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Job description

Are you a psychologist who loves diversity in your work in clinical health? Are you keen to join a close-knit MDT and use your skills to support patients living with visible difference, pain, and the uncertainty of a long-term condition?

This is a rewarding role working with patients aged 16+ who have Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), type 2 (NF2), or Schwannomatosis. These are genetic conditions that cause benign tumours to grow along nerves; no experience of them is needed, we will teach you all you need to know. We offer support for issues like concerns about appearance, pain, worry, and cognitive difficulties. You will be supervised by an 8a lead psychologist, embedded in a friendly MDT with close working with our nurses, social worker and physio. We use CBT, ACT and systemic approaches, face-to-face or virtual, with scope to be creative and flexible with short ad hoc work as well as longer interventions.

Alongside clinical work the job includes evaluation, research, teaching, staff support and opportunities to learn from others in the team and across the Trust.

• Candidates who are not yet HCPC registered are welcome to apply providing they have completed all required elements of their doctoral training course and are just waiting for the oral examination to be completed, as the post is to cover maternity leave and start date is as soon as possible. Such candidates will start as B6 and work 2 days a week until HCPC registered*

In joining our team you will offer evidence-based interventions to patients with NF1, NF2 or Schwannomatosis, whose condition is impacting on their mental health and quality of life. You’ll be embedded in the NF team, so the role can include consultation, teaching and joint work. The psychology service collects demographic and outcome data, so you’ll be supported to answer specific research questions (e.g. what impact does a psychological intervention have for certain groups?) and make the case for further developments. The team itself is passionate about service improvement so you will be able to collaborate on initiatives such as developing more transition resources, and encouraging a broad range of patients to come to our service-user forum every month – depending on your own interests.

Some of our patients have mild cognitive or sensory and mobility impairments, and you’ll be helped to adapt your way of working to best meet their needs.

We are looking for someone with:

• Good clinical skills in CBT, and ACT or systemic ways of working
• An interest in brain and behaviour relationships
• Confidence in working with and consulting to other professionals in the MDT
• Enthusiasm to adapt and be creative to meet the sensory and cognitive needs of our patients and families
• A creative approach to how psychological interventions can be delivered as part of a busy and multi-factorial clinic

The NF service is one of two UK national centres for NF1, and four for NF2, with patients coming from a wide geographical area. We are a close team, with most of the professions sharing office and clinical space, and we are very lucky in having excellent admin support. The service is led by neurologists and takes a holistic approach to care, with patients able to see doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists and social workers in one setting. The psychologists play a role in supporting the neurology clinics, being available for short ad hoc chats with patients and families as well as consulting other team members, and we run our own clinics and groups as well.

For the last 2 years we have offered placements to MSc students and there is scope to develop this further, with strong links with MSc courses in London, and the King’s College London/IoPPN DClinPsy training course.

We really value our individual team members and we’ll ensure you have the chance to meet your own development needs and progress your career as part of your work with us. We also contribute to national and international NF networks so there are many opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from other centres and to attend meetings worldwide. The wider Trust has a large and well-connected psychology workforce and CPD is encouraged so you will also be able to enhance your own practice via professional development and contact with other psychologists across the Trust.

Please refer to the attached documents for a full job description and person specification.

Clinical

• To provide evidence-based psychological assessments and interventions for patients and families using the NF service.
• To work as an independent and autonomous professional within British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) guidelines and Trust policies and procedures taking full responsibility for own work within the service.
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments (including psychometric measures, self-report measures as appropriate), structured observations, clinical interviews and to interpret and integrate this highly complex data.
• To formulate psychological treatment plans which are specific to the client, based upon the evidence gathered and drawing on appropriate theoretical models.
• To deliver evidence-based psychological treatments within the service, monitoring outcome and modifying and adapting interventions drawing on a range of theoretical opinions.
• To assess and monitor risk, draw up appropriate risk management plans and escalating where necessary according to Trust policy.
• To work effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• To review the literature and develop guided self-help resources for patients with NF.
• To provide specialist psychological consultation and supervision to colleagues and others and to contribute to a psychologically-informed framework within the service.
• To communicate skilfully, tactfully and sensitively highly complex and sensitive information with patients, relatives and colleagues, both orally and in writing.
• To work empathetically and sensitively with patients, relatives and colleagues, particularly in highly emotive situations.
• To conduct staff support and reflective practice groups at regular intervals, as agreed with senior team members.
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry and recording.
• To initiate, attend and record regular clinical supervision, and use this and other support services to manage the complex and at times emotionally-challenging nature of the work.
• To ensure that all services provided are acceptable and accessible to the diverse communities which make up the service.
• Undertake other appropriate duties to meet the needs of the service, patients and carers, and the wider Trust.

Education and development

• To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a senior psychologist according to HCPC, BPS and Trust guidelines.
• To undertake continuing professional development (CPD) in line with HCPC requirements and BPS guidelines, and to take responsibility for identifying training needs and opportunities that are appropriate to the role.
• To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the NF team by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and by contributing to teaching, training and staff development programmes accordingly.
• To provide advice, consultation, training and supervision to staff working with NF patients within the Trust.
• To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.
• To provide clinical and/or research supervision for specific pieces of psychological work undertaken by assistant psychologists under the direction of a more senior psychologist, and work towards joint supervision of trainee psychologists.
• To develop and consolidate clinical research skills relevant to work with patients affected by NF and their families through personal development plans agreed with the manager.
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of current developments in the field and of legislation and policies relevant to this work.
• To examine independently and critically all aspects of work to ensure they comply with the British Psychological Society’s Code of Conduct and Trust policies and procedures.

Management and leadership

• To contribute to the development and improvement of the service through generating ideas and participating in projects, under supervision from a more senior psychologist and other members of the team.
• To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users.
• To participate in clinical governance initiatives as agreed by the service.
• IT and information resources

To keep records as required by the professional codes of practice of the HCPC, BPS and Trust policies, including electronic and paper records.

• To be competent in the use of relevant and appropriate Trust IT systems and software (e.g. record-keeping and patient booking software, general word-processing, spreadsheet and statistical software).
• To use technology appropriately (e.g. Skype, text messaging) to make the service accessible to a wide range of patients, for example those who live far away and those who have difficulty hearing.

Research and Development

• To undertake literature reviews and carry out research relevant to the service and client population and provide advice, consultation and supervision to other staff undertaking these.
• To participate in the audit cycle of the post-holder’s and the wider service by identifying service standards, systematically evaluating clinical outcomes, collating results, disseminating findings and implementing change as needed.
• To contribute to the development of outcome measurement and participate in the implementation of the use of same.
• To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through service feedback, published articles and presentations both within the team and at relevant UK and international NF meetings.
• To use theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in own work and in work with other team members.