POST: Clinical Psychologist Band 7 DEPARTMENT: Paediatric Psychology PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION LOCATION: To be confirmed within WHSCT area DATE: June 2013 FACTORS ESSENTIAL % DESIRABLE % QUALIFICATIONS AND / OR EXPERIENCE (Length and Type) Doctoral level training, or equivalent, in Clinical Psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as recognised by the British Psychological Society and / or the Psychological Society of Ireland (and is eligible for statement of equivalence) and be eligible for Chartered Status Be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) or eligible for registration Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings Pre-qualification training in qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology Experience of working within a paediatric setting
Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse Those awaiting qualification and registration in Autumn 2013 are also eligible to apply TOTAL
FACTORS ESSENTIAL % DESIRABLE % PROFESSIONAL OR CLINICAL DEPARTMENT KNOWLEDGE COMPETENCES Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration 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 a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS Skills in providing consultation to other professional and nonprofessional groups Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentation within public, professional and academic settings Ability to identify, and employ, mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour Knowledge of theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat group (e.g. chronic illness, bereavement, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc.) A high level knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health and wellbeing
FACTORS ESSENTIAL % DESIRABLE % SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES A full current driving and access to car is essential. Consideration will be given to alternative traveling proposals in respect of applicants with a disability who cannot hold a license. TOTAL Signature Date
JOB DESCRIPTION Clinical Psychologist Band 7 Managerially to the Assistant Director via the Head of Service and professionally to the Clinical Director of Psychology via the Psychology Lead for Paediatrics and CAMHS Attached assistant clinical and/ or graduate psychologists To be confirmed within WHSCT area Other team members and members of other disciplines and agencies responsible for a child s care JOB SUMMARY To provide a qualified specialist paediatric clinical psychology service across the trust. Provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy at the same time as offering advice and consultation on children s psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service s policies and procedures. To utilize research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the service.
KEY RESULT AREAS Clinical: 1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of children referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with children, family members and others involved in the child s care. 2. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of the child and family s mental health and wellbeing, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the child s problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings. 3. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. 4. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. 5. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of children and their families whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans. 6. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to the child s formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan. 7. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group. 8. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. 9. To act as care co-ordinator, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating, planning and reviewing care plans. This to include the child, their carers, referring agents and others involved in the network of care. Teaching, training and supervision: 1. To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues. 2. To develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training, and supervision and to provide supervision of individual cases for trainee clinical psychologists.
3. To provide professional and clinical supervision of assistant/graduate psychologists and, as appropriate, to contribute to the supervision of individual cases for trainee psychologists. 4. To contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or counselling psychology, as appropriate. 5. To provide advice, consultation, and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate. Management, recruitment, policy and service development: 1. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the team s operational policies and service, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. 2. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organization matters need addressing. 3. To manage the workloads of assistant and graduate psychologists, within the framework of the team/service s policies and procedures. 4. To be involved, as appropriate, in the short listing and interviewing of assistant/ graduate psychologists.
IT responsibilities 1. To routinely use packages associated with Microsoft Office word processing for preparation of reports; databases/ spreadsheets to record service statistics; presentations. Research and service evaluation 1. To utilize theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members. 2. To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research. 3. To undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision. General 1. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holder s professional and team/ operational manager. 2. To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines. 3. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures. 4. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.
GENERAL DUTIES 1. Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible. 2. Develop and maintain good communication with all levels of management and build partnerships with the wider HPSS, NHS and external organizations in the promotion of the Trust. 3. Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations. 4. Participate in the grievance and disciplinary processes as required. 5. Promote equality of opportunity through his/her own actions and ensure this policy is adhered to by staff for whom he/she has responsibility. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Service Quality Western Health and Social Care Trust is committed to providing the highest possible quality of service to all patients, clients and community through supporting and contributing to Trust quality initiatives. Employees are expected at all times to provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner. Conduct Employees must at all times abide by Trust policies and procedures and the terms of their contract of employment. They must conduct themselves with impartiality, integrity, objectivity and honesty and maintain high standards of personal and professional accountability. Performance Employees are expected to demonstrate commitment to the Trust by ensuring regular attendance at work and efficient completion of duties. Risk Management Employee must ensure that they comply with any risk management responsibilities specific to their post, and as set out in the Trust s Risk Management Strategy. Governance The Trust is committed to the development and implementation of systems under Integrated Governance to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services provided. Employees will be expected to co-operate and work with such systems.
Records Management All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Data Protection Act 1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trust s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt. Confidentiality All information concerning patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and may not be divulged to any unauthorized person. Equality & Human Rights Employees must ensure that equality and human rights issues are addressed within the post holder s area of responsibility in accordance with the Trust s Equality Scheme. Health and Safety Employees should note that under Health & Safety at Work Legislation they are required to take all reasonable steps while at work to ensure their own health and safety and the health and safety of those who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. Smoking, Alcohol & Health The Trust operates policies on smoking, alcohol and health. Environmental Cleanliness The Trust promotes a culture of cleanliness and has adopted a partnership and collaborative approach that recognises cleanliness as the responsibility of everyone, cascading throughout every level of the organisation. The Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer The duties and responsibilities outlined in the above job description are not intended to be definitive nor restrictive, and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Trust. June 2013