Senior Psychologist, Waltham Forest Psychiatric Liaison Service

Job description

Job responsibilities

To ensure the provision of high quality specialist psychological assessment to service-users presenting to psychiatric liaison services in psychological distress.

To ensure that specialist assessments are utilised to support the Acute and Rehabilitation Directorate to develop a crisis care plan that safely reduces risk and supports to service-user to reduce the current crisis and use of crisis services.

To offer support to the psychiatric liaison multidisciplinary team regarding the management of frequent users and people in psychological distress.

To ensure the provision of brief high quality specialist psychological treatment to service-users and their families in psychiatric liaison services. Treatments will include evidence-based treatments for depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, substance misuse, long-term conditions and personality disorder within the context of a general hospital (A&E department and inpatient wards).

To work closely and intensely with service-users identified by the Acute and Rehabilitation Directorate as frequent users of crisis services and requiring specialist input from psychological therapy.

To offer clinical supervision and consultation based on psychological knowledge and skills.

To utilise research skills for audit, measuring outcomes and contributing to research and training within the areas served by the team and service.

To be involved in service developments, as appropriate.

To work within professional guidelines and Inpatient and Acute policies and procedures.

1. To act as a highly specialist Psychologist by providing supervision, consultation and training including academic presentations to the team members and to other agencies.

2. To ensure own continued professional development, in line with BPS and HCPC guidelines.

3. To undertake own mandatory training.

4. To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.

Research and Service Evaluation

1. To use theory and research to inform evidence based practice in work with groups, individuals, and their networks in line with current and best practice.

2. To undertake or participate in relevant clinical research, service evaluation and audit in line with service objectives.

3. To undertake project management including complex audit and service evaluation with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision.

General and Professional

1. To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programs in accordance with Trusts clinical governance standards and the codes of practice and ethical guidelines of professional registration body.

2. To contribute to the development of best professional practice in psychology by taking part in regular supervision and appraisal and maintaining awareness of current developments in the field.

3. To maintain 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.

4. To maintain HCPC registration.

5. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific service user group and mental health.

Computer/Administration

1. To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trusts IM&T Strategy.

2. To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

3. To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral level qualification as a practitioner psychologist
• Professional registration with HCPC

Desirable

• Higher post graduate qualification in relevant area

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-qualification experience in working as a psychologist with service users presenting with complex mental health issues
• Experience of assessing and managing serious risk in relation to mental health issues
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of delivering training, teaching and consultation to multi-disciplinary teams

Desirable

• Experience of working in psychiatric liaison settings
• Experience of working in psychologically informed ways with physical health issues

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills- verbal and written
• Ability to work effectively, empathically and professionally in potentially highly stressful and emotive environments
• Supervisory skills- ability to supervise colleagues within psychological professions and other MDT disciplines

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

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Whipps Cross University Hospital

Whipps Cross Road

London

E11 1NR

Employer's website

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