Senior Clinical Psychologist/Senior Psychological Therapist

Job overview

Due to service development, we are seeking a Senior Clinical Psychologist/Senior Psychological Therapist with an interest in working with young people to join our Paediatric Psychology Service, part time, 22.5 hours per week

Paediatric Psychology Services specialises in supporting young people who are experiencing distress as a direct result of a diagnosed physical health condition

You will undertake mostly individual sessions, consultation and supervision. There may be some options for group work going forwards

We are a small, positive, committed psychology team with strong links to our Clinical Health Psychology, CAMHS, University Hospital of North Midlands and MPFT

There will be potential for accessing formal training and peer support in a therapy relevant to the client group. We are keen to build our skills mix and welcome applications from a range of theoretical perspectives and professional backgrounds

There will be opportunity to get involved in projects related to service development and consultation across the various service areas for interested candidates

The Trust has opportunities for those who would like to develop their leadership skills and we will support further training e.g. in EMDR or ACT

We will consider applications from people whose main area of work since qualification has been in a mental health setting if they can demonstrate a good understanding and interest in the impact of physical health conditions on psychological wellbeing

Main duties of the job

Accountable for own professional practice in the delivery of specialist psychological assessment and care to clients who present with psychological distress as a direct result of a physical health condition, which may include challenging behaviours, which pose a barrier to receiving medical interventions.

To provide psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to individuals and groups in order to facilitate emotional adjustment and promote improved quality of life

To be compassionate in meeting the needs of clients, their carers and families.

To provide clinical supervision and training to less experienced colleagues within the designated psychology service and to other members of the multidisciplinary team.

To undertake formal research as an integral part of the job and act as field supervisor to doctorate trainees.

To be proactive in continual service improvement within own area.

To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental ill health or learning disabilities.

To promote at all times a positive image of the service and the wider Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Provides highly specialist psychological assessment of clients with highly complex conditions based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources.

Responsible for recognising the potential for or signs of client harm, abuse or neglect, including poor clinical practice, reporting all such concerns and taking all reasonable steps to protect the client. Responsible for identifying and reporting concerns regarding the safeguarding of children who may be at risk.

Undertakes risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and provides specialist advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

Formulates plans for highly specialist psychological work and/or management of clients’ psychological distress, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and evidence-based practice. Negotiates the implementation of such plans with clients and/or their carers.

Implements the use of highly skilled psychological formulations for individual clients, carers, staff, families and groups, adjusting and refining psychological formulations as required.

Undertakes highly skilled evaluations and makes decisions about treatment options.

Provides highly specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other staff contributing directly to client’s diagnosis, formulation and intervention plan.

Facilitates decision-making by planning and mapping processes/interventions with members of the team to determine the most appropriate treatment modality or service for clients.

Communicates in a way which recognises difference and ensures that people feel included and their individual communication needs are met.

Communicates complex and sensitive information to clients during the course of psychological therapy where the atmosphere may be emotive, there may be barriers to understanding or the client may react in an antagonistic manner.

Shares information relating to psychological assessment and formulation with clients, carers and families in a responsive, empathic manner, taking into consideration the possible complexities of the family’s circumstances and the highly sensitive nature of the information.