Job summary
This is an exciting new opportunity for an experienced, enthusiastic and motivated Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Macmillan cancer psychological service (MaPS) and a new psychology team within the Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC) within Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The post will be based primarily at Queen Elizabeth Hospital but also at University Hospital Lewisham for four days a week.
The MaPS team (two psychologists, two psychotherapists and an assistant psychologist) provides specialist psychological assessment and interventions for people with a cancer diagnosis, their families and loved ones, at all stages of their experience with cancer, as well as teaching, supervision, consultation and support to our multi-disciplinary colleagues.
Main duties of the job
We are a supportive and committed psychological therapies team, we see patients rapidly and flexibly, and are well-embedded within cancer services. This is a restructured role to provide additional leadership within the team and the postholder will have flexibility to develop the post to meet service needs.
The RDC is a new multi-disciplinary team which offers fast-track assessment to patients with vague but concerning symptoms of possible cancer, but who don't fit referral criteria for cancer or other specialist services. The psychology team provides rapid psychological assessment, brief intervention and signposting and facilitates the delivery of psychologically-informed care, to support the engagement of patients with the RDC pathway and to address previously unmet psychological needs. We are now in the process of moving out of the pilot phase and the post-holder will play a key role in continuing to develop the service.
This post provides a great opportunity to develop leadership skills, with a focus on the delivery of training, service development and working with multi-disciplinary teams, as well as improving specialist clinical skills, while working in two innovative, supportive teams within LGT cancer services where psychological input is highly valued.
About us
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a community focused provider of local and acute care, providing high quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. With a turnover of around £700 million, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham and a range of community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.
As an organisation, we've made significant improvements for patients and staff in the last two and-a-half years. This is reflected in our most recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection (from February 2020), which found improvements across the organisation and gave us an improved rating of "Good" in the Well-Led and Effective domains, in addition to the rating of "Good" that we had already achieved in the Caring domain. Our staff culture change programme has been key to the Trust's improvement journey, as we've stabilised our workforce by reducing vacancy rates and improving staff retention. We've also significantly increased the representation of minority ethnic leaders across our clinical and corporate teams.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post Title: Registered (HCPC) Senior Clinical/Counselling Health Psychologist
Department: Macmillan Psychological Support Team (MaPS) and Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC)
Responsible to: Lead Clinical Psychologist for the MaPS and RDC teams
Grade: 8a
Hours: 0.8 WTE (0.5WTE MaPS, 0.3WTE RDC)
Job Summary:
To provide a highly specialist clinical psychology service to adults with a cancer diagnosis, and their loved ones, referred to the Macmillan Psychological Support Team (MaPS), and to adults with non-specific medical symptoms referred to the Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC) as part of the suspected cancer pathway, including specialist assessment and treatment, training other staff and planning, implementing and monitoring outcomes.
To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate as well as contribute to service evaluation, audit, research, and policy development.
Key Result Areas & Performance:
Clinical
1) CLINICAL:
- To provide expertise in a highly specialist clinical area, which will contribute to psychological services in the MaPS and RDC teams.
- To provide highly specialist assessment and clinical formulation for clients with complex mental health needs associated with non-specific medical symptoms (RDC) and a cancer diagnosis (MaPS).
- To select, administer and interpret psychometric tests, requiring skilled manipulation of test materials, and interpretation and integration of complex data.
- To provide psychological reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users.
- To select and deliver highly specialist evidence based psychological treatments, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions, drawing on a range of theoretical models.
- To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.
- To be responsible for psychological interventions with carers of patients with a cancer diagnosis such as family members or friends involved in the client's care.
- To contribute to the effective working of the MaPS and RDC teams and to a psychologically informed framework for the service area, taking on specific roles or duties as agreed. 9. To communicate highly complex information in a skilful and sensitive manner with clients, carers and colleagues taking account of sensory and cultural barriers to communication.
