Practitioner Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job responsibilities

Clinical Skills

1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of patients, carers and families referred to the chronic pain service. These assessments should be based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients , family members and others involved in the clients care. This will be carried out within a multidisciplinary framework.

2. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and / or management of the cognitive, emotional, behavioural, physical and psychological health of people with psychological distress in the Chronic Pain service, utilising a bio-psycho-social model, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patients persistent pain and broader problems.

3. To implement a range of psychological interventions both therapeutic and psycho-educational, for individuals, families and groups, using evidence-based interventions and best practice guidelines. In particular :

4 To provide psychological input to the Services multi-disciplinary Pain Management Programme. These are out-patient interventions based on cognitive-behavioural/ACT principles/ best practice guidelines as set out by the British Pain Society, for a group of patients with chronic pain.

5. To show clinical expertise in the area of individual and group mindfulness-based therapeutic techniques, as well as a strong clinical background in CBT and ACT principles.

6 To show expertise, familiarity and comfort in running group based psychology interventions, as a large dimension of the chronic pain service will rely on evidence based group programmes.

7. To show clinical expertise and sensitivity in the psychological management of acute distress, anxiety and despair related to persistent pain. This would include experience in working with suicide risk, hopelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma related symptoms, as well as a highly skilled ability to assess and manage deterioration in mental state.

8. To show professional skill and autonomous professional responsibility when evaluating and making decisions about psychological 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.

9. To show professional skill and experience/knowledge about patient selection for pain management interventional treatments, i.e.to form part of the multidisciplinary assessments of all patients entering the chronic pain service to select the most appropriate intervention programme available in the service.

10. In lines with Pain Management Programme guidelines, to show confidence and flexibility in providing individual psychological treatment when required before, during or after PMPs commence.

11. To see people referred by the chronic pain service with their families, and where appropriate, to provide psycho-education and brief couples/ family interventions, to help all members minimise the negative impact of their condition on their lives, and to maximise the families and the individuals potential to cope positively and improve their quality of life.12. To assess and manage clinical risk and mental health conditions, where appropriate, and to liaise with other mental health services (such as IAPT, secondary mental health and psychiatric liaison) to be able signpost patients to such services when indicated. To advise team colleagues on the psychological aspects of clinical risk and its management.

13. To work closely and within a consistently high and finely skilled professional framework with members of the Chronic Pain Service to ensure effective multi-professional communication and decision- making.14. To show highly developed skill and capability in working with a broad range of professionals and teams, from several areas of North East London, and Essex.

15. To communicate skilfully, highly complex and sensitive information, to people referred to the chronic pain service, their carers, families, and other professionals, taking account of sensory and cultural challenges to communication.

16. To provide specialist assessment and therapy to non-English speaking patients with the use of an interpreter, when necessary, communicating with a high degree of clarity and sensitivity to cultural and linguistic differences.

17. To attend and participate in clinical health psychological services team meetings, special interest groups and events.

Leadership

1. To show skill in the development of productive working relationships throughout BHRUT Chronic Pain Service BHRUT and NELFT Trusts.

2. To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.

3. To facilitate the development of a positive and supportive team culture by taking responsibility for dealing effectively with potential conflict.

4. To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.

5. To advise, encourage and share knowledge utilising the latest research and practice development, through literature and peer reviews.

Administration

1. To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times in both NELFT and BHRUT settings.

2. To take responsibility for ensuring their caseload is regularly managed and updated.

Communication

1. To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times in both NELFT and BHRUT settings.

2. To show professionalism in oral and written communication with patients, staff and managers.

Training

1. To receive regularly agreed (monthly) managerial supervision from the Consultant Clinical Psychologist of the team.2. To receive at least once monthly clinical supervision from the Consultant Clinical Psychologist of the team.3. To ensure that all statutory and mandatory training is regularly undertaken and up to date, and reviewed in managerial supervision. Furthermore, to show dedication and commitment to furthering clinical and specialist skills training through in-house and external training opportunities.4. To provide supervision and support to trainee clinical or counselling psychologists/ psychotherapists or counsellors on accredited training courses/assistant psychologists5. To be involved, as appropriate, in the shortlisting and interviewing of psychological staff to work within the service.6. To attend and contribute to Clinical Health Psychological Services group meetings.7. To gain additional specialist experience relevant to people with psychological distress in relation to pain management and to keep up to date and abreast of, evidence based practice and CPD, as agreed with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist and the Professional Lead and Strategic and Clinical Lead for Clinical Health Psychological Services.8. To attend training opportunities, conferences and specialist interest groups relevant to work with people with pain and related conditions maintaining up to date psychological knowledge and skills.9. To join and attend relevant professional and clinically relevant meetings, such as the BPS Faculty of Clinical Health Psychology and pain management specialist interest groups.

