Stroke / Neuro Psychologist

Preceptorship up to 8A

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Practitioner Psychologist to work alongside our multi-disciplinary colleagues at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals in two psychologically informed services Stroke and Neurology. Emotional and psychological support is an integral component of the care these two progressive teams provide and the Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologist is a key and highly valued member of the teams. Multi-disciplinary team working is central to this role.

This is a perfect opportunity for a newly qualified psychologist, or a psychologist with previous experience who wants to develop their skills in physical health psychology. Prior experience of working in physical health is not essential, and we are very happy to consider job share and flexible working arrangements. The most important qualities are good communication skills, working co-operatively and thinking creatively.

You will join a growing team of psychologists, led by a Consultant Psychologist, providing a specialist physical health psychology service to people who are receiving care from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust.

This is a full time post which will be based at Worcester Royal Hospital.

Please contact Dr Heidi Napier on 07874 642290

Main duties of the job

1. Work as an independent and autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.

2. Carry a defined caseload of patients who have a varying range of severity and complexity of psychological issues, and provide support to their families and carers, as appropriate.

3. Undertake the screening, assessment, formulation, treatment and management of patients as required within the Service with a varying range of severity and complexity of psychological problems. In particular, patients with psychological conditions relating to management of their health difficulties, some of which may be highly specialised. Assessment and intervention to involve families and carers, as appropriate.

4. Use initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients and the Service.

5. Collaboratively evaluate the appropriateness of referrals from a number of sources referrals to be accepted as resources permit.

6. Carry a caseload of appropriate size, complexity and severity, including patients whose problems may be complicated by biological, social, familial, environmental and educational factors, physical ill-health or bereavement and may be presented in a challenging or distressed manner.

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

Best services for local people

Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients

Best use of resources

Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Work as an independent and autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.

2. Carry a defined caseload of patients who have a varying range of severity and complexity of psychological issues, and provide support to their families and carers, as appropriate.

3. Undertake the screening, assessment, formulation, treatment and management of patients as required within the Service with a varying range of severity and complexity of psychological problems. In particular, patients with psychological conditions relating to management of their health difficulties, some of which may be highly specialised. Assessment and intervention to involve families and carers, as appropriate.

4. Use initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients and the Service.

5. Collaboratively evaluate the appropriateness of referrals from a number of sources referrals to be accepted as resources permit.

6. Carry a caseload of appropriate size, complexity and severity, including patients whose problems may be complicated by biological, social, familial, environmental and educational factors, physical ill-health or bereavement and may be presented in a challenging or distressed manner.

7. Provide specialised psychological therapies which require specialist post-qualification experience, supervision and training to acquire the necessary clinical and therapeutic skills and personal resources.

8. Provide psychological therapy, where appropriate, making use of a variety of psychological models, as appropriate, with individuals, families, parents and/or groups.

9. Collaborate on direct and indirect clinical casework with the Service MDT and staff of other agencies, to enhance the capacity of other professionals to carry out their responsibilities.

10. Promote excellent psychologically-informed practice by staff in the Service and provide clinical leadership to other professionals who practice psychological approaches. Promote a service consistent and compliant with the philosophy of person-centred and evidence based practice.

11. Undertake risk assessments and risk management of individuals presenting with risk of vulnerability or self-harm. Provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.

12. Select and provide specialised psychological assessments, including developmental, cognitive and psychometric assessments, which require training and expertise to acquire the necessary dexterity, accuracy and observational skills. Interpret complex psychological data from a variety of sources, including neuropsychological tests, psychometric tests, and self-report measures, rating scales, structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, their relatives and others involved in the patients care.

13. Adhere to appropriate confidentiality guidance from the Trust, the HCPC and the BPS with respect to considering issues of risk, supervision and safeguarding.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:

As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role.

Applicants will be prompted in the application form to declare if they wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and their response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

If you have any queries about expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please contact Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) in confidence via email robert.saunders1@nhs.net

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

BSc/BA Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology

Post graduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

Post qualification training in specific, evidence-based techniques for use with clients with complex psychological presentations and/or physical health difficulties, across the age span

Evidence of regular further professional training and experience as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the BPS

Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling) by the BPS

Eligible for registration as a Practitioner member of the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology

Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Desirable

Training, study days or conferences relating to the delivery of psychological care on an acute / hyperacute stroke unit

Training in the supervision of other Psychologists

Training study days or conferences relating to physical health conditions

Experience

Essential

Experience in working with people who have physical health difficulties

A minimum of 2 years of experience working as a qualified Clinical Psychologist within a relevant area

Sufficient training and experience to be recognised by the Division of Clinical Psychology as a suitably qualified psychologist to offer clinical placements to trainee Clinical Psychologists

Training and experience in the application of psychological knowledge across a range of mental health presentations, including physical health

Experience of assessing an providing a wide range of psychological interventions to patients presenting with the full degree of clinical severity and across a range of clinical mental health presentations

Experience of conducting clinically relevant research

Experience of working with highly emotive and distressing problems

Experience of multi-agency/ multidisciplinary working

Therapeutic expertise in working with groups/carers/families

Experience of consultation to non-psychology staff

Experience of designing and delivering teaching and training

Desirable

Experience of working in stroke, neurology or neuropsychology services

Experience of working in an acute hospital setting (and supporting patients and their families)

Understanding of specific issues that might arise through working in an acute hospital settings.

Experience of representing psychology within the multi-disciplinary team.

Experience of strategic planning and service development

Experience of teaching or training psychologists on a doctoral training course

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

WR51DD

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9365-24-1217-2