Principal Psychologist

Job summary

This is a new and exciting opportunity for a Principal Psychologist to join our established interdisciplinary chronic pain team based in East Sussex. We are looking for an aspiring psychologist with a passion for working in the field of chronic pain management, and experience of managing a caseload within a physical health setting.

Main duties of the job

You will use your knowledge, experience and brilliant skills to provide advice and consultation on psychological aspects of pain management to other health professionals and to advance students and colleagues knowledge and practice of psychological theories and principles. You will proactively develop and promote a positive and dynamic image and culture and will be key in fostering productive relationships with key stakeholders such as NHS Talking Therapies service providers, patients and the public.

About us

Connect Healthis the largest and most experienced independent community healthcare providerin the UK encompassing mental health, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, tier-2 MSK(musculoskeletal), chronic pain, long Covid, First Contact Practitioners (FCP)and rheumatology services, serving over 375k NHS patients pa across 29 NHS ICBs(Integrated Care Boards).

Job description

Job responsibilities

ou will be a HCPC registered Clinical or Health Psychologist and will have experience of working within a physical health setting delivering individual and group interventions. You will preferably have good knowledge of the current evidence base in relation to psychological approaches to pain management. We are particularly keen to recruit an enthusiastic and high calibre candidate with interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

It is an exciting time to be joining Connect Health pain services, as we continue to grow and develop our interdisciplinary pain services across the UK. Connect Health are delivering the Flippin Pain public health campaign ( and were highly rated by the NHS Change Challenge panel for their ehealth pain innovations in response to COVID-19. Connect Health are taking forward several exciting pain related quality improvement projects.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

British Psychological Society Accredited post-graduate doctoral degree in an applied field of psychology (clinical or health) including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. Registration with The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist. Professional knowledge acquired through a British Psychological Society recognized postgraduate doctoral degree, supplemented by short specialist courses and clinical supervision. Skills for assessing patients and developing an appropriate formulation. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment within a physical health setting, providing individual and group interventions Substantial experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings. Experience in the application of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Cognitive-Behavioural approach to patients with general medical conditions with specialist supervision by a Pain Clinical Psychologist or Clinical Health Psychologist. Experience of team working Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS or HCPC

Desirable

Experience working in an interdisciplinary chronic pain service Experience working with individuals Experience of delivering high quality Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Experience of running group based ACT/CBT pain management/rehabilitation groups Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training, health psychology and/or other fields of applied psychology. Post-doctoral training in a psychological theory/model that is applicable to the area of chronic pain ACT Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care. Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts. Experience of teaching, training and of providing supervision. Experience of developing services Experience of audit, project work and research or further training.

Experience

Essential

Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology. Possesses highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience of clinical health psychology models / psychological aspects of chronic illness Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration Competence in ACT/CBT. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the organisation. Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings High level knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological approaches for specific problems (, traumatic reactions, bereavement, adherence difficulties) Knowledge of chronic/ persistent pain. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the organisation. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and nonprofessional groups

Desirable

High level knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological approaches for specific problems (, traumatic reactions, bereavement, adherence difficulties) Knowledge of chronic/ persistent pain.

---