Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and skilled psychologist to lead our specialist pain management and psychology service. Since 2013 we have provided an innovative pain management service for adults living with sickle cell disease, and have built up a significant reputation for excellence in the field. We are looking for applications from those with experience in pain management who would like to bring their clinical knowledge to a new and exciting area. The post-holder would work alongside a pain management physiotherapist to offer individual work and co-facilitate a pain management programme.

The service also offers inpatient and outpatient psychological support to those with mood difficulties associated with haemoglobinopathies, issues with adjustment, and treatment adherence, drawing flexibly on a range of psychological models. A full-time Band 7 clinical psychologist is already in post in the service; the 8a post holder will supervise the band 7 psychologist and co-ordinate the service to provide the best possible experience for service users.

As the lead for the RCPMPS the postholder would work closely and collaboratively with the haematology doctors, clinical nurse specialists, ward nursing staff and the apheresis team, who are very supportive of psychology and multi-disciplinary input.

Main duties of the job

The Clinical Psychologist will be the clinical lead for the RCPMPS, overseeing the work of the pain management service and the psychology service. The post holder will continue to develop the service and lead on developing and maintaining policies and procedures for the team, as well as recruitment and selection. The postholder will provide clinical and professional supervision for other members of the RCPMPS, as specified earlier.

As a clinician, the postholder will provide highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy (group and individual), offering advice and consultation on psychological aspects of pain management to other health professionals and supporting other clinical team members who provide care based on psychological theories and principles. Where appropriate, the post holder will exercise autonomous professional responsibility for clinical decisions, working within professional guidelines and the team's policies and procedures.

The post holder will be expected to utilise their knowledge of evidence based psychological interventions and research skills to liaise with other members of the RCPMPS and members of the haemoglobinopathies team to develop the service. The post holder will be expected to identify and implement audit and research projects to demonstrate the efficacy of the service.

The post holder will also be involved in the training and continuing professional development of clinical psychologists and other health professionals.

About us

The postholder is expected to have a clear understanding of how this post contributes to the achievement of the trust vision of:

A thriving Foundation Trust at the heart of an integrated healthcare system. One that delivers improved patient care at a community, hospital and specialist setting, supported by a unique and nationally recognised programme of research, education and employee engagement.

We expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the Trust, being Excellent, Kind, Responsible & Respectful, and behave in a way that reflects these.

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expects that all staff will share in this commitment. The Trust is clear that all staff have a responsibility to be aware of children and adult safeguarding policies and procedures and that each member of staff, clinical and non-clinical, will attend child or adult safeguarding training that is provided at an appropriate level to suit their role. The Trust has the additional expectation that all staff will be able to identify concerns and know what action to take.