Job summary
Are you looking for a highly varied, interesting, and relatively unique Clinical Psychology role within an innovative respiratory team? Are you passionate about helping people who have physical and psychological difficulties change their lives for the better? Then come and join us in Preston.
**Interest from Band 7 will be considered**
Main duties of the job
You would be working within a well-established multidisciplinary team as the lead clinical psychologist within the Airways Team as well as being a key member of our large supportive Clinical Health Psychology Team.
As a tertiary centre, the Airways Service receives local, regional, and national referrals to assess and treat Severe Asthma, Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) and Breathing Pattern Disorder (BPD), and psychological support plays a key role in aiding patients' recovery and living fulfilling lives alongside their physical health problems. The therapeutic work is extremely varied, ranging from adjustment difficulties, depression, anxiety, weight difficulties, to trauma of all descriptions.
The team operates on a national level and contributes to a UK based specialist group and has had many successful abstract submissions to the National and International Scientific Respiratory Conferences. You will have the opportunity and will be actively encouraged to lead your own research projects and contribute to conferences and training/ clinical education programmes.
About us
We have 9000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.
You'll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you'd never have done. You'll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.
You'll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our Psychology Service delivers a range of highly specialised evidence-based psychological assessments and interventions for patients with chronic and acute physical health problems in line with NSFs, NICE Guidance and DH recommendations. As a team we make a unique contribution to the psychological care of adult patients across several Divisions and Clinical Business Units within the Trust and to the training and support of staff including undergraduate medical students. The service has an excellent reputation with patients, staff and local universities and we strive to align regionally and nationally as a provider of highly specialist clinical and professional services. We are well placed for effective integrated working with acute clinical teams supporting patient care, service development and delivery.
Duties will include, but not be limited to:
UNDERTAKE HIGHLY SPECIALIST ASSESSMENTS, FORMULATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS
- To provide assessment of clients presenting with multiple and complex difficulties and significant levels of distress, based on an accurate understanding and conceptual framework of the clients difficulties.
- To plan and implement highly specific treatment plans and management strategies, based on biopsychosocial models, and health psychology models, for patients with a life-limiting illness including those with a complex and/or chronic presentation which may include end of life issues, in line with evidence based practice and legislation, policies and procedures and established theories and models.
- To choose from a range of (at least 2 to 3) evidence-based treatments, aligning clinical practice with evidence base, theories and models of psychological care.
- To monitor and review the implementation of the treatment plan and make changes in the light of formulation development, significant changes or risk to meet patients needs.
- To make initial and ongoing risk assessment, and make appropriate disclosure and referral where necessary.
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH PATIENTS, CARERS AND COLLEAGUES
- Impart complex, potentially distressing or sensitive information, both verbally and in writing, regarding psychological formulation, treatment plans and expected goals in an understandable format. Demonstrate an ability to deliver this information to patients and to the service and other organisations, (e.g. MDT meetings, case conferences, discharge planning and report writing).
- Communicate effectively to gain patient consent to assessment and treatment, and have the knowledge to work within the legal framework with patients who are unable/ incapable of giving consent, or where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. language difficulties, physical or mental impairment, behavioural problems or resistance to compliance with treatment.
- To provide planned advice and teaching to other disciplines.
- To coordinate planned and spontaneous MDT communications where appropriate, to promote understanding of the theoretical and practical aims of psychological care, to ensure a consistent approach to the management of patients and to contribute to service developments within the specialist area.
- Using information technology as appropriate
MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
- To maintain the highest professional standards of practice through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, as agreed with the Head of Clinical Health Psychology Service.
- To continue to develop the skills of a reflective practitioner, by conducting regular personal audit and evaluation of clinical work, and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of psychology, psychological therapies and related disciplines.
- To demonstrate a high level of self-awareness and personal management in order to maintain fitness to practice.
- To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to the client group.
- By liaison and consultation with clinicians within specialist clinical areas, contribute to the development of their psychological knowledge and practice.
- To receive regular supervision from an appropriately qualified and experienced
- To attend and contribute to Clinical Health Psychology Service and specialty specific meetings for peer support, case discussion and ongoing professional and service development.
- Provide clinical supervision for other MDT members and more junior members of the Psychology Services Team.
- To undergo an annual appraisal and appraise qualified and unqualified staff within the team, ensuring highest possible standards of care through a commitment to CPD
PROACTIVELY MANAGE RISK AND MAINTAIN PATIENT SAFETY
- To co-operate with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in ensuring that statutory regulations, codes of practice, local and national policies and departmental health and safety rules are adhered to.
- To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload, and support other psychology/therapy staff and trainees to do so.
- To ensure adverse occurrences are recorded and reported via the Trust incident reporting system in a timely manner.
- To deal with complaints from patients both over the telephone and face to face and to adhere to relevant Trust policies and procedures.
