Applied Psychologist or Highly Specialised Applied Psychologist

This post offers an opportunity to work in a busy Pain Clinic within a friendly, enthusiastic and supportive team

Clinical time is equally split between group and individual work. There are also opportunities for individual and group work.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Job description

Clinical:

Interpret and integrate complex data from a variety of sources including psychometric tests, direct and indirect observations, and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the their care.

Formulate a care pathway for either group or individual work, as appropriate.

Assessment for group work includes careful consideration of group dynamics and individual motivational factors (including stages of change).

Utilise Motivational Interviewing skills during assessment and intervention.

Work as part of an inter-disciplinary team in the development, delivery and evaluation of generic and specialised PMPs.

Provide expert advice, support and guidance to a newly developed self-help group facilitated by graduates of the group programmes.

Provide evidence-based short-term intervention for clients experiencing psychological barriers to effective management of their chronic pain condition.

Following a comprehensive and rigorous psychological assessment, provide feedback to an interdisciplinary team to inform upon the appropriateness of invasive procedures such as implantation of spinal cord stimulators.

Act at all times in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society.

Dissemination of Information

Maintain a high standard of clinical record keeping, including electronic data entry and report writing.

Provide expert knowledge on the psychological management of chronic pain within the team, and to other professionals involved in the clients care pathway such as GPs and community mental health teams.

Ensure adequate provision of advice, consultation and dissemination of psychological knowledge, research and theory through seminars and training events.

Provide specialist clinical placements for clinical psychology trainees, undergraduate psychology students, and medical students.

Act as an expert resource in providing specialist advice, consultation, training and clinical supervision to all team members. Ensuring that the provision of psychologically based interventions aim to improve client function.

Contribute to local and regional CPD events by presenting on topics of interest to the wider clinical health psychology community.

For further details please see the attached JD & PS

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oDoctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology or equivalent (A/I)
• oRegistered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council

Desirable

• Experience of working withinoAdditional qualifications in health-specific clinical psychology, especially pain management. health settings

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• oDemonstrable experience of working with a wide variety of client groups.

Desirable

• oDemonstrable experience of teaching or training other professional in psychological concepts.
• oPrevious demonstrable experience as a supervisor for trainees or students.
• oProven knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practised within this field.

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

• oHighly developed communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, families and external agencies.
• oSkills in providing consultation to other professionals and non-professional groups.
• oA genuine interest in clinical health psychology.

Desirable

• oAble to manage people within and according to a robust performance framework

About the employer

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.