Clinical Neuropsychologist / Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychology

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide complex psychological assessment and therapy, at the same time offering advice and consultation on clients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other non-professional carers whilst working autonomously within professional guidelines. To gather and integrate complex data and information in order to deliver specialist psychological interventions in a range of formats (1:1, couple, family and group interventions).

To utilise research skills in order to contribute to audit, policy and service development and research within areas specified by Hobbs Rehabilitation, undertaking agreed personal research and development that fits within the ethos of the company. To evaluate outcomes and develop individual interventions accordingly.

To work as an autonomous practitioner in intensive outpatient rehabilitation service and occasionally in peoples homes. To be individually accountable for all clinical decisions within professional guidelines whilst consulting appropriately with peers and receiving clinical supervision as per British Psychological Society and HCPC guidelines.

To provide supervision within the department, for example, to any Assistant Psychologists and/or Student Psychologists as required.

To contribute to developing, delivering and evaluating formal and informal teaching and training given to healthcare staff in psychological skills to enhance the efficiency and dissemination of psychological knowledge and practise.

CUSTOMER CARE FOR CLIENTS

Clinical:

To conduct specialist clinical psychology assessments of clients with complex needs who are referred to the neuropsychology service, and to other specific areas of the Psychology service, as required.

Assessments will be based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a wide variety of sources including neuropsychological tests, psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect observation and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in their care.

To provide expert formulations and highly specialised psychological treatments for clients diagnosed with adult-acquired neurological conditions with highly complex difficulties. Additionally, to offer specialist formulation and intervention to clients with mild traumatic brain injury/Post-Concussion Syndrome and Functional Neurological Disorders.

To be responsible for implementing a wide range of psychological interventions for individuals and groups and when appropriate, family members choosing from a range of treatment options or expert opinions, using clinical judgement and knowledge of evidence-based approaches to plan, implement and evaluate treatments. To provide tailored interventions to meet the needs of those affected by neuropsychological difficulties.

In making such decisions theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors will be considered (such as medical, psychological, historical, and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family, or group).

To develop, deliver and systematically evaluate the psychological care provided to patients with neurological conditions. To provide highly specialised advice concerning the care and treatment of clients and those around them (e.g. families and other professionals).

To provide highly specialist neuropsychological assessment to aid diagnosis and inform rehabilitation. To use and interpret highly specialised test equipment to achieve this. To adopt an evidence-based rationale for test selection and administer tests across domains of pre morbid functioning, perception, intelligence, memory, language and executive functioning.

To contribute to ensuring that clients receive well co-coordinated care, through liaison with other staff, attendance at relevant team meetings and relevant meetings involving outside agencies and related administration.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and provide general advice to other professionals working with the individual on psychological aspects of risk management and assessment.

To participate in professional development and maintain appropriate levels of registration/accreditation.

To use clinical/professional supervision offered appropriately (e.g. preparing an agenda, preparing clinical cases for discussion, actively participating in the setting of dates for supervision etc. bringing reports and other written work to the supervisor if help/advice is required)

To contribute and adhere to a job plan

COMMUNICATION

Professional Practice

To contribute to the development, maintenance, and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.

To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in neuropsychology within the service area and contribute across the service by exercising the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision, appraisal and training, and being actively engaged with current developments in the fields of clinical health psychology, neuropsychology and related disciplines.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping, including electronic data entry as necessary; recording, report-writing and responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Hobbs Rehabilitation policies and procedures.

PLANNING AND ORGANISATION

Policy and Service Development:

Advising both the service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological matters need addressing.

To contribute to judgments on service and policy developments after analysing and comparing a range of options and proposing changes to policy or service on the basis on this.

To lead on developing wider organisational policy in accordance with Hobbs values and vision.

Research and Development Activity

To lead practice-based research using validated questionnaires and service evaluation of clinical outcomes using qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g. evaluating own clinical outcomes and efficacy of psychological care provision) using reflective scientist practitioner skills. To approach all work as single case research utilising theory, evidence-based literature, and research to support evidence-based practice.

To lead on complex audit for clinical activities; interpreting and analysing routine clinical outcome audit as required.

BUDGETARY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

STAFF MANAGEMENT

To cover some line management responsibilities for Psychologists in other parts of the organisation as required.

TEACHING, TRAINING AND RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide advice and consultancy to other staff in relation to psychological aspects of their work, and to offer formal teaching and training on topics related to psychological concepts and skills, particularly where this would enhance the availability or quality of client services.

To undertake formal and informal teaching within Hobbs centres and in the community with the purpose of encouraging and supporting the development of psychological approaches to treatment and enhancing client recovery and to contribute to other staff training initiatives within the organisation as appropriate.

To maintain and develop skills in professional pre and post graduate teaching, training and clinical supervision.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This job description is designed to assist post holders with understanding what is expected of them in their role.Hobbs Rehabilitation Directors in consultation with the Head of Psychology at Hobbs may ask them to undertake other duties, as required, which are not necessarily specified on the job description, but which are commensurate with the grade of the post.