- To be aware of risk relating to suicide as well as aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow Trust policies relating to its management.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To advise other members of the MaPS and RDC teams and other health care professionals on specialist psychological care of clients with cancer or on the suspected cancer pathway.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
Teaching, training and supervision
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC, BPS and Trust guidelines.
- To provide specialist training to staff in local services and other professions as appropriate.
- To provide clinical supervision for psychological work undertaken by more junior MaPS team members and trainee psychologists as appropriate and agreed with supervisor.
- To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the MaPS and RDC Services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and cancer and mental health and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
Management, recruitment, policy and service development
- To identify aspects of the service which could be improved and initiate and implement service development projects.
- To manage the workload and contribute to the appraisal of more junior qualified psychologists and assistant psychologists as required.
- To contribute to recruitment, short-listing and interviewing of more junior posts as required.
- To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and developing services.
- To participate in clinical governance initiatives as agreed by the relevant bodies.
Research and service evaluation
- To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the service provided by the MaPS and RDC Services
2.To contribute to the development of services through initiating, undertaking and supervising service evaluation and audit.
- To initiate appropriate research and provide research advice and supervision to other staff undertaking research within the service.
- To initiate the development of outcome measurement, assessment/implementation and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Partnerships
Communications and Relationships
- To disseminate highly complex and sensitive information to external agencies, staff, patients, relatives and carers when appropriate.
- To be highly skilled in both verbal and written communication.
- To maintain good working relationships with professionals, patients and others both within the service, the Trust and the wider community.
Professional standards and patient experience:
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with HCPC requirements and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
- To contribute to the strategic development and implementation of new initiatives e.g. national guidelines including NICE.
- To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and ensure professional development in line with the HCP Standards for Continuing Professional Development and Standards of Proficiency.
- To adhere to the BPS Psychologys Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in line with professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry where appropriate.
- To participate fully and implement standards devised from Trusts clinical and research governance activity.
- To ensure that the service provided is acceptable and accessible to the diverse communities which attend the MaPS and RDC services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post Title: Registered (HCPC) Senior Clinical/Counselling Health Psychologist
Department: Macmillan Psychological Support Team (MaPS) and Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC)
Responsible to: Lead Clinical Psychologist for the MaPS and RDC teams
Grade: 8a
Hours: 0.8 WTE (0.5WTE MaPS, 0.3WTE RDC)
Job Summary:
To provide a highly specialist clinical psychology service to adults with a cancer diagnosis, and their loved ones, referred to the Macmillan Psychological Support Team (MaPS), and to adults with non-specific medical symptoms referred to the Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC) as part of the suspected cancer pathway, including specialist assessment and treatment, training other staff and planning, implementing and monitoring outcomes.
To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate as well as contribute to service evaluation, audit, research, and policy development.
Key Result Areas & Performance:
Clinical
1) CLINICAL:
- To provide expertise in a highly specialist clinical area, which will contribute to psychological services in the MaPS and RDC teams.
- To provide highly specialist assessment and clinical formulation for clients with complex mental health needs associated with non-specific medical symptoms (RDC) and a cancer diagnosis (MaPS).
- To select, administer and interpret psychometric tests, requiring skilled manipulation of test materials, and interpretation and integration of complex data.
- To provide psychological reports, including relevant formulation, opinion and interventions, in order to inform referrers and, where appropriate, service users.
- To select and deliver highly specialist evidence based psychological treatments, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions, drawing on a range of theoretical models.
- To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions.
- To be responsible for psychological interventions with carers of patients with a cancer diagnosis such as family members or friends involved in the client's care.
- To contribute to the effective working of the MaPS and RDC teams and to a psychologically informed framework for the service area, taking on specific roles or duties as agreed. 9. To communicate highly complex information in a skilful and sensitive manner with clients, carers and colleagues taking account of sensory and cultural barriers to communication.
