Job overview
We are looking for two 0.6 WTE Clinical Psychologists for the Acute Stroke Unit at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital. The Acute Stroke Units provide a high level inpatient care for patients who have suffered a stroke, including medical treatment and rehabilitation from a multidisciplinary team.
The roles are advertised as either a Band 7 preceptorship to 8A, or 8A for the right applicant. We would be open to applications from newly qualified Psychologists, with suitable NHS experience. Full training and support will be provided to the successful candidate, who will be supervised by the lead psychologist in the service.
We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual who will be the lead provider of a clinical neuropsychology service to the acute stroke unit. We are looking for someone with experience of neuropsychological rehabilitation and/or neuropsychological assessment and intervention with patients with neurological conditions. The post would particularly suit someone who enjoys working with varied client groups, teamwork, providing consultation and teaching to other health professionals, and contributing to service development.
Main duties of the job
The role will involve working as part of an interdisciplinary community neuro rehabilitation team consisting of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. The clinical psychologist is responsible for providing neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation for patients with neurological disorders as well as providing support for their families and carers.
This includes cognitive rehabilitation, psychological therapy to help with emotional adjustment and engagement in rehabilitation, behavioural interventions, teaching and consultation.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATION
Essential criteria
1. Post-graduate, doctoral level training in clinical psychology, or its equivalent, leading to eligibility for Chartered Status by the British Psychological Society
2. Current registration as a Clinical Psychologist with the Health Care and Professions Council
Desirable criteria
3. Post-doctoral training in Clinical Neuropsychology
4. Formal training in supervision of psychologists and/ or other health professionals.
EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria
5. Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
6. Experience of the application of clinical psychology assessment, intervention and outcome measures with patients with neurological conditions.
7. Experience of working at a specialist/highly specialist clinical psychologist level in neurological rehabilitation setting
8. Experience of working within and actively participating in a team environment and contributing a psychological perspective within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
9. Experience of teaching, training and supervision of health care professionals and/or assistant/trainee psychologists
Desirable criteria
10. Experience of taking a leadership role in service development
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Essential criteria
11. Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology including highly developed knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology.
12. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
13. Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
14. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
15. Knowledge of recent government policy and legislation relevant to neuropsychological rehabilitation (e.g. NSF for Long Term Conditions, NICE Guidelines for Stroke)
16. Highly specialist knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for patients with neurological problems and neuropsychological rehabilitation
17. Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
Desirable criteria
18. High-level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
OTHER
Essential criteria
19. Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
20. Effective leadership skills and commitment to team working
21. Flexible and autonomous approach to clinical work.
22. Ability to interact effectively with other team members and other health professionals.
23. Ability to recognise cultural differences and needs of people from different cultures
24. Personable, friendly and active team member, showing a willingness to adapt to a changing environment.
Desirable criteria
25. Professional publications in peer reviewed academic journals and/or books.