Clinical Psychologist - Neuroscience Pathways

Are you a driven, passionate individual looking for a new challenge? Then look no further!

Come join us in our clinical neuroscience psychology pathway at Royal Preston Hospital. The post focuses on delivering psychological care to people affected by neurological conditions, acquired brain injury (ABI), stroke, and functional neurological disorder (FND) in Lancashire and South Cumbria. As we grow the provision of clinical neuropsychology, other pathways, which require development, will be determined by the consultant psychologists and the head of the clinical health psychology service (CHPs).

The clinical neuroscience psychology pathway sits within CHPs. Therefore, you will also contribute to a range of clinical and governance activities in collaboration with the consultant psychologists in CHPs.

There are 26.25 substantive hours available. CHPs is an innovative and growing service. We are proud to collaborate with and support a range of services within the trust. Therefore, we welcome applications from:

• Highly skilled, experienced, flexible, compassionate, and reflective clinical psychologists.
• With a specialist interest in neuropsychology, excellent interpersonal skills, and a desire to work in novel areas of practice with experienced MDT colleagues.
• Who can help us develop the evidence base and contribute to the dynamic CHPs service.

Main duties of the job

To provide psychological input within a specialised adult clinical neuroscience and health psychology service as part of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Your primary responsibility will be to deliver inpatient and outpatient care to patients living with a range of neurological conditions, acquired brain injuries, and functional neurological disorders. This involves providing highly specialised assessments and formulating complex neuropsychological problems to create and implement individualised care and management plans tailored to each patient's clinical needs.

In addition to individualised care, you will conduct brief group psychoeducation sessions for patients and their carers. Effective communication with patients, carers, and colleagues within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and other professions and community teams is crucial. Your role will involve promoting the aims of psychological care and ensuring the involvement of patients and carers at all stages of treatment.

Additionally, you will contribute to training, audit, and service improvements within CHPs, informed by NHS priorities and developments within the psychological and therapy professions. Recognising and promoting equality and diversity, you will act in accordance with legislation and trust policies and procedures related to these areas. Promoting the quality of your practice, the service, and the Trust is a continuous commitment.

Job responsibilities

Duties to include but not be limited to:

• The provision of a specialist Adult Neuroscience Psychology Service across the Physical Health Specialities within Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
• Specifically, the delivery of highly specialist neuropsychologically informed care for patients living with a range of neurological conditions, ABI, stroke, and FND. This includes inpatient and outpatient provision of care.
• Including the delivery of short-term specialist neuropsychological assessment, formulation, rehabilitation advice, and consultation on patients' psychological presentation and functioning across inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Including the delivery of short-term therapy, intervention, and psychological rehabilitation to patients.
• To contribute to the provision of integrated multidisciplinary care (joint appointments and MDT assessment clinics) across the inpatient and outpatient pathways to patients referred by our MDT colleagues.
• To train and support MDT colleagues in psychologically informed care (education, consultation, and clinical supervision).
• To contribute to MDT promotion of patient need, clinical symptoms, and approaches to care.
• To work in collaboration with the consultant clinical psychologists, MDT colleagues, and key stakeholders.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and frameworks governing each clinical area.
• To actively engage in own professional and leadership development, including reflective practice.
• To routinely undertake research, audit, and service evaluation projects, including reports of clinical activity and effectiveness.
• To contribute to the ongoing development of the care pathways.
• To work flexibly across CHPs pathways as required and directed by the Head of Service.

Please note that the interview date is subject to change dependent on the volume of applications.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or equivalent), as accredited by the BPS/HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology. Resulting in proficiency in administering, scoring, and interpreting clinical psychometrics. As well as proficiency in using two or more distinct psychological therapies and extensive knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology.
• Strong commitment to CPD as evidenced by post qualification training.
• Post qualification training in clinical supervision.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Desirable

• Qualifications in research methodology, staff training, and/or other fields of applied psychology.
• History of leadership training and experience.
• Post qualification training in neuropsychology and/or physical health issues.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological and neuropsychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care, and inpatient settings.
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams and of creating positive changes in practice within MDTs.
• 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.
• 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.

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development activities since qualification.
• Post-doctorate experience of working within a physical health environment with both inpatients and outpatients.
• Experience of teaching, training, and/or supervision.
• Experience of implementing change.
• Experience of the application of health psychology in different cultural contexts.
• Knowledge and experience of the role of clinical leadership within the NHS.

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston

PR2 9HT

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

438-PB2376-A