Job summary
The Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) invite applications for a newly created Clinical Psychologist Research Fellow specialising in pain.
This clinical academic position is to enable an early career clinical, counselling or health psychologist to develop a programme of research in psychological interventions for chronic pain.
Details of the Oxford Health BRC theme that supports this post can be found here: https://oxfordhealthbrc.nihr.ac.uk/research/pain/.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will be supported to develop a clinical-academic career. The position is funded by the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) - Pain theme. The BRC Is a partnership between Oxford Health and the University of Oxford. The post holder will be employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT), will include clinical work within the Oxford Pain Management Centre, Churchill Hospital and will be supported by relevant senior researchers in the University.
Applicants will have doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or health psychology and may have a PhD on a relevant topic in psychology. They will be registered with HCPC and have experience of providing specialist psychological assessments and delivering psychological interventions. The applicant should also have experience of training and supervising others in delivery of psychological interventions. Experience of conducting research trials is desirable.
The programme of work will:
- Align with the BRC Pain theme aim: "To provide the evidence-base for using a brain targeted and mechanism-based approach for the better treatment and management of chronic pain".
- Focus on developing and evaluating an intervention to support people during opioid reduction and preventing relapse.
- Have synergy with areas of clinical academic excellence within the University. That is, the Fellow, with guidance, will be able to draw on senior clinical-academic support in developing the work and their career.
About us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
People with chronic pain and long-term opioid use present a complex patient group with significant psychological comorbidities including, depression and poor self-efficacy, persistent pain, and a poor quality of life. Managed reduction in opioid dosing paradoxically leads to worsened pain, poor functioning and psychopathology. The Oxford Opioid Clinic, headed by Jane Quinlan, supports such patients to try and reduce or stop opioids, with many patients needing considerable mental health support to achieve material and sustained opioid reduction.
The role comprises two elements:
Designing and delivering the intervention (0.4 wte).
The postholder will work with the leads to design a multidisciplinary intervention to support patients during opioid reduction and prevent relapse and provide the psychological component of the intervention including using CBT and ACT models to support change.
Evaluation research (0.6 wte)
The post-holder will be responsible for designing the evaluation, data collection and analysis of the research programme evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention, including moderators and mediators of change. The postholder will develop assessments for patients before, during and after the intervention to evaluate outcomes, guide further development of the intervention and identify cognitive phenotypes in pain patients. The post-holder will be responsible for the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes, and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Please note:
This post is funded at agenda for change band 8a for 2.5 years with extension for a further 1.5 years dependent on satisfactory progress with the post-holders research output. Applications will be considered for either full-time or part-time. We also welcome applications from Clinical Psychologists who qualified in Autumn 2023 who can be appointed to a band 7 development post. The development post (previously known as a preceptorship) provides an opportunity for newly qualified Clinical Psychologists to be supported to develop their skills across the core dimensions of therapy, research, supervision, teamwork and leadership, with a view to being eligible for future promotion to the 8a post.
- All new starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process, aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale
- Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
- Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
- Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
- We are ambitious in our pursuit of excellence, driven by the belief that a fair, just and fully inclusive organisational culture enables our teams to deliver the best quality of care and services possible and we work hard to ensure that our diverse workforce reflects the communities that we serve.
- We welcome applications from all sections of the community, are an Equal Opportunities employer with a number of internal networking groups to support our employees and where possible will always look to make reasonable adjustments in order that you can fulfil the role to recognise your full potential. All our employees are committed to demonstrating through their behaviour our core values safe, caring and excellent.
- Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
People with chronic pain and long-term opioid use present a complex patient group with significant psychological comorbidities including, depression and poor self-efficacy, persistent pain, and a poor quality of life. Managed reduction in opioid dosing paradoxically leads to worsened pain, poor functioning and psychopathology. The Oxford Opioid Clinic, headed by Jane Quinlan, supports such patients to try and reduce or stop opioids, with many patients needing considerable mental health support to achieve material and sustained opioid reduction.
The role comprises two elements:
Designing and delivering the intervention (0.4 wte).
The postholder will work with the leads to design a multidisciplinary intervention to support patients during opioid reduction and prevent relapse and provide the psychological component of the intervention including using CBT and ACT models to support change.
Evaluation research (0.6 wte)
The post-holder will be responsible for designing the evaluation, data collection and analysis of the research programme evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention, including moderators and mediators of change. The postholder will develop assessments for patients before, during and after the intervention to evaluate outcomes, guide further development of the intervention and identify cognitive phenotypes in pain patients. The post-holder will be responsible for the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes, and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Please note:
This post is funded at agenda for change band 8a for 2.5 years with extension for a further 1.5 years dependent on satisfactory progress with the post-holders research output. Applications will be considered for either full-time or part-time. We also welcome applications from Clinical Psychologists who qualified in Autumn 2023 who can be appointed to a band 7 development post. The development post (previously known as a preceptorship) provides an opportunity for newly qualified Clinical Psychologists to be supported to develop their skills across the core dimensions of therapy, research, supervision, teamwork and leadership, with a view to being eligible for future promotion to the 8a post.
- All new starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process, aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale
- Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
- Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
- Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
- We are ambitious in our pursuit of excellence, driven by the belief that a fair, just and fully inclusive organisational culture enables our teams to deliver the best quality of care and services possible and we work hard to ensure that our diverse workforce reflects the communities that we serve.
- We welcome applications from all sections of the community, are an Equal Opportunities employer with a number of internal networking groups to support our employees and where possible will always look to make reasonable adjustments in order that you can fulfil the role to recognise your full potential. All our employees are committed to demonstrating through their behaviour our core values safe, caring and excellent.
- Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or health psychology
- HCPC Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
Desirable
- Training and experience in advanced research methodology and statistical analysis
- Have a PhD on a relevant topic in Psychology
Personal Qualities
Essential
- An interest in and positive approach towards working with people with chronic pain
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing specialist psychological assessments and delivering psychological interventions
Desirable
- Experience of conducting research trials
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or health psychology
- HCPC Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
Desirable
- Training and experience in advanced research methodology and statistical analysis
- Have a PhD on a relevant topic in Psychology
Personal Qualities
Essential
- An interest in and positive approach towards working with people with chronic pain
Experience
Essential
- Experience of providing specialist psychological assessments and delivering psychological interventions
Desirable
- Experience of conducting research trials
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).
