Job responsibilities
An
exciting opportunity has arisen for a 1.0 WTE Band 4 Assistant Psychologist
post at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The role is based within the
Neuropsychology Outpatients, department at St Jamess University Hospital,
working with people who present with a wide range of neurological and
neurosurgical difficulties. The successful candidate will support qualified
psychologists in their specialist neuropsychological assessment and
therapeutic work. The post-holders time will be mainly clinically-focused,
but opportunities to support research and development of the service are also
available.
Clinical
work will involve the administration and scoring of psychometric tests,
conducting initial triage appointments to assess patients coming into the
service, as well as delivering brief therapeutic interventions for patients
with functional neurological disorders. There will also be the opportunity to
support qualified clinical psychologists and CBT practitioners in the
delivery of groups for patients with various neurological conditions.
Receiving
regular individual supervision is integral to the post, and there are
opportunities to join in regular departmental meetings and group supervision.
We
would welcome applications from individuals with relevant qualifications who
have an interest and enthusiasm to work in clinical neuropsychology. Previous
experience of work in this area and of administering and scoring
neuropsychological tests is desirable.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical
& Research
1. To undertake cognitive assessments of
patients.
2. To undertake brief, structured
psychological interventions.
3. To contribute to the initial
screening / assessment of patients coming into the service
4. To undertake data collection, data
entry and analysis.
5. To undertake searches of
evidence-based literature.
6. To in the running of the research
activities where required
7. To be responsible for organising and
co-ordinating own workload
8. To work constructively with other
staff and to be responsive and proactive in relation to supervision
9. To attend and contribute to
appropriate department and project related meetings.
Supervision
1. To receive regular supervision in
accordance with professional practice guidelines.
2. To gain wider experience of
professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within
the principal service area where the post-holder is employed.
3. To develop skills and competencies
that assist in the delivery of current duties.
General
1. To contribute to the development and
maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active
participation in internal and external CPD training and development
programmes, in consultation with the post-holders professional manager.
2. To maintain the highest standards of
clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional
codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, Trust and Department
policies and procedures.
3. To undertake specific administrative
duties as required.
4. To perform other duties of a similar
kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by the
service.
To
be noted:
This is not an exhaustive list of
duties and responsibilities and the post holder may be required to undertake
other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the
manager.
This job description will be
reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such
changes will be discussed with the post holder.
The post holder is expected to
comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including
those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality
of Information.
5. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
A positive and professional
attitude
Effective communication skills
Constructive working relationships
Effective use of supervision
Highly developed ICT skills
Ability to follow and deliver a
manualised treatment protocol
6. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
An understanding of psychological
principles
An awareness of the emotional
challenges experienced by patients living with physical health problems
Psychometric evaluation
Use of statistical programmes and
analyses
7. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values.
8. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE
TRUSTS (WYAAT)
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of
Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across
West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible
care for our patients.
By
bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West
Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving
forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.
WYAAT
is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care
Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The
Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and
wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that
ambition.
9. INFECTION CONTROL
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
10. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer
working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident
Reporting system
11. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
The
jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient
or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,
ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
12. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The
jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
13. COMMUNICATION & WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS
Liaison with lead neuropsychologist
and other psychologists and CBT practitioners in the team
Liaison with the wider team of
neurologists, neurosurgeons and allied health professionals as required.
Liaison with external services and
agencies as required.
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical
Effort:
The
post holder will be required to move test materials i.e. the psychometric
tests. Each test is not very heavy and
are typically contained within a brief-case style housing. Lifting test equipment will be required
each time the post holder performs an assessment.
Clinical
work will also require the post-holder to sit for long periods of time
(typically 1 hour in duration) whilst delivering 1:1 therapy sessions or
longer for psychometric testing. Therapy sessions may be in person
(face-to-face) or via video consultation. The post-holder may also be
required to work with a laptop and be able to move this equipment in line
with their workspace.
Mental
Effort:
Mental
effort is sustained and considerable. Psychometric testing may occur over a
2-hour period.
Emotional
Effort:
Psychology
may be considered to be an emotive area.
Some patients will have histories of severe emotional, physical or
sexual abuse and some will be severely depressed and suicidal. Others will
have experienced traumatic incidents e.g. road traffic accidents, assaults,
work injuries or physical disasters. The post holder will receive regular
formal supervision. The supervision
acknowledges this potentially emotive component.
Working
Conditions:
In
this post there will be some exposure to patients who are intimidating and/or
physically aggressive. The Department has a system of panic alarms which can
be used and a departmental policy and procedure for dealing with aggressive
or violent patients. The Department works closely with mental health services
when required.
