Job summary
About the Role
The Paediatric Psychology Service at Bedfordshire Hospitals is a welcoming and community-minded team working to support children, young people and families who are living with long-term medical conditions. Psychology is a valued part of our hospital's approach to patient care, and we work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues to support our children and families to thrive.
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated clinical psychologist to join our team, with a particular remit to lead on the mental health support for children on our paediatric wards and their families, as well as the staff teams and services that support them.
This role will suit someone who is passionate about paediatric health and about working at a systemic and organisational level to support the wellbeing of our patients, families, and staff. You will be joining a small, friendly, and innovative team of professionals who have experience of work utilising a range of psychological approaches and across a variety of medical presentations. Clinical supervision will be provided by the Lead Paediatric Clinical Psychologist.
Main duties of the job
You will provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations, and short-term interventions for patients and families who may be experiencing psychological and emotional difficulties associated with their physical health condition. You will play a key role in liaising with organisations such as CAMHS or social services, to develop pathways between acute and community care which support our young people and families. You will also support our staff teams, using your knowledge and experience to provide teaching, advice and consultation to help develop and embed psychologically-informed care within our organisation.
You will have a British Psychological Society accredited post-graduate doctoral degree in clinical psychology and HCPC registration. You will have experience of working with children, young people, and families (ideally in a physical health setting or with chronic health conditions), and the systems that support them.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Job description
Job responsibilities
Providing highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and brief intervention for children and families on inpatient wards who are experiencing psychological and emotional adjustment difficulties associated with a range of health conditions.
Providing advice and consultation on patients psychological care to colleagues from other disciplines, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.
Provide specialist mental health training to other professionals.
Supervision/management of other professionals in the mental health workforce (e.g. trainee clinical psychologists, psychology assistants, and health care assistants), to support the professional development of more junior team members.
To contribute to the analysis, development, evaluation and monitoring of operational policies and services, through the deployment of skills in research and service audit.
Risk management and liaison with CAMHS, social care, and other agencies as appropriate to children and young people admitted onto wards within the trust.
Leading on the provision of psychological services and supporting the service expansion by developing and implementing new pathways within inpatient care.
Maintain electronic systems for referrals, appointments, activity, and outcome monitoring.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Providing highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and brief intervention for children and families on inpatient wards who are experiencing psychological and emotional adjustment difficulties associated with a range of health conditions.
Providing advice and consultation on patients psychological care to colleagues from other disciplines, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.
Provide specialist mental health training to other professionals.
Supervision/management of other professionals in the mental health workforce (e.g. trainee clinical psychologists, psychology assistants, and health care assistants), to support the professional development of more junior team members.
To contribute to the analysis, development, evaluation and monitoring of operational policies and services, through the deployment of skills in research and service audit.
Risk management and liaison with CAMHS, social care, and other agencies as appropriate to children and young people admitted onto wards within the trust.
Leading on the provision of psychological services and supporting the service expansion by developing and implementing new pathways within inpatient care.
Maintain electronic systems for referrals, appointments, activity, and outcome monitoring.
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- BPS accredited doctorate in clinical psychology
- Registration with HCPC as practitioner psychologist
Desirable
- Formal training in supervision of trainee clinical psychologists
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working psychologically and providing evidence-based assessment, formulation and intervention for children, young people and their families across a range of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and community settings
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary health team and with children and families affected by acute or long-term physical health difficulties
- Understanding of current NHS/Social Care policies/ practices relating to mental health and services, and of safeguarding and child protection policies
Desirable
- Supervision of other clinicians
- Experience of working in an acute hospital setting, and of representing psychology within the context of multidisciplinary care
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Evidence of personal resilience and aptitude for dealing with potentially distressing and highly emotive clinical work.
- The application of psychology in different cultural contexts
- Skills in working across multidisciplinary settings and in multi-agency liaison and care planning
- Planning and organisational skills for caseload management and good time-management
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultancy and teaching/training to other professional and non-professional groups
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- BPS accredited doctorate in clinical psychology
- Registration with HCPC as practitioner psychologist
Desirable
- Formal training in supervision of trainee clinical psychologists
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working psychologically and providing evidence-based assessment, formulation and intervention for children, young people and their families across a range of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and community settings
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary health team and with children and families affected by acute or long-term physical health difficulties
- Understanding of current NHS/Social Care policies/ practices relating to mental health and services, and of safeguarding and child protection policies
Desirable
- Supervision of other clinicians
- Experience of working in an acute hospital setting, and of representing psychology within the context of multidisciplinary care
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Evidence of personal resilience and aptitude for dealing with potentially distressing and highly emotive clinical work.
- The application of psychology in different cultural contexts
- Skills in working across multidisciplinary settings and in multi-agency liaison and care planning
- Planning and organisational skills for caseload management and good time-management
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultancy and teaching/training to other professional and non-professional groups
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
