Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologist
Job overview
The Medical Psychology service provides psychological assessment, support and treatment to medical patients within South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologist with an interest in applying psychology to physical health to join the Cancer & Specialist Palliative Care workstream in the Medical Psychology service.
The role is available at Band 6 (pre-qualification) or 7 (post qualification). Please note that progression to 8a is not available within the bounds of this job role.
Main duties of the job
The role includes working with established MDT clinicians, providing multidisciplinary assessment, group work, psychological assessment and therapy with inpatients and outpatients. Clinics may take place either on our hospital sites at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough and the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, remotely and/or in a number of community sites across the region.
Working for our organisation
Medical Psychology
The Medical Psychology service is made up of Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, Health Psychologists, Psychological Therapists and Counsellors. We deliver psychological assessment, intervention and support to patients with a range of medical conditions across the lifespan.We utilise third wave therapies (especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness) alongside CBT as the core therapeutic modalities, with training and supervision provided to support delivery of these approaches.
We also carry out clinical audit, research and service evaluation. We have strong links with the Doctoral Training Programmes at the University of Teesside, and we provide teaching, placements and research projects for Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology and Health Psychology trainees.
The Trust encourages innovation and service development, and we actively support this within the Medical Psychology service. All clinicians are expected to take on service development and service governance duties as part of their role, both within the Psychology service and within the wider MDTs in which we work.We provide mentoring and support to deliver this.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff to the Trust; this training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills.You will be expected to attend the leadership development programme, and the Quality Improvement Programme that the Trust delivers. This programme aims to
Explore leadership within the NHS
Promote Trust Values and Behaviours
Develop your Leadership effectiveness and skills
Practitioner level in quality improvement, equipping you with the skills to champion, lead and complete quality improvement within your role
After you complete this four and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities, we offer further in-house courses dependent upon your role and bite-size programmes and leadership apprenticeships at level 3,5 and 7.
Person specification
Knowledge and Skills - B7
Essential criteria- Psychologists - Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.
- Psychological Therapists - Detailed knowledge of the skills and competencies of delivery of at least one evidence based model of psychological therapy (e.g. CBT)
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to relevant client groups and the healthcare system.
- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPS and HCPC
- Up-to-date knowledge of evidence base, theories and approaches for application of psychology in physical health and Cancer management.
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and 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.
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING - B7
Essential criteria- Psychologists - Minimum psychology degree 2:1
- Psychologists - Professional qualification in applied psychology at Doctoral level.
- Psychologists - HCPC Registration as a Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist or Health Psychologist
- Psychological Therapists - A recorded/registered qualification in a core health or social care profession at graduate level (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy) or have passed the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) pre-requisite criteria as recognised by the BABCP prior to undertaking the post-graduate training as a High Intensity Therapist
- Psychological Therapists - Completed post-graduate training as a High Intensity Therapist sufficient to meet the required knowledge, skills and attitudes at a level required for BABCP accreditation.
- Psychological Therapists - Current registration with the BABCP as a Psychological Therapist
- Psychologists - Training in the supervision of trainee Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists or Health Psychologists
- Both - Specialist training in psychological approaches for medical conditions.
Experience - B7
Essential criteria- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatments of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, (including children and young people with health conditions) across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity.
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment,
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
- Experience of representing psychology/ psychological therapy within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
- Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Experience in one or more medical psychology settings.
Knowledge and Skills - B6
Essential criteria- Good level of knowledge of Psychology theory and therapeutic approaches.
- Genuine enthusiasm for working within a physical healthcare setting and/or with Cancer patients
- Ability to work to professional guidelines as defined by BPS, HCPC and requirements of a Clinical/Health/Counselling Doctoral training course
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING - B6
Essential criteria- Undergraduate degree in Psychology, or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society
- Must be registered on a BPS approved Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychology Programme.
- Awarded a 2.1 or above for undergraduate psychology degree
- Qualification in one or more models of psychological therapy
EXPERIENCE - B6
Essential criteria- Experience of completing psychological assessments
- Experience providing psychological therapy
- Core skills in assessment, formulation and psychological interventions
- Ability to use clinical supervision to support own practice
- Experience working with clients with physical health problems
- Experience of working in the NHS, e.g.: as an Assistant Psychologist, Research Assistant, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Healthcare Assistant, etc.
- Relevant research experience including quantitative statistical methods and/or qualitative approaches as undergraduate or postgraduate.
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is now the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group.
As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at [email protected]
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.
IMPORTANT - Please ensure you read the 'Guidance Notes for Applicants' document attached to this advert before you start to complete your application form.
This document provides detailed advice regarding the completion of your application form.
The guidance document also provides in detail what identification and certificates you must provide at interview should you be shortlisted.
As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references from their last continuous 3 year employment and/or training/education. The referees MUST be a Line Manager/Supervisor. Applicants are requested to ensure email addresses for all referees are included on their application form.Personal references and references from colleagues are not acceptable.
Unfortunately we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.