- To be aware of risk relating to suicide as well as aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow Trust policies relating to its management.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To advise other members of the MaPS and RDC teams and other health care professionals on specialist psychological care of clients with cancer or on the suspected cancer pathway.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
Teaching, training and supervision
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC, BPS and Trust guidelines.
- To provide specialist training to staff in local services and other professions as appropriate.
- To provide clinical supervision for psychological work undertaken by more junior MaPS team members and trainee psychologists as appropriate and agreed with supervisor.
- To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
- To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the MaPS and RDC Services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and cancer and mental health and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
Management, recruitment, policy and service development
- To identify aspects of the service which could be improved and initiate and implement service development projects.
- To manage the workload and contribute to the appraisal of more junior qualified psychologists and assistant psychologists as required.
- To contribute to recruitment, short-listing and interviewing of more junior posts as required.
- To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and developing services.
- To participate in clinical governance initiatives as agreed by the relevant bodies.
Research and service evaluation
- To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the service provided by the MaPS and RDC Services
2.To contribute to the development of services through initiating, undertaking and supervising service evaluation and audit.
- To initiate appropriate research and provide research advice and supervision to other staff undertaking research within the service.
- To initiate the development of outcome measurement, assessment/implementation and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Partnerships
Communications and Relationships
- To disseminate highly complex and sensitive information to external agencies, staff, patients, relatives and carers when appropriate.
- To be highly skilled in both verbal and written communication.
- To maintain good working relationships with professionals, patients and others both within the service, the Trust and the wider community.
Professional standards and patient experience:
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with HCPC requirements and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
- To contribute to the strategic development and implementation of new initiatives e.g. national guidelines including NICE.
- To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and ensure professional development in line with the HCP Standards for Continuing Professional Development and Standards of Proficiency.
- To adhere to the BPS Psychologys Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in line with professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry where appropriate.
- To participate fully and implement standards devised from Trusts clinical and research governance activity.
- To ensure that the service provided is acceptable and accessible to the diverse communities which attend the MaPS and RDC services.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Doctoral level qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent
- Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision at band 7 for a considerable period of time or of achieving responsibilities relating to the full KSF outline for a band 7 Psychological Therapist
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in clinical health psychology
- Experience in the provision of at least one evidence-based model of psychological therapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- Experience of supervising psychological therapist (including trainees) and having completed the relevant training
- Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity including experience of working within a multicultural framework
- Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit and other service evaluation projects
- Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area
Desirable
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with cancer and/or with complex mental health problems
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of having completed KSF outline at second gateway level for Band 7
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for patients being seen in a general hospital setting
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the HCPC
- Knowledge and understanding of a number of models of psychological therapy
- Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant psychological intervention sin the context of general medical presentations
- Evidence of continuing training in a specialist area of psychological practice through formal post-doctoral training (diploma or equivalent) OR a combination of specialist short courses OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a postgraduate diploma
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to cancer, mental health issues and child protection
- Awareness of racial and diversity issues through attendance of relevant training
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for patients with cancer and / or complex mental health problems
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Doctoral level qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent
- Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision at band 7 for a considerable period of time or of achieving responsibilities relating to the full KSF outline for a band 7 Psychological Therapist
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in clinical health psychology
- Experience in the provision of at least one evidence-based model of psychological therapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- Experience of supervising psychological therapist (including trainees) and having completed the relevant training
- Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity including experience of working within a multicultural framework
- Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit and other service evaluation projects
- Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area
Desirable
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with cancer and/or with complex mental health problems
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of having completed KSF outline at second gateway level for Band 7
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for patients being seen in a general hospital setting
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the HCPC
- Knowledge and understanding of a number of models of psychological therapy
- Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
- Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant psychological intervention sin the context of general medical presentations
- Evidence of continuing training in a specialist area of psychological practice through formal post-doctoral training (diploma or equivalent) OR a combination of specialist short courses OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a postgraduate diploma
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to cancer, mental health issues and child protection
- Awareness of racial and diversity issues through attendance of relevant training
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for patients with cancer and / or complex mental health problems
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).
