agreed service priorities consonant with the practitioners experience and expertise. Such services to include the development and implementation of specialist psychological assessment and intervention strategies including clinical casework and the provision of consultancy work generally for the assurance of quality in the use of psychological methods by other team members.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CLINICAL

To be a member of the service team and to contribute to, participate in and adhere to the routines and policies of that service.

To be responsible for the systematic provision of psychological services at a highly specialist level. To adhere to the organisation of the service particularly with regard to membership of the multidisciplinary teams.

Services will be based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations, and interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. Services will include the following:-

• Highly specialist one-to-one clinical consultations
• Highly specialist psychological assessment including issues of risk
• Psychological interventions for individuals, families and groups, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses
• Decision making for and evaluating 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
• Exercising autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based intervention plans
• Staff consultation contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and intervention plan
• Staff consultation on the use of psychological techniques
• Staff supervision in the use of psychological techniques

In particular, as part of multidisciplinary team working, to provide casework for people experiencing severe psychological difficulties. To prioritise workload to ensure that skills are used to address the more severe and complex psychological presentations within this area of work.

To supply services within the context of existing multi professional teamwork. To negotiate appropriate professional relationships with both statutory and voluntary agencies to both ensure the referral of appropriate casework and communicate highly complex clinical information.

To maintain the records of service in line with the information needs of the Trust.

To provide input to health, social care and community-based services to enable best practice and service user choice in line with local service accessibility. This may include inpatient environments, specialist departments, general practices, health centres, local day centres, and residential and nursing homes.

To manage frequent exposure to highly distressing and emotional circumstances, and maintain substantial mental effort through frequent and intense levels of concentration and attention.

MANAGERIAL

To support the formulation and implementation of clinical and operational practices and procedures as appropriate.

Support the implementation, monitoring and updating of an operational policy and philosophy for the clinical area.

To prioritise workload to ensure that skills are used to address the more severe and complex psychological presentations within this area of work.

To ensure awareness of the needs for service development and assist in the planning and advocacy of future service provision.

Ensure the principles of clinical governance are incorporated in service delivery by maintaining a high quality service based on agreed clinical standards.

Participate in managerial supervision.

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

To assist the supervision of other psychologists, psychological therapists, nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, assistant psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists within the service.

To undertake supervision of other psychologists, psychological therapists, nurses, occupational therapists and psychiatrists qualified clinical/counselling psychologists, assistant psychologists and graduate mental health workers delegated by the service manager/clinical and strategic lead.

To prepare for and implement a training placement for a clinical psychology trainee.

To receive appropriate clinical supervision to ensure quality of professional practice.

Through the personal appraisal process, to engage in professional development that ensures that Continuing Professional Development requirements are met and that eligibility for Chartering and licensed practice is both achieved and maintained.

To have access to up to one session per week (pro rata full time) for pursuing professional development following agreement with service manager/professional lead.

Provide evidence to support development around the Trust Appraisal system which may include the KSF or other competency profiles.

Participate in regular supervision, engage in reflective practice and be committed to continued development.

Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.

RESEARCH AND AUDIT

To undertake appropriate service audits and assist the research and development agenda by proposing areas of study appropriate to advancing the nature of psychological work within this service specialty.

To undertake doctoral research projects with trainee clinical psychologists as required.

To undertake regular audit and evaluation of the teams activity by the derivation, collection and analysis of appropriate data.

Undertake and participate in appropriate audit, quality assurance programmes and research as directed.

Person Specification

Achieved grade/years experience

Essential

• Achieved grade/years experience

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bridges Learning Centre

Crow Wood Health Park, Crow Wood Lane

Widnes

WA8 3LZ

Employer's website

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