Specialist Clinical Psychologist Brain Injury and Neurology, Band 8a

Specialist Clinical Psychologist Brain Injury and Neurology, Band 8a

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This part time 8a maternity cover opportunity provides highly specialist clinical health psychology intervention, including specialist neuropsychological assessment, to adult in/out-patients with highly complex difficulties. Specifically for people with acquired brain injury and neurological conditions; their families, carers and associated staff. This includes developing and providing specialist programmes of care and advice at an individual and group level, consultative advice and supervision for colleagues, education of colleagues and service based research. This 8a post consists of 1 session of a highly specialist clinical psychology service to neurology patients and 2 sessions of highly specialist clinical psychology service to brain injury patients, 1 session of which will be attached to and delivered at the Whittington House ABI unit (a small 3 bedded step down brain injury rehab unit).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will contribute to the psychological assessment and care of individuals with neurological conditions and acquired brain injury at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with a further session being delivered at Whittington House ABI unit. Duties will include:

1. Outpatient neuropsychological assessment of individuals with known or suspected neurological conditions to inform diagnosis / care planning.
2. Specialist psychological / neuropsychological assessment and intervention with individuals with acquired brain injury, their families, and the wider MDT involved in their care.
3. Interdisciplinary working contributing to a coherent goal-directed rehabilitation service.
4. Establishing and embedding best patient care initiatives.

A commitment to the provision of evidence-based health care is essential as is experience in neuropsychological assessment and the ability to assess creatively and functionally. You also require a good understanding of the psychological factors influencing physical health and delivery of health care, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as an appreciation of the need to adjust therapeutic input to take into account the presence of cognitive impairment. Enthusiasm, commitment and an ability to work as part of a team are essential.

Job responsibilities

Clinical

Direct clinical intervention through the application of a range of psychological theories and models to analyse, understand and interpret complex situations and behaviours in order to formulate solutions and treatment which is tailored to individuals needs. This requires the capacity to engage in intense concentration for prolonged periods of time.

In collaboration with senior psychologists and the multi-disciplinary team develop and deliver highly specialist programmes of psychological assessment and intervention (including advice and consultancy to other professionals) tailored to meet the needs of individuals and families with a broad range of the most complex psychological difficulties in managing and adjusting to their condition in order to improve their psychological and/or physical wellbeing.

Contributing to safe discharge planning and community follow-up plans, taking the lead on matters of cognition and psychological well-being for adults.

Although the postholder acts autonomously and is professionally accountable for their own practice, in common with all clinical psychologists, receives regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines.

Being referred the most complex cases for which standard therapeutic approaches may not be appropriate and which other colleagues cannot deal with. For example, brain injury patients may have significant barriers to communication, sensory loss and cognitive difficulties.

Effective communication of highly complex, contentious, delicate and often unwelcome information to patients, families and colleagues, within a highly emotive atmosphere, in a rapidly changing context. This involves working alone with patients who may be in a highly emotional or distressed state and could present with physically and verbally challenging behaviour (and assessing and managing patients with sensory and/or cognitive impairment). This requires a high level of interpersonal and communication skills.

Provide highly specialised advice and consultation on care, therapy, and psychological aspects of physical health to multidisciplinary teams, staff groups, patients and carers. This may involve such things as motivating patients who could lack insight into their difficulties.

Responsibility for managing own time, planning of patients clinics and patient/carer groups. Organising the workload of doctoral clinical psychology trainees and psychology assistants.

Use of neuropsychological/psychometric assessment tools requiring dexterity, speed and accuracy, with narrow margin for error. Interpretation of assessment results, requiring the use of analytical and reasoning skills. This could involve considering complex inter-related issues, such as possible effects of on-going treatment, physical health, mood and anxiety levels.

Responsibility for maintaining clear and accurate patient records in the department and in hospital health care records, including writing and word processing letters and reports to outside medical and other referrers.

Although the post holder acts autonomously and is professionally accountable for their own practice, in common with all Clinical Psychologists undertakes regular guided reflective practice with a (senior) colleague in accordance with good practice guidelines (often referred to as clinical supervision).

Policy and Service Development

Implement policies and service developments in line with government directives.

Identify service needs, setting up new initiatives which will enhance patient care outcomes.

Teaching / Training

Clinical supervision of doctoral clinical psychology trainees / students / Assistant Psychologists.

In depth knowledge and experience of psychological aspects of health care and teaching methods.

Teaching psychological aspects of physical health to other healthcare professionals within specialist services.

Research and development

To regularly undertake applied clinical research and audit programmes, using a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies with the aim of improving health outcomes of patients their families and carers. This utilises reflective scientist-practitioner and doctoral level research skills.

Supervision of Assistant Psychologists and Clinical Psychology Trainees in research and development.

Offer consultation to other professionals with reference to research or audit-based activity.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Eligible for membership of the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology and for BPS chartered status
• Achieved or working towards QiCN

Experience

• Experience with a variety of clinical assessments and interventions.
• Experience of neuropsychological assessment and interpretation.
• Experience of MDT working.
• Experience of working in a Brain Injury rehabilitation setting.

Knowledge and skills

• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal and written.
• Demonstrate ability to work autonomously.
• Ability to supervise other staff.
• Ability to formulate and work therapeutically with complex patients using a variety of therapeutic approaches.

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.

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

318-25-T0284

Job locations

Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital