Job responsibilities
Clinical:
To carry out specialist neuropsychological assessments, on a case-by-case basis, of clients referred to the service, with 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 semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care, in order to reach a psychological formulation of the clients difficulties to support rehabilitation, or diagnosis. This includes pre-assessment counselling to support informed consent. To be responsible for holding and managing a clinical caseload and to exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the planning and prioritising of own workload and the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients, within the bounds of the service operational policy.
To formulate and implement plans for evidence based neuropsychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems.
To be responsible for implementing a range of complex neuropsychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining neuropsychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.
To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of complex clients whose problems are managed by neuropsychologically based care plans.
To provide consultation, mentorship, supervision and advice about psychological and neuropsychological issues at a high level of professional expertise to other members of the team/service and other professionals working with service users, across a range of agencies/ settings as appropriate. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically and neuropsychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.
To undertake highly complex risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological and neuropsychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management, including assessments of individuals who are frequently aggressive.
To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex and contentious 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.
To provide specialist psychological and neuropsychological advice, consultation, training and clinical supervision to other professionals in order to develop a psychological and neuropsychological understanding on the basis of which to plan, implement and evaluate evidence based interventions for clients with complex needs. To be up to date with both de-escalation, physical breakaway and PMVA techniques appropriate to the service environment.
Teaching, Training and Supervision:
To receive and provide regular clinical supervision.
To maintain an up to date knowledge of legislation, policy and developments in the provision of services relevant to the care group.
To keep abreast of developments in the relevant professional area of expertise and pursue further training within resources available. When appropriate to provide clinical placements for trainee psychologists, ensuring that trainees acquire the necessary skills, competencies and experience to contribute effectively to client care and to contribute to the assessment and evaluation of such competencies.Provide expert advice, consultation, training and clinical supervision to other members of the service.
To provide clinical and professional supervision to qualified psychologists and psychological therapists in the service.
To provide pre- and post-qualification teaching of applied psychology and psychological therapy, as appropriate.
Collaborate with managers, service users, carers and other stakeholders in the development of training and education specific to identified needs.
Management, Leadership, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development:
To participate as a senior clinician in identifying and implementing the development of a high quality, responsible and accessible service, advising both service and professional management.
To exercise delegated responsibility for managing the psychological resources available to a team in the form of psychological materials employed in the assessment and treatment of patients and supervising additional band 7 and 8a qualified and unqualified psychology staff as appropriate.
To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service area.
To be responsible for contributing psychological knowledge and expertise to policy and service development through participation, where practical, in regional multidisciplinary meetings and special interest groups, working parties etc that may impact on the functioning of the whole care group.
To propose and implement policy changes within the area served by the service and to contribute to the development of policy as appropriate.
To participate as appropriate in staff recruitment, for assistant, trainees and other professional psychologists. Contribute to local, regional and national policy developments.
To contribute to the maintenance of quality standards and to implement and maintain all relevant Trust policies
To report immediately any incidents affecting staff, users or visitors on Health Service and Local Authority Service property in accordance with Trust policies.
Managers will be expected to:
Understand the Trusts key priorities and those of your care group and translate these into key priorities for your care group
Ensure clarity and effectiveness in developing and designing roles
Ensure management of staff is consistent with Trusts HR Policies to the achievement of equality, equity and optimum performance.
Complete annual Appraisals for all staff which reflect these priorities and ensure staff have access to appropriate training and development
Communicate regularly through meetings with teams and individuals and provide opportunity for two-way feedback. Promote an effective team ethos.
Promote equality, diversity and rights, and treat others with dignity and respect ensuring services are developed, managed and delivered to meet specific needs linked to protected characteristics.
Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and contributing to developing equality of opportunity and outcomes in working practices.
Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed.
Ensure that colleagues are treated fairly. Behave in a non-discriminatory way and challenge the discriminatory behaviour of others. Be supportive of colleagues or service users who wish to raise issues about discriminatory practice or experience.
Research and Service Evaluation
To undertake and contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the use of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit ensuring incorporation of psychological frameworks for understanding and provision of high-quality care.
To participate and conduct research relevant to the areas of need served and provide advice to other staff undertaking research.
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in clinical work and work with other professionals.
General
To ensure HPC registration is maintained, complying with Continuing Professional Development requirements to maintain registration.
To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and where appropriate, external CPD training and development programmes.
To ensure the development and articulation of best practice in psychology within the service area and contribute across the service by exercising the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of applied psychology and related disciplines. Maintain an individual professional profile within the care group as direct evidence of clinical practice at an advanced level. Disseminate good practice through presentations and preparing relevant material for publication in appropriate professional journals.
To maintain and promulgate the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, Health Professions Council and Trust policies and procedures.
To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.
To work within agreed Trust policies and guidelines including adult and child protection guidelines and including health and safety regulations and policies.
To receive instructions from, and carry out any other duties as reasonably requested/ delegated by the Team manager and Psychology Lead.
