Practitioner Psychologist

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 16 January 2025

Job summary

The Psycho-oncology team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHT) is seeking to appoint a highly motivated candidate to the position of Specialist Practitioner Psychologist / Psychotherapist within cancer services. The post has been developed to deliver a high quality psychology service to patients with cancer across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT through the provision of psychological support for patients, their family / carers and staff. It is expected that the post holder will offer teaching, training, group facilitation and consultation to the MDT alongside psychological assessment and therapy. The post holder will support the cancer lead but work autonomously within HCPC / UKCP professional guidelines and within the policies and procedures of the service. The post holder will be expected to utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and to support research within the service. The post holder will enable staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

Main duties of the job

  • To provide a specialist psychology service to patients with cancer across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT through the provision of psychological support for patients, family / carers and staff as require

  • To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment

  • To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate

  • To undertake service evaluation, audit and research

  • To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor

About us

As an Assistant Psychologist working within the Imperial Psycho-oncology team the post holder will be a member of the wider Clinical Health Psychology Department, in which regular professional meetings are held and CPD provided. The post holder will also receive supervision from a senior Psychological Practitioner. All psychologists in the Clinical Health Psychology department are employed by Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust and have Approved Associate status with ICHT.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BAME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Date posted

19 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£54,320 to £60,981 a year per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-J-WE-0731

Job locations

Charing Cross Hospital

Fulham Palace Road

London

W6 8RF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical and Client Care

To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for patients with cancer across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT

To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred patients when required.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

To act as liaison on the patient pathway, between the acute hospital, primary care and community services as necessary for the psychological well-being of the patient

Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the Psycho-oncology service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.

To contribute to the teams delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

To be proactive in challenging discrimination and supporting the development of culturally competent services.

Policy and service development

To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.

To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.

To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

Care or management of resources

To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.

To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.

Management and supervision

To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training.

Teaching and Training

To provide occasional specialist training in psychological approaches to care to other professions as appropriate.

To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.

Record-keeping and Information Governance

To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

Research and development

To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.

Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.

To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.

To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.

To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

General

To travel to meetings at ICHT and CNWL as appropriate and when required.

To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour and follow trust policies relating to its management.

To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.

Where relevant and by agreement with line manager to work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics within the overall Job Plan.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical and Client Care

To provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for patients with cancer across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT

To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred patients when required.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

To act as liaison on the patient pathway, between the acute hospital, primary care and community services as necessary for the psychological well-being of the patient

Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the Psycho-oncology service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.

To contribute to the teams delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

To be proactive in challenging discrimination and supporting the development of culturally competent services.

Policy and service development

To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.

To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.

To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

Care or management of resources

To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.

To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.

Management and supervision

To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training.

Teaching and Training

To provide occasional specialist training in psychological approaches to care to other professions as appropriate.

To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.

Record-keeping and Information Governance

To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

Research and development

To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.

Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.

To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.

To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.

To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

General

To travel to meetings at ICHT and CNWL as appropriate and when required.

To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour and follow trust policies relating to its management.

To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.

Where relevant and by agreement with line manager to work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics within the overall Job Plan.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oDoctorate or equivalent in Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology or equivalent Psychotherapy qualification
  • Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist or UKCP as a Psychotherapist

Desirable

  • Training in 3rd wave therapies

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of psychological assessment and support of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
  • oExperience of work in health psychology or other relevant area
  • oExperience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience.
  • oExperience of developing and carrying out research projects
  • oExperience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs

Knowledge

Essential

  • oTheoretical knowledge of psychological processes that are relevant to physical health conditions
  • oKnowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
  • oDoctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
  • oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting patients with trauma, especially in relation to physical health conditions or experiences that might affect the treatment and management of a physical health condition

Skills

Essential

  • oAbility to communicate complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information
  • Ability to suitably adapt and sensitively deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences
  • Ability to plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists
  • oAbility to select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oDoctorate or equivalent in Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology or equivalent Psychotherapy qualification
  • Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist or UKCP as a Psychotherapist

Desirable

  • Training in 3rd wave therapies

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of psychological assessment and support of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
  • oExperience of work in health psychology or other relevant area
  • oExperience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience.
  • oExperience of developing and carrying out research projects
  • oExperience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs

Knowledge

Essential

  • oTheoretical knowledge of psychological processes that are relevant to physical health conditions
  • oKnowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
  • oDoctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
  • oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting patients with trauma, especially in relation to physical health conditions or experiences that might affect the treatment and management of a physical health condition

Skills

Essential

  • oAbility to communicate complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information
  • Ability to suitably adapt and sensitively deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences
  • Ability to plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists
  • oAbility to select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

Fulham Palace Road

London

W6 8RF


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

Fulham Palace Road

London

W6 8RF


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Caroline Johnson

caroline.johnson13@nhs.net

02033111739

Date posted

19 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£54,320 to £60,981 a year per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-J-WE-0731

Job locations

Charing Cross Hospital

Fulham Palace Road

London

W6 8RF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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