Clinical Psychologist

To provide comprehensive psychological assessments and treatments of service users based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of highly complex, contentious and/or sensitive data from a variety of sources including psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the service users care. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. To formulate and implement complex plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a service users mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework. To be responsible for implementing psychological interventions for individual service users, carers, families and groups.

Clinical work will require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, to develop complex formulations based upon a range of theoretical perspectives, which will allow the most effective highly specialised programme of care. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and transition to community for service users whose problems are managed by psychologically-based care plans. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all multidisciplinary teams, settings and other agencies serving the client group. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual service users and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

To manage diary to ensure adequate provision of direct clinical work, as per the standards of four face-to-face direct clinical sessions of one hour per each full work day. Work with service users in situations that may be highly antagonistic, abusive and hostile. Communicate, in a skilled and sensitive manner, highly complex, highly sensitive and/or highly contentious information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans. TEACHING, TRAINING AND CLINICAL SUPERVISION Receive regular clinical professional supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines from a senior psychologist and, where appropriate, other professional colleagues.

To provide advice, consultation, supervision, teaching and training to staff working with the client group, where appropriate. To take part in regular internal continuing professional development and participate in external CPD linked to appraisal goals and in line with the CPD guidelines set down by the BPS/HCPC. To provide professional and clinical supervision to psychological professionals, assistant psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists, when required by the service. To contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or counselling psychology, as appropriate.

MANAGEMENT, RECRUITMENT, POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing. To contribute to the management of assistant, undergraduate and graduate psychologists, within the framework of the team/services policies and procedures, as required/appropriate. To be involved as appropriate/required in recruitment processes RESEARCH AND EVALUATION To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research. To undertake research projects, including complex audit and service evaluation using research methodology, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision. To be responsible for the upkeep of the practice development unit file and the coordination of audit and research projects related to this, in accordance with Trust policies.