Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a cross -life span assistant psychologist post, with inpatient and outpatient clinical roles, as part of a supportive Clinical Health Psychology Department at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT). You will be based within 2 friendly multi-disciplinary clinical teams on acute hospital sites. Your main role will be working with adult inpatients/relatives on ICU, as well as contributing to day to service running/development of outpatient pathways/audit, research and staff training. You will also deliver clinical services to young people/their families as part of the BHT community Paediatric Long Covid Pathway. We value our assistant psychologists and you will have regular supervision and informal contact working alongside experienced clinical psychologists, including your line manager.
This post will be split between the adult Critical Care Service (0.7 wte) – the main home team and the Paediatric Psychology Service (0.3 wte). As a member of the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) Psychology Service, the post holder will be involved in i) day to day running of the clinical psychology service in ICU, particularly maintaining an inpatient presence ii) developing the clinical psychology ICU service for patients and their families, including regular audit, data collection and analysis and research iii) audit of the newly established Long Covid Clinic.
Main duties of the job
1. Contribute to the development and provision of ICU clinical psychology service for patients and families under the supervision of the clinical psychologist. Examples include inpatient psychological screening on the ICU ward and sometimes at step-down to general wards, possible brief interventions with patients and families and attending regular MDT meetings to discuss referrals. It may also include project work to develop screening pathways/data collection for MDT outpatient pathways. This may include assisting with the gathering of clinical information from people discharged from ICU in the community using structured interviews, questionnaires to assist the MDT ICU follow-up clinic pathway
2. Contribute to the ICU support initiatives as appropriate and under the supervision of the clinical psychologist. Examples include providing staff training (including supporting volunteers on the ICU) about trauma informed/psychologically informed care
3. Work and liaise with multidisciplinary staff, as appropriate.
4. Contribute to information gathering of clinical information from paediatric patients within the Long Covid MDT clinics, using structured interviews, questionnaires.
5. Gather Patient Experience data and report on these.
6. Follow-up paediatric patients to support self-guided rehabilitation and psychoeducational tools.
Working for our organisation
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! -
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
7. As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
8. We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
9. We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
10. We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
11. As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
12. Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
13. A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.
What do we stand for?
14. Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
15. Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
16. Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Person specification
Education, training an qualifications
Essential criteria
17. An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology, or equivalent qualification.
18. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
19. Must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to vehicle for use during work hours
Desirable criteria
20. Post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
21. High-level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
22. Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
23. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people and their families with psychological and physical problems
24. Understanding of psychology applied to healthcare and desire to explore a career in clinical psychology
25. Capable of working productively as a team member and ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
26. High standard of report writing or previous publications.
27. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently and be able to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
28. Knowledge of computer statistical packages and data storage such as Excel, SPSS, R and Bayesian statistics is a positive advantage.
29. Knowledge of good clinical practice
30. Excellent time management skills
Desirable criteria
31. Knowledge of psychological assessment tools, psychometric reliability and validation would be a positive advantage.
32. An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a physical health rehabilitation context
Experience
Essential criteria
33. Relevant work experience with people with psychological and/or physical health problems e.g. Assistant Psychologist or other health, social care or research jobs
34. Experience of working to a demanding schedule and capable of completing and finishing tasks
Desirable criteria
35. Experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist would be desirable.
36. Experience of working in acute or rehabilitation care settings
37. Experience of working with trauma or young people and their families (particularly in observational role at school) is desirable
PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.
COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.
Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.
Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.
Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.
Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.
Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.
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