Practitioner Psychologist in Paediatric Diabetes, Band 8a

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be required:

Direct clinical intervention through the application of a range of psychological theories and models to analyse, understand and interpret complex situations and behaviours in order to formulate solutions and treatment which is tailored to individuals needs. This requires the capacity to engage in intense concentration for prolonged periods of time.

Although the post holder acts autonomously and is professionally accountable for their own practice, in common with all clinical psychologists undertakes regular supervision.

To work proactively and preventatively with the MDT to identify and intervene early in psychological concerns or distress. To also work with more complex cases appropriate for a physical health acute setting and to working jointly and consultatively with other colleagues. For example, with patients or families who have extreme difficulty in accepting their diagnosis or making necessary lifestyle changes, patients who have co-morbid mood difficulties or other psychological factors that affect adjustment, adherence and living well with diabetes.

Effective communication of highly complex, contentious, delicate and often unwelcome information to patients, carers and staff within a highly emotive atmosphere, in a rapidly changing context. This involves working alone with patients who may be in a highly emotional or distressed state and requires a high level of skilled communication.

Provide specialised advice, supervision and consultation on care, therapy, and psychological aspects of health to multidisciplinary teams, staff groups, young people and families.

Responsibility for managing own time, planning of patient clinics and other clinical work. Organising workload of, and supervising trainees / students / psychology assistants where appropriate.

Responsibility for maintaining clear and accurate patient records in the department and in hospital health care records, including letter writing and reports to other health care colleagues and other relevant agencies.

Application of current evidence based interventions in clinical psychology.

There will be a frequent requirement for intense concentration during individual and group sessions and exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances. This includes occasionally dealing with verbally or physically aggressive patients.

Although the post holder acts autonomously and is professionally accountable for their own practice, in common with all applied psychologists, undertakes regular clinical supervision.

Policy and Service Development

Provider of professional advice to health community on psychological factors relating to physical health, e.g. adjusting to diagnosis, accessing investigations/treatment, adherence to treatment and end of life issues.

Implement policies and service developments in line with government directives.

Identify service needs, setting up new initiatives which will enhance patient care outcomes.

Teaching/training

Deliver specialist psychology teaching /training to doctoral and applied psychology trainees and psychology colleagues. The may include supervision.

Teaching psychological aspects of physical health to other healthcare professionals within specialist services.

Use appropriate information technology to support teaching and training e.g. powerpoint.

Research and Development activity

To undertake applied clinical research and audit programmes, using a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies with the aim of improving health outcomes of patients their families and carers. This utilises reflective scientist-practitioner and doctoral level research skills.

Supervision of Assistant Psychologists and Clinical Psychology Trainees in research and development.

Offer consultation to other professionals with reference to research or audit-based activity.

Regularly carry out evaluation of clinical intervention and making adjustments indicated by this.

Comply with Clinical Governance requirements.

CPD

Participate in current Trust performance / development review systems (e.g. appraisal).

Responsibility for maintenance and development for own professional skills based.

Remain abreast of recent developments in relevant areas of psychology through personal study and attendance at workshops / conferences.

Actively participate in local and national special interest groups.

Job requires sitting in restricted physical position, providing an appropriate and supportive posture for substantial and prolonged periods of time during clinical interviews, assessment, treatment and the provision of supervision etc.

Frequent requirement for precision and multi-tasking during assessment e.g. attending to and assessing both the content of the clients responses and their non-verbal behaviour, levels of attention, concentration etc.

Job requires frequent exposure to highly distressing and/or highly emotional circumstances

Work effectively and professionally with colleagues who may become stressed or distressed by their own work, while maintaining emotional resilience

Maintain a positive and compassionate attitude

Create a friendly, professional and welcoming environment to all clients, colleagues and visitors across all aspects of the post

Job involves occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions (e.g. body fluids, noxious odours, verbal aggression, visual exposure to treatment processes)

Job requires application of computer keyboard and IT skills.

Frequent use of computers/ VDU equipment for long periods of time.

The ability to drive to clinical sessions and events outside of GRH.

Work in areas where infection control policies must be observed.

Additional Contact:

Dr Kate Crews- Clinical Psychologist in Paediatric Diabetes and Neonatal Care

kate.crews@nhs.net

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral level training in counselling/clinical/health psychology including specifically, models of psychopathology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a practitioner psychological practitioner

Desirable

• Evidence of regular CPD including post doctoral training in additional specialist areas of psychological practice

Experience

Essential

• Significant understanding of, and experience with, evidence-based psychological models and therapeutic approaches to health and illness including third wave therapies (eg Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapies).

Desirable

• Significant experience in physical health and / or working with children and families with complex presentations (eg CAMHS)
• Experience of working with children as a qualified clinical psychologist
• Experience of providing advice, consultation and supervision to other healthcare professionals regarding psychological aspects of care

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Essential

• Able to communicate in a highly sensitive and skilled manner, sensitive information to patients, carers and with staff members and colleagues in a compassionate and effective way, for example where there are high levels of distress, psychological risk, anger, or where barriers to self-care exist.
• Ability to put psychological theory into practice in novel and complex clinical settings, synthesising data and theory from a range of evidence-based sources to create individual, group, team intervention plans
• Highly-developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment including the use and evaluation of psychometric scales within physical health settings; experience in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of audit and clinical data
• Ability to contain and work therapeutically with people in extreme psychological distress
• Able to work exceptionally well within a team, to foster psychological safety and a climate of care, compassion and learning
• Ability to evaluate and prioritise competing clinical demands and to use planned and ad hoc supervision as part of coping with these
• Mobile to meet the requirements of the post
• Proficient use of standard IT systems for clinical work , training, and research purposes including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint

Desirable

• Experience of brief interventions
• Knowledge of healthcare systems and the contribution of psychology to these

Qualities

Essential

• Ability to build positive working relationships, respecting and valuing the contributions made by others and acting in an inclusive, considerate and helpful manner at all times
• Demonstrable interest in working in physical health and with patients with chronic disease
• Efficient and well-organised
• Able to demonstrate a realistic awareness of the potential emotional impact of working in this field together with strategies to compassionately manage this, both within themselves and fostering colleague and team wellbeing
• Can cope with working across sites in a busy and changing environment
• Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of, at times, highly emotive and distressing issues
• Ability to be flexible and tolerate systemic challenges

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Psychological Services, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Beacon House)

Great Western Road

Gloucester

GL1 3NN

Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)