Additional Information

Additional information about protocols and guidelines while working at NELFT are outlined in this document.Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and ObjectivesEach individual and service will be set KPIs and achievement against these will be regularly reviewed. Performance against individual and service KPIs will be routinely monitored by your manager.

Review of this Job DescriptionThis job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organisation. To be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.

Other DutiesThere may be a requirement to undertake other duties as may reasonably be required to support the Trust. These may be based at other Trust managed locations.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge or the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies as applied to pain management programmes, individual and group pain specific psychological interventions. Knowledge or the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies as applied to specific difficult to reach groups (such as : personality disorder or people with severe physical disabilities or learning disabilities)
• An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities
• High level of knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two NICE-endorsed evidence based psychological therapies
• Up to date knowledge of NHS, DoH and Pain Society legislation and recommendations in the field of the psychology of pain management
• Knowledge and enthusiasm for working psychologically with people with long term physical health conditions
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practised within the fields of applied psychology
• Knowledge of relevant issues such as child protection, equality and diversity, and mental health policies.

Desirable

• Knowledge of models of supervision

Skills

Essential

• Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
• Skills in the application and delivery of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention, management and evaluation, including risk assessment and management.
• Expertise in the assessment and management of clinical risk, such as suicidal crises, if they present within the PMP setting.
• Skills in effective triage and signposting of patients presenting with psychological needs to the pain management service
• Ability to work expertise within a multidisciplinary team, and with pain management consultants; demonstrate consistency and professionalism in working with non-psychology team members
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues within and outside the NHS
• Able to work effectively in a team forming good working relationships with staff of all professions, working within the pain management service and broader Clinical Health Psychology Service.

Desirable

• Able to administer and interpret cognitive and neuropsychological assessments

Other

Essential

• To be aware and demonstrate NELFT and BHRUT Trust Values
• To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area required

Demonstration of Trust Values

Essential

• Putting people first
• Prioritising quality
• Being progressive, innovative and continually improve
• Being professional and honest
• Promoting what is possible, independence, opportunity and choice

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
• Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology, or equivalent accredited by the BPS
• At least 7 years post-qualification experience as a practitioner Psychologist.
• HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist.

Desirable

• Advanced CBT skills and professional registration with the BABCP
• Additional specialist training in advanced group and individual and family interventions

Experience

Essential

• Experience in running pain management programmes within a specialist pain management setting.
• Experience in working within an MDT in planning and developing pain management programmes
• Experience of delivering NICE endorsed evidence-based group and individual based psychological interventions in pain acute and chronic pain settings, in particular CBT and mindfulness based interventions
• Demonstrate further specialist training/ experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a specialist psychologist over a minimum of 18 months, or an alternative agreed by the Director of Psychology.
• Experience of delivering psychological therapy to a wide variety of client groups, ages, contexts and presenting problems, reflecting the full range of clinical severity, across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings, within the NHS.
• Experience of working with client groups and MDT's within physical health settings
• Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism and competence when presented with complex, emotive and distressing problems.
• Ability to work with a high level of autonomy and flexibility within the bounds of the job description and professional competence .
• Sensitivity to issues of equality with experience of the application of clinical or counselling psychology in different cultural contexts
• Experience of delivering psychological assessment and interventions with patients presenting with chronic pain/long term health conditions
• Experience of working flexibly when working with the pain management team, and adjusting clinical requirements to the needs of the service

Desirable

• Expertise and enthusiasm in line management and clinical supervision of psychologists, trainees and assistant psychologists
• Experience of undertaking neuropsychology assessments

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).