Principal Clinical Neuropsychologist

A great opportunity to gain experience of working within inpatient neuro rehabilitation unit as a principal clinical psychologist. This is a fixed term contract providing maternity cover. The post sits within the Kent Clinical Neuropsychology Service are a large team of neuropsychologists providing input to neuro rehabilitation services across the patient pathway, throughout the county of Kent. This role sits within a passionate and dynamic multi-disciplinary team, including medics, nurses, occupational therapist, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists providing inpatient neurorehabilitation. The East Kent Neurorehabilitation Unit is based at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, in Canterbury, East Kent. It is a 19 bedded unit which provides Level 2b rehabilitation to people with acquired brain injury, spinal injuries and long term neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis. The role comes with clinical supervision from the Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist as well as many opportunities to participate in continuing professional development and peer supervision.

As a senior member of the rehabilitation team you will be essential in shaping the service and ensuring excellent and compassionate care to patients. The role within the inpatient team will involve specialist assessment, cognitive rehabilitation and psychological therapy to patients on the unit. You will liaise with patients and their families through family meetings and key worker provision to facilitate the successful transition to the community services. There will be lots of opportunity to provide training and consultation to other staff, both on the unit and in other services.

The Kent Clinical Neuropsychology Service is one of the largest Neuropsychology Departments in the country. We provide neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation in a variety of inpatient and community settings across the county. There is lots of opportunity to gain experience from a wealth of knowledge across the department. The service has a strong rehabilitation ethos and members of the service have interests in a range of different therapeutic approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, Compassion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and systemic approaches.

Many of our department are actively involved in teaching and research. Members of our service receive regular clinical, management and peer supervision and there is a commitment to ongoing training and professional development. We have supported staff to complete the QICN.

The post is based in the cosmopolitan and vibrant city of Canterbury which boasts excellent high-speed (one hour) links to London. Canterbury is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage site. It sits within beautiful countryside and is 20 minutes away from beaches.

The current post would best suit a person with neuropsychology and inpatient neurorehabilitation experience.

**Your job will involve**:
providing assessment of patients cognitive and emotional changes whilst on the neuro rehabilitation ward.

providing one to one cognitive rehabilitation to patients.

providing psychological support to assist patients adjusting to their diagnosis and symptoms.

liaising with families and providing psychoeducation around their family members diagnosis and symptoms.

working collaboratively with the multi disciplinary team on patient centred goals.

providing consultation to other team members.

attending multi disciplinary and family liaison meetings.

contributing to onward referrals and team discharge reports.

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the main responsibilities of the role.