Job responsibilities
CLINICAL:
- To undertake highly specialist psychological assessment and interventions, and
communicate a clinical opinion in order to inform medical diagnosis, assess
related surgical interventions, and/or develop a case formulation to guide
psychological intervention/consultation, based on analysis and interpretation
of highly complex information from a variety of sources including clinical
interview of patient and family members, direct observation, health-related
quality of life questionnaire measures, up-to-date literature review,
psychological assessment (including assessment of mental state and
psychological formulation drawing on a variety of models), and with regard to
other medical investigations such as imaging. To give an opinion based on
this in complex cases where there may be conflicting information, and in
which a judgment has to be made about the significance of data and a range of
options.
- Play an active role in the MDT that provides a psychological assessment which may inform the appropriateness of treatment (eg transplantation). From this there may be specific psychological interventions which support the patient and family
- As part of the psychological/psychiatry team for renal and transplant services carry out assessments of risk for individuals and groups of patients in a proactive manner
- To develop specialised plans for formal psychological intervention, based on
the individual assessment and formulation, and making use of an informed
judgment of evidence of treatment efficacy and psychological principles.
- To implement a variety of highly specialist psychological interventions as part
of such a treatment plan with patients, families or carers, keeping formulation
and intervention under constant review, and making adjustments/decisions
based on analysis of complex individual/family and therapeutic factors.
- To communicate effectively, empathically and clearly with patients, families
and carers regarding psychological, or medical matters, which will regularly
be highly complicated (such as explanation of multi-faceted clinical
formulations, medical factors, personal and family psychological factors, and
the implications of these), highly emotionally charged (such as discussion of a
life-limiting condition), and which may require managing difficulties in
understanding (such as cognitive deficits, or unconscious denial of
psychological conflicts), or overcoming communication difficulties with
patients, family or carers who are hostile, antagonistic, highly anxious or
psychotic etc.
- To contribute expertise that aids concordance in dialysis and transplant patients
- To communicate effectively and clearly with clinical colleagues regarding
psychological assessments and interventions which may include in formal
written and spoken reports, as well as in day-to day liaison and consultation.
- In carrying out the duties of the post, to exercise very high levels of mental
concentration for prolonged periods (for example in sessions of several hours,
or in consecutive psychotherapy sessions), regularly requiring sustained
emotional concentration (for example in communicating distressing news or eliciting discussing childhood trauma or abuse) while sitting in a constrained position for extended
periods.
- In carrying out the duties of the post, to cope with and manage challenging
behaviour at times, including verbal abuse and risk of physical aggression (for
example from patients people with learning disability or chronic and enduring
mental illness).
- To exercise standard keyboard skills, and operate electronic equipment such as
data projectors and video cameras.
- To be involved in assessments for potential transplant donors in
accordance with BTS standards.
- To contribute to the efforts of the wider service to support patients approaching dialysis and/or transplant, and those choosing conservative care. These patient decisions may be in conflict with medical advice, or with the opinions of close family.
- To support the renal and transplant wards to include staff, relatives and patients. Patients on the wards often present with quite complex histories, and challenging behaviour. The psychologist must contribute to wider MDT discussions around patient care, for example where the patient is behaving in a way that challenges staff, or where they are non-compliant with their treatment.
- The psychologist must respond flexibly to the changing demands of a large and busy service, in order to meet the needs of the patients and staff.
- The post holder may want to (in consultation with their manager and work load depending):
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- To share best practice with Psychologists working in other renal and transplant services across the UK and to contribute to national guidelines and policy statements regarding psychology and renal and transplant.
- Contribute to wider Trust / Leadership / different staff group programmes, in a way that promotes the Renal and Transplant Service. To do so both locally, but also to represent the Unit and the Trust at a National level.
AUDIT AND RESEARCH:
- To carry out clinical research as a routine activity based on clinical practice
(for example collecting and writing up single cases or case series for
publication, or collaborating actively with medical colleagues on research
projects).
- To carry out and co-operate in audit/service-related projects (for example
auditing departmental performance on key outcomes, or audit to inform
departmental policy).
- To evaluate audit data and use this to implement necessary service-related changes, either within psychology or more broadly across the Renal and Transplant Unit and present an annual overview of the service and unit meetings
- To use computer software in developing and operating systems for storage
and analysis of data and creation of reports for colleagues in relation to audit
activities and clinical research.
- To supervise research and development activities of doctoral trainee Clinical
Psychologists, and Assistant Psychologists as appropriate.
TEACHING, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION:
- To supervise Assistant Psychologists as necessary, and any other
psychologists or professional colleagues associated with the post.
- To supervise trainee Clinical Psychologists on six-month placements as part
of the doctoral training programme.
- To provide teaching on Clinical Psychology on the Oxford Doctoral Course in
Clinical Psychology.
- To provide teaching and training to other professional colleagues/staff groups
on psychological matters as appropriate.
SUPERVISION / LINE MANAGEMENT
- Line-management of Kidney Patient Advisor
- Supervise trainees from Oxford Doctoral Course on both 1 year specialist, and 6 month older adult/adult placements.
ADMINISTRATIVE/ORGANISATIONAL:
- To plan and organise the work of trainees, and assistants as appropriate, in
addition to the own caseload, research and other responsibilities and liaise as
necessary with other colleagues.
- To take part in service/departmental policy implementation and development
(by for example actively working on policy implementation, as well as raising
issues and proposing and discussing changes).
Contribute to the clinical governance and M and M meetings within renal and transplant where appropriate
- To meet on a regular basis with the Consultant Nurse for Renal Medicine to review activity and ensure the specialist clinical psychology service remains aligned with the Renal Medicine service goals and objectives
- To meet on a monthly basis with the Assistant Service Manager for PPO to review activity and operational matters including PTL data.
GENERAL:
- To observe personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources, such
as computer, data projection and audiovisual equipment, and psychometric
test materials.
- To maintain effective paper and electronic records, and develop information
recording systems as appropriate in performing the duties of the job.
RISK MANAGEMENT
- The management of risk is the responsibility of everyone and will be
achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
- Staff will be provided with the necessary education, training and support
to enable them to meet this responsibility.
- Staff should be familiar with the:
1.Major Incident Policy
2.Fire Policy
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HEALTH & SAFETY
- The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all duties and responsibilities of this post are carried out in compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Statutory Regulations and Trust Policies and Procedures. This will be supported by the provision of training and specialist advice where required.