- To attend mandatory training and to adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
- To ensure patients provide informed consent prior to the delivery of psychotherapeutic interventions.
- To observe and comply with confidentiality polices at all times.
- To be responsible for clinical record keeping in accordance with HCPC/ACP/BPS guidelines, Trust and departmental standards of documentation and legal requirements, and to monitor qualified and unqualified staff documentation.
CONTRIBUTE TO SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
- Implement changes and respond flexibly to developments within the service and Trust.
- Evaluate practice individually and within multi-disciplinary teams, through relevant audit of professional practice and standards, and disseminate and implement findings as appropriate in discussion with the senior team.
- Provide information regarding clinical and non-clinical activity as per departmental and statutory reporting arrangements.
PROMOTE QUALITY OF SELF-PRACTICE, THE SERVICE AND THE TRUST
- Manage and coordinate own workload in collaboration with senior colleagues and as an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure service delivery achieves the best clinical outcome.
- Maintain professional registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as practitioner psychologist/clinical psychologist and work within the professional guidelines and ethical framework of the HCPC.
- Contribute to the delivery and implementation of the clinical governance agenda for Psychology Services and the Directorate.
- Promote patient and public involvement in psychology service delivery within the clinical area.
- Maintain knowledge of audit and research methodology and participate in research audit within Psychology Services.
RECOGNISE AND PROMOTE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
- To use highly developed skills to identify complex psychosocial issues, cultural and social differences in order to incorporate them into clinical practice.
- To maintain an up to date knowledge of the parameters of legislation and Trust Policies and procedures related to equality and diversity, promoting good practice in self and others.
- To identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this promoting diversity and equality.
- To support equality of opportunity within clinical health psychology for both staff and patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our Psychology Service delivers a range of highly specialised evidence-based psychological assessments and interventions for patients with chronic and acute physical health problems in line with NSFs, NICE Guidance and DH recommendations. As a team we make a unique contribution to the psychological care of adult patients across several Divisions and Clinical Business Units within the Trust and to the training and support of staff including undergraduate medical students. The service has an excellent reputation with patients, staff and local universities and we strive to align regionally and nationally as a provider of highly specialist clinical and professional services. We are well placed for effective integrated working with acute clinical teams supporting patient care, service development and delivery.
Duties will include, but not be limited to:
UNDERTAKE HIGHLY SPECIALIST ASSESSMENTS, FORMULATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS
- To provide assessment of clients presenting with multiple and complex difficulties and significant levels of distress, based on an accurate understanding and conceptual framework of the clients difficulties.
- To plan and implement highly specific treatment plans and management strategies, based on biopsychosocial models, and health psychology models, for patients with a life-limiting illness including those with a complex and/or chronic presentation which may include end of life issues, in line with evidence based practice and legislation, policies and procedures and established theories and models.
- To choose from a range of (at least 2 to 3) evidence-based treatments, aligning clinical practice with evidence base, theories and models of psychological care.
- To monitor and review the implementation of the treatment plan and make changes in the light of formulation development, significant changes or risk to meet patients needs.
- To make initial and ongoing risk assessment, and make appropriate disclosure and referral where necessary.
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH PATIENTS, CARERS AND COLLEAGUES
- Impart complex, potentially distressing or sensitive information, both verbally and in writing, regarding psychological formulation, treatment plans and expected goals in an understandable format. Demonstrate an ability to deliver this information to patients and to the service and other organisations, (e.g. MDT meetings, case conferences, discharge planning and report writing).
- Communicate effectively to gain patient consent to assessment and treatment, and have the knowledge to work within the legal framework with patients who are unable/ incapable of giving consent, or where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. language difficulties, physical or mental impairment, behavioural problems or resistance to compliance with treatment.
- To provide planned advice and teaching to other disciplines.
- To coordinate planned and spontaneous MDT communications where appropriate, to promote understanding of the theoretical and practical aims of psychological care, to ensure a consistent approach to the management of patients and to contribute to service developments within the specialist area.
- Using information technology as appropriate
MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
- To maintain the highest professional standards of practice through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, as agreed with the Head of Clinical Health Psychology Service.
- To continue to develop the skills of a reflective practitioner, by conducting regular personal audit and evaluation of clinical work, and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of psychology, psychological therapies and related disciplines.
- To demonstrate a high level of self-awareness and personal management in order to maintain fitness to practice.
- To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to the client group.
- By liaison and consultation with clinicians within specialist clinical areas, contribute to the development of their psychological knowledge and practice.
- To receive regular supervision from an appropriately qualified and experienced
- To attend and contribute to Clinical Health Psychology Service and specialty specific meetings for peer support, case discussion and ongoing professional and service development.
