Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. CLINICAL
* To assess the psychological needs of people affected by cancer who may present with multiple and complex issues
* To deliver specialist, evidence-based counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions for people affected by cancer, at NICE guidance Levels 3 and 4. This will usually be one-to-one but may include couples and group work and seeing in-patients on the ward
* To accept referrals via agreed service protocols, to evaluate and make decisions on treatment and refer on to appropriate services if required
* Assess patients for suitability for psychological interventions and negotiate a therapy contract
* Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for patients, drawing on a range of theoretical and therapeutic models across a range of complex problems.
* To communicate, with a high degree of skill and sensitivity, highly complex information while working with people to understand their personal difficulties in adjusting to a cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and life-limiting illness and to develop individual treatment interventions in collaboration with them
* To offer flexible ways of working according to patient need and service requirements via face-to-face, telephone and video sessions
* To ensure the safety and confidentiality of patients whilst working from home
* To offer face-to-face sessions on-site, whilst complying with Trust protocols to maintain patient and clinician safety
* Make and keep appropriate notes of clinical sessions and accurately record and analyse screening and outcome measures
* Undertake risk assessment and management to include suicide risk and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and make referrals as necessary
* Screen for psychiatric disorder, using screening tools and outcome measures, formulate a management plan and refer to medical and nursing members of the team or primary care, as appropriate, in collaboration with the patient.
* Exercise autonomous professional responsibility and accountability for clinical work undertaken and organise and manage own clinical caseload
* Involve partners, family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying psychological formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
* Manage activity relating to the number of patient contacts offered and clinical sessions carried out to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient
* Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to patients, as appropriate
* Liaise with other health and social care staff within the Trust and from external agencies to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate psychological support
* Provide specialist advice and consultation to other team members, professionals, groups and voluntary agencies.
* Facilitate and deliver support and education groups for patients in collaboration with colleagues
* Ensure that confidentiality is maintained in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions / UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
* Arrange and work with interpreters as necessary to ensure that all patients have equal access to counselling / psychotherapy
* Contribute to the supervision / mentoring of trainees on placement within Psycho-oncology.
2. TRAINING AND SUPERVISION
* Design, deliver and evaluate psychological support training sessions to multi-disciplinary team members of the Trust
* Provide clinical supervision to Level 2 specialist nurses, allied health professionals and other staff involved in the provision of psychological support
* Develop and contribute to the teaching, training and support of clinical staff in conjunction with the Psycho-oncology team.
* Provide mentoring and / or supervision to trainees on placement
3. LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
* Contribute to the development of best practice within the Psycho-oncology service, highlight potential service improvements and implement changes.
* Participate in Psycho-oncology team business meetings, supervision and education sessions.
* Promote the Psycho-oncology service at Trust, GM Cancer and national level through meetings, conferences and written material.
4. PROFESSIONAL
* Receive regular supervision and undertake appropriate Continuing Professional Development according to the accreditation requirements of BACP / UKCP
* Ensure the maintenance of high standards of practice according to the policies of the Trust and the professional accrediting bodies and operate within the appropriate Ethical Frameworks / Codes at all times
* Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed, and reviewed with managers through regular performance development reviews and pursue a personal development plan.
* Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and national and local guidance in mental health and Psycho-oncology
* Maintain up to date knowledge of developments in the psychological therapies and disseminate to the Team
* Attend relevant conferences and workshops in line with identified professional objectives
5. INFORMATION RESOURCES
* Maintain records of all clinical activity and complete all service requirements relating to data collection
* Provide letters and written reports to referrers and others as required
* Provide a resource of relevant information for patients and staff and to be involved in the production of information materials as required
6. RESEARCH AND SERVICE EVALUATION
* Carry out clinical audits of service performance, including service user surveys, outcome measures and evaluations, and collate and disseminate the results for feedback.
* Participate in research projects, taking an active role in data collection and contribute to reports.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Master's level or equivalent qualification in counselling or psychotherapy
* Full accreditation with BACP / registration with UKCP
* Current Registrant on Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register
Desirable criteria
* Additional training in appropriate areas of psychological therapy e.g. trauma, psycho-sexual therapy
* Training in online counselling.
* Training in supervision
Experience
Essential criteria
* Minimum of 3 years post-qualification clinical experience
* Minimum of 2 years experience working with people affected by cancer / physical illness
* Experience of psychological assessment, including risk and the formulation and delivery of treatment plans
* Experience of providing time-limited therapy using a range of therapeutic approaches
* Experience of working autonomously and managing own clinical caseload
* Experience of team working
* Experience of teaching others and liaising with other professional groups
* Experience of delivering therapy remotely
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working in an oncology / physical health setting
* Provision of psycho-sexual therapy
* Provision of trauma-focused therapy
* Working with groups
* Participation in audit and research
* Experience of delivering teaching / training
* Experience of providing supervision / mentorship to trainees
* Experience of service development
* Experience of providing clinical supervision in groups and 1:1
* Experience of working with diverse communities and within a multicultural setting
Skills
Essential criteria
* Excellent communication skills with patients and colleagues
* High standards in written communication and the ability to write clear reports and letters to referrers
* Ability to keep accurate electronic patient records and outcome monitoring
* Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
* Ability to form good working relationships
* Ability to prioritise effectively and organise and manage own workload
* Ability to work flexibly in response to patient needs
* Interest and/or skills in specialist areas relevant to cancer
* Ability to support oneself and colleagues working in a highly emotive and challenging clinical context
* Well-developed IT skills
Desirable criteria
* Teaching and presentation skills
* Ability to work with an interpreter to deliver psychological therapies
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of physical illness and its management
* Understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in a cancer setting
* Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding and other relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice
* Understanding of the principles of audit and research
Values
Essential criteria
* Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.
We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.
We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.
By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.
The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.
Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.
You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
* Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 211.6KB)
* The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
* Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
* Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)
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