The job description itself may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder, within the scope and general level of responsibility attached to the post.

All post holders must take responsibility to ensure that they are aware of and adhere to all Hobbs policies, procedures and guidelines relating to their employment regardless of their position within the organisation.

Experience

Essential

• Supervised experience of specialist psychological and neuropsychological assessment and intervention with clients across a range of care settings, including community and hospital.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan.
• Experience of regular and effective multidisciplinary working.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of adult client groups presenting with the full range of clinical severity. Experience of working with patients with acute and chronic neurological conditions, including of the spinal cord, with complex needs. Experience of working with people with Functional Neurological Symptoms.
• Experience of delivering tailored psychological and neuropsychological interventions (i.e. 1:1, couple, group and systemic interventions) and drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches.
• Experience and enthusiasm to be involved in organisational and organisation-wide intervention and policy.
• Experience of developing and delivering teaching and training packages for professional groups.
• Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. Ability to manage in these situations and in-line with organisational policy and professional guidelines.
• Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology as recognised by the BPS/HCPC including highly developed knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology.
• Knowledge of theory and skill in the practice of at least two highly specialised psychological therapies.
• Further specialist training and experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours of clinical supervision when working as a specialised clinical psychologist or whilst on doctoral training, over a minimum of two years including attending CPD events

Desirable

• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts and experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of working with those with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury as a Clinical Psychologist.
• Experience or interest in working with Functional Neurological Disorders as apart of an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience of implementing service developments informed by audit and outcome data.
• Experience of income generation and submitting bids for future funding.
• Experience of delivering clinical supervision.
• Record of having published in either peer-reviewed, academic or professional journals and/or books.
• Further training in specialised areas of clinical practice, including as provided by the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology, courses in advanced/third-wave cognitive therapy skills and the application of psychological principles to patients with chronic physical health problems, through formal post-doctoral training (diploma. Masters or equivalent) OR a combination of specialist short courses, together with an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in these specialist areas such as would be found in a CPD log for HCPC audit.
• Knowledge of systems, policies and legislation relevant to the client group, their physical and mental health.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC.

Other specific requirements

Essential

• Ability to work alone or with others in a community-based centre or in domiciliary settings, to assess and manage any risk associated with this
• Ability to sit frequently for long periods of time requiring intense concentration, typically for one to three hours during assessments/clinical work or writing in-depth complex reports, e.g. at a computer
• To be responsible for organizing the use and return of appropriate resources (e.g. test equipment) for patient assessment and care planning in the hospital and community as necessary. To ensure adherence to organisational policy regarding medical notes
• Ability to drive between locations for domiciliary visits and between organisation bases and other health settings for clinical work and meetings
• Ability to carry test equipment /other work materials into clients homes/hospitals and manoeuvre clients appropriately in wheelchairs always observing individualised manual handling guidelines
• Personal Qualities:
• Enthusiasm to work within the field of clinical neuropsychology and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical psychology services within the context of multidisciplinary outpatient services
• Awareness of the needs of people with physical disability/illness
• Ability to form effective and supportive relationships with clients and staff
• Skills in consultation; to be able to formulate and advise with confidence and clarity
• Willingness to work as a member of a team and also autonomously
• Confidence in communicating with paying clients
• Other:
• Ability to identify and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
• To be able to develop effective and engaging teaching/training material. The ability to deliver teaching and training to others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings
• Ability to interpret and clearly articulate the role of the profession of clinical psychology based upon a good understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy.

Qualifications

Essential

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Registered as an Applied Psychology Practitioner member of the HCPC.

Desirable

• Post-doctoral training in additional specialised area of psychological practice, preferably neuropsychology or health psychology.
• Completion of supervisor training so job holder is able to supervise trainee clinical psychologists undertaking doctoral training.
• Completed or currently undertaking the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (QiCN) BPS

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Competent in the administration and interpretation of the full range of psychological assessment instruments including tests of cognitive functioning and impairment (e.g. WAIS-IV, WMS-IV, TOPF, BADS, DKEFS, TEA, VOSP, RBANS or similar screens).
• Ability to administer as per the direction of the manual, and score neuropsychological tests, reliably adhering to the specific directions and recommendations of the tests.
• Ability to manage potentially aggressive or violent clients/relatives.
• Confidence in communicating formulations and treatment plans to paying customers. The ability to maintain an expert role, clearly communicating the added value of psychology whilst also managing expectations of clients.
• Skilled in the use of complex measures of psychological assessment, intervention and management of individuals presenting with complex problems, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• A high level of ability to communicate effectively, at both written and oral level, complex, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside the organisation (e.g. the NHS, charities etc). Candidates should have developed skills to carefully check their own writing to ensure the above.
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of Clinical Psychology. The ability to apply these research skills to audit, service evaluation and development in the clinical setting.
• Able to work autonomously.
• Skills in providing high-level consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Some experience of leadership and a keenness to develop these skills.
• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to hold the stress of others.

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).