Highly Specialised Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

• To conduct specialist clinical psychology assessments of adults and young people referred to the psychology service, based upon appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a wide variety of sources. This will include clinical interview, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect observation and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in their care.
• To provide integrated formulations and highly specialised psychological treatments for clients with inherited bleeding disorders with highly complex difficulties.
• To be responsible for implementing a wide range of psychological interventions for individuals and groups and, when appropriate, family members choosing from a range of treatment options or expert opinions, using clinical judgement and knowledge of evidence-based approaches to plan, implement and evaluate treatment plans.
• In making such decisions theoretical and therapeutic models and complex factors will be taken into account (such as medical, psychological, historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group).
• To develop, deliver and systematically evaluate services for adults and young people with Haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders, providing highly specialised advice concerning their care and treatment.
• To ensure that clients receive well co-coordinated care, through liaison with other staff, attendance at relevant team meetings and other meetings involving outside agencies and related administration.
• To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and provide general advice to other professionals working with the individual on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.
• To participate in professional development and maintain appropriate levels of registration/accreditation.
• The post holder will agree standards for own work with their line manager, whilst ensuring that the overall pattern of work is in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

Essential

• Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan development psychology.

Desirable

• Post-doctoral training in additional specialised area of psychological practice and/or research methods.

Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of children, young people and families.
• Experience of delivering tailored psychological interventions (e.g. 1:1, couple, group and systemic interventions) and drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches.
• Experience of implementing service developments informed by audit and outcome data.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with physical health conditions.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care-co-ordinator and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life span and presenting the full range of clinical severity
• Experience in 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 representing the profession within local multi-professional teams.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a paediatric setting.
• Experience of applying both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Experience of submitting bids for research funding.
• Experience of working with clients diagnosed with inherited bleeding disorders.
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts and experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of research design and analysis in a clinical setting.

Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of clinical or counselling psychology including highly developed knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and two or more distinct psychological therapies.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including multivariate data analysis; skills in using SPSS.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management of individuals presenting with complex problems, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Ability to form effective and supportive relationships with clients and staff
• Awareness of the needs of people across the lifespan with physical disability/illness
• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'hold' the stress of others.
• Ability to articulate and interpret clearly the role of the profession based upon a good understanding of the framework of government and national policy.
• Ability to identify and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
• A high level of ability to communicate effectively, at both written and oral level, complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS.
• Knowledge of systems, policies and legislation relevant to the client group, their physical and mental health.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and required by the HCPC
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
• Full, clean driving license

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two highly specialised psychological therapies.
• Record of having published in peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books.
• Further training in a specialised areas of clinical practice, e.g. advanced cognitive therapy skills and the application of psychological principles to patients with chronic physical health problems, through formal post-doctoral training (diploma or equivalent) OR a combination of specialist short courses, together with an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice based learning in these specialist areas.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
• A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multi-professional and uni-professional audit, and a wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area.