- Provide clinical supervision for other MDT members and more junior members of the Psychology Services Team.
- To undergo an annual appraisal and appraise qualified and unqualified staff within the team, ensuring highest possible standards of care through a commitment to CPD
PROACTIVELY MANAGE RISK AND MAINTAIN PATIENT SAFETY
- To co-operate with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in ensuring that statutory regulations, codes of practice, local and national policies and departmental health and safety rules are adhered to.
- To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload, and support other psychology/therapy staff and trainees to do so.
- To ensure adverse occurrences are recorded and reported via the Trust incident reporting system in a timely manner.
- To deal with complaints from patients both over the telephone and face to face and to adhere to relevant Trust policies and procedures.
- To attend mandatory training and to adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
- To ensure patients provide informed consent prior to the delivery of psychotherapeutic interventions.
- To observe and comply with confidentiality polices at all times.
- To be responsible for clinical record keeping in accordance with HCPC/ACP/BPS guidelines, Trust and departmental standards of documentation and legal requirements, and to monitor qualified and unqualified staff documentation.
CONTRIBUTE TO SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
- Implement changes and respond flexibly to developments within the service and Trust.
- Evaluate practice individually and within multi-disciplinary teams, through relevant audit of professional practice and standards, and disseminate and implement findings as appropriate in discussion with the senior team.
- Provide information regarding clinical and non-clinical activity as per departmental and statutory reporting arrangements.
PROMOTE QUALITY OF SELF-PRACTICE, THE SERVICE AND THE TRUST
- Manage and coordinate own workload in collaboration with senior colleagues and as an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure service delivery achieves the best clinical outcome.
- Maintain professional registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as practitioner psychologist/clinical psychologist and work within the professional guidelines and ethical framework of the HCPC.
- Contribute to the delivery and implementation of the clinical governance agenda for Psychology Services and the Directorate.
- Promote patient and public involvement in psychology service delivery within the clinical area.
- Maintain knowledge of audit and research methodology and participate in research audit within Psychology Services.
RECOGNISE AND PROMOTE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
- To use highly developed skills to identify complex psychosocial issues, cultural and social differences in order to incorporate them into clinical practice.
- To maintain an up to date knowledge of the parameters of legislation and Trust Policies and procedures related to equality and diversity, promoting good practice in self and others.
- To identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this promoting diversity and equality.
- To support equality of opportunity within clinical health psychology for both staff and patients.
Person Specification
Values and behaviours
Essential
- Ability to sit in constrained positions when working with clients.
- Ability to sustain intense levels of concentration, responding and participating as required.
- Ability to self-reflect and use clinical supervision appropriately.
- Ability to cope with unpleasant working environments or conditions
- Ability to cope in, and deal with, highly distressing emotional circumstances.
Desirable
- Willingness to work flexibly in order to meet needs of The Clinical Health Psychology Service and Trust.
- Understanding arising from personal experience of physical and/or mental health problems.
Qualifications and education
Essential
- Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society.
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
Desirable
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
- Experience as a qualified psychologist working flexibly in extended roles.
- Post-qualification training in physical health issues
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Qualified experience of psychological assessment and intervention with people who have acute and/or long-term physical health problems.
- Knowledge of current psychological theory and practice as applied to physical health.
- Experience of working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Experience of the application of health psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Evidence of continuing professional development activities since qualification.
- Post-doctorate experience of working within a physical health environment with both inpatients and outpatients
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies with individuals with physical health problems
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Ability to plan and prioritise own clinical workload and research programmes.
- Ability to manage effects of organisational stress
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Publications in peer reviewed academic journals and/or books
Person Specification
Values and behaviours
Essential
- Ability to sit in constrained positions when working with clients.
- Ability to sustain intense levels of concentration, responding and participating as required.
- Ability to self-reflect and use clinical supervision appropriately.
- Ability to cope with unpleasant working environments or conditions
- Ability to cope in, and deal with, highly distressing emotional circumstances.
Desirable
- Willingness to work flexibly in order to meet needs of The Clinical Health Psychology Service and Trust.
- Understanding arising from personal experience of physical and/or mental health problems.
Qualifications and education
Essential
- Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society.
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
Desirable
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
- Experience as a qualified psychologist working flexibly in extended roles.
- Post-qualification training in physical health issues
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Qualified experience of psychological assessment and intervention with people who have acute and/or long-term physical health problems.
- Knowledge of current psychological theory and practice as applied to physical health.
- Experience of working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Experience of the application of health psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Evidence of continuing professional development activities since qualification.
- Post-doctorate experience of working within a physical health environment with both inpatients and outpatients
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies with individuals with physical health problems
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Ability to plan and prioritise own clinical workload and research programmes.
- Ability to manage effects of organisational stress
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Publications in peer reviewed academic journals and/or books
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).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
