Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychology

Job summary

We are looking for a qualified or soon to qualify Clinical Psychologist with an interest in neuropsychology to join our team on a fixed term basis as maternity cover.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to work in our neuropsychology department, situated within a large regional specialist neurosciences centre.

We provide neuropsychology input across the range of conditions seen within the neurology and neurosurgery divisions of The Walton Centre. The post holder will work with colleagues across neurology, neurosurgery and neuropsychiatry as well as the broad range of disciplines within the multidisciplinary setting of The Walton Centre.

The post holder will work predominantly in the outpatient neuropsychology service.

The neuropsychology department offers excellent opportunities to develop skills and expertise, alongside a diverse range of specialisms.

We are also well connected to other psychology and rehabilitation services in the area, along with Universities, resulting in further opportunities for collaboration, research and professional development.

Main duties of the job

To provide specialist analytical and clinical judgement skills to assess, formulate, treat and evaluate a range of neuropsychological and psychological difficulties.

To provide specialist interpretation of a range of neuropsychological and psychological assessment measures in relation to work with people with neuropsychological difficulties.

To provide group psychoeducation or intervention with specific patient groups.

To work in collaboration with members of multidisciplinary teams, members of other disciplines and outside agencies.

About us

The Walton CentreNHS Foundation Trust is the only NHS trust to hold dual accreditation for theInvestors in People we invest in people and we invest in wellbeingstandards and has been awarded Gold status for both. TheWalton Centre is a leader in the treatment and care of neurology andneurosurgery, placing the patient and their family at the heart of everythingwe do. As the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providingcomprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services weare proud to be rated as an Outstanding Trust by the Care Quality Commission(CQC), and champion change throughout the field of neuroscience. Originallyformed in 1992, the Trust received Foundation Trust status in 2009.

Witharound 1,450 staff, The Walton Centre treats more than 127,000 outpatients and18,000 inpatients each year. We have leading specialists and incrediblydedicated staff delivering excellent clinical outcomes for brain, spinal andneurological care nationally and internationally. Teams across our site inFazakerley, Liverpool, offer a world-class service in diagnosing and treatinginjuries and illnesses affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves andmuscles, and in supporting people suffering from a wide range of long-termneurological conditions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Role summary

To provided clinical and psychological input for patients with a neurological and/or functional disorder referred to the Walton Centre. To conduct neuropsychological and psychological assessments with patients and manage own caseload. To provide consultation and advice within a multidisciplinary context. To work autonomously within the professional guideline and undertake regular supervision.

To attend regular team meetings and present cases for discussion, undertake teaching and training of staff.

Key responsibilities

Clinical:

1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.

2. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.

3. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.

4. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

5. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

6. To provide specialist psychological advice guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.

7. To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.

8. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

9. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.

Teaching, training, and supervision:

1. To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.

2. To gain additional highly specialist experience and skills relevant to clinical psychology and/or the service as agreed with the professional psychology manager.

3. To develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision and to provide supervision to other MDT staffs psychological work as appropriate.

4. To provide professional and clinical supervision of assistant clinical psychologists.

5. To contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or counseling psychology, as appropriate.

6. To provide advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate.

Management, recruitment, policy and service development:

1. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service valuation and audit.

2. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing.

3. To manage the workloads of assistant and trainee clinical psychologists, within the framework of the team/services policies and procedures.

4. To be involved, as appropriate, in the shortlisting and interviewing of assistant / graduate psychologists.

Research and service evaluation:

1. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

2. To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research.

3. To undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision.

IT responsibilities

1. To maintain professional and personal records on computer, as appropriate

2. To enter data onto local Trust IT systems and databases, as appropriate

3. To utilize IT methodologies, such as e-mail and the internet, to access clinical and professional information and to communicate with colleagues.

General

1. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders professional and service manager(s).

2. To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines.

3. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, The Health Professions Council and Trust policies and procedures.

4. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.

Additional notes:

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

The post holder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information, clinical governance including research governance.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with acquired brain injury, spinal chord injury and/or other complex physical health conditions. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including 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 working within the context of a multi-disciplinary team. Expertise in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. Well developed and effective communication skills, oral and written, to communicate complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups. Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology and design. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health. Knowledge of IT systems including word processing, email and local electronic patient information systems Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of service governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. Ability to self-reflect, use clinical supervision appropriately and consider complex organisational and team dynamics.

Desirable

Knowledge of the theory and practice of cognitive behavioural therapy in specific difficult to treat groups ( dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).

Qualifications

Essential

Doctoral level or equivalent training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS. Qualification and experience of delivering CBT.

Desirable

Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology. Knowledge and experience of delivering third wave psychological interventions.

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