Band 8a Senior Practitioner Psychologist | Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Outpatient caseload will include both neurodevelopmental and paediatric liaison cases, triaging these referrals and providing both individual and family intervention. The post holder will carry out cognitive neuropsychological assessments where needed, and contribute to service development.
There may also be opportunity to work as part of the Royal Free Hospital children’s diabetes team, and for service development in CAMHS & diabetes.
This role will suit a clinical or counselling psychologist with post-qualification experience in CAMHS, paediatrics or other physical health services, or an interest in developing skills in these areas.
The post holder will have post-qualification experience to work in this senior role. They
Will contribute to the ADHD & Autism assessment pathways within the service by working alongside other clinical psychologists and supervising the work of an assistant psychologist in terms of family liaison and database maintenance. The post holder will be expected to carry a caseload of children and young people with neurodevelopmental mental health difficulties and/or chronic or acute medical problems.
There will also be opportunity to work as part of the Royal Free Hospital children’s diabetes team, where needed, providing support for children, young people and families living with Type 1, Type 2, MODY and other forms of diabetes, aged 0 - 19.This includes support for the newly diagnosed, contribute to specialist reviews around Hybrid Closed Loop implementation and provide ongoing psychological assessment and intervention around diabetes within a specialist Multi-Disciplinary Team.
It will be important to develop working relationships with paediatric staff including, paediatricians, clinical nurse specialists and dieticians.
This role will appeal to a clinical psychologist with post-qualification experience in CAMHS, paediatrics or other health psychology roles. The postholder will have an ability to work independently, who is interested in working with young people and developing specialist skills.
The CAMHS service is based in a large hospital in the centre of leafy Hampstead and walking distance from the tube, and we are a welcoming and supportive team.
This role is available up to 0.8 WTE (4 days per week). We ask that one working day needs to be Friday. Annual Leave starts at 27 days a year plus bank holidays pro rata.
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To work together with other members of the paediatric diabetes MDT (paediatricians, specialist nurses, dietitians) and other members of the CAMHS team (psychiatry, family therapy, nursing, psychotherapy), to provide targeted psychological interventions, which are integrated within the overall MDT treatment approach, to work collaboratively to support patients in their recovery and to achieve their goals (involving information sharing, joint working, and attendance at MDT reviews).
To provide expertise and specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to medical and ward staff involved with outpatient and inpatient caseload, to assist in the formulation, diagnosis and treatment of patients. To liaise with ward staff to assess whether current inpatients and their families would benefit from psychological support.
Provide highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment to patients, and provide support and consultation to non-psychologist colleagues. Outpatient caseload will include complex general CAMHS neurodevelopmental and paediatric liaison cases, triaging these referrals and providing both individual and family intervention.The post holder will carry out cognitive neuropsychological assessments where needed, and contribute to service development, including new interventions. Clinical work will also include providing support to complex paediatric inpatient presentations and highly specialist consultation with medical and ward staff, contributing to the development of psychological formulations and individual treatment plans.
To provide reports and communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients.
To provide expertise and advice to facilitate the effective and appropriate provision of psychological care by all staff involved in patient care and support.
To liaise with relevant health, education and social care staff, from a range of agencies, in relation to care provision of patients.
To ensure the development and maintenance of the highest personal standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holder’s professional and service manager(s).
To receive regular clinical professional supervision. Supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and band 7 clinical psychologists.
To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues of relevance to the service and client group.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS
To provide specialist psychological assessment to patients referred using interview, formal psychometric and other assessment methods as appropriate.
To formulate and devise psychological treatment and management plans for referred patients and to provide psychological treatment on an individual basis, using a range of specialist psychological interventions.
To provide a highly specialist service to patients and families with psychological problems arising from childhood mental health conditions, neurodevelopmental disorders or acute or chronic illness in childhood, including diabetes.
To work clinically with patients across different settings (outpatient and inpatient service), and work closely with relevant health professionals involved in their care.
Undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients. To liaise as required with other relevant professionals and agencies in relation to risk issues.
Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for assessment, formulation and intervention for patients receiving psychological care, and sharing of clinical information as appropriate with relevant professionals to ensure effective and individualised treatment planning.
To treat each patient and their support network with dignity and respect taking into account their cultural differences and needs within the service.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
To contribute to the development and articulation of effective practice in psychology, by exercising 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.
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work, work with other team members and for service development.
To manage the CAMHS service evaluation and audit processes, including freedom of information requests and ad-hoc data requests.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
To use physical resources appropriately and effectively, and in accordance with relevant Trust procedures and policies.
To use relevant statistical data to monitor and manage non-attendance and cancellations of appointments.
To utilise national guidelines, evidence-based - and other relevant literature, reflection and supervision to develop and maintain effective and efficient clinical practice.- RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING
To provide supervision to qualified clinical psychologists, unqualified clinical psychologists and assistant clinical psychologists as appropriate.
To provide advice, consultation, training and supervision, where appropriate, to other health and education staff working with the client group.
To contribute to the pre and post-qualification teaching of clinical and/or other applied psychologists, as appropriate.
To manage the CAMHS service evaluation and audit processes, including freedom of information requests, and supervise/support other members of the audit and evaluation team.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, HCPC and Trust policies.
To contribute to the collection and analysis of outcome data for both individual and group interventions and to contribute to service evaluation.
To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues of relevance to the service and patient group.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
To participate fully and implement standards devised from the Trust’s clinical and research governance activity.
To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research.
To undertake project management, including audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop and evaluate service provision.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Follow infection control policies
Take reasonable care for Health and Safety at work
Comply with Confidentiality & Data Protection policies, includingData Protection Act 1998 and maintain confidentiality of staff, patients and Trust business.
Conflict of Interest - Staff should not abuse their official position, to gain or benefit themselves, their family or friends.
Equality and Diversity - ensure the Trust’s policies, procedures and obligation in respect of promoting equality and diversity are adhered to in relation to both staff and services.
Vulnerable Groups - minimise risk of harm to children, young people and adults in accordable with Trust and Government policies
No Smoking Policy applies to all staff.
All staff are expected to abide by the Trust’s guidance on standards of dress.
This advert closes on Friday 21 Feb 2025