Main area Specialist Clinical Psychologist Stroke, Brain Injury and Neurology Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Fixed term: 12 months (maternity cover) Hours Part time - 30 hours per week Job ref 318-25-T0522
Employer Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Town Gloucester Salary £55,690 - £62,682 (pro rata if part time) Salary period Yearly Closing 06/08/2025 23:59
Clinical Psychologist Brain Injury, Stroke and Neurology, Band 8a
NHS AfC: Band 8a
At Gloucestershire Hospitals, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the largest employer in the county, we’re proud to provide outstanding acute, elective, and specialist services to over 650,000 people across our county. Whether you’re just beginning your NHS journey or taking the next step in your career, this is an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in innovation, research, and transformation, with over 100 active clinical studies and major developments underway across our two district hospitals.
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Job overview
This part time 8a maternity cover opportunity provides highly specialist clinical health psychology intervention, including specialist neuropsychological assessment, to adult in/out-patients with highly complex difficulties. Specifically for people with acquired brain injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions; their families, carers and associated staff. This includes developing and providing specialist programmes of care and advice at an individual and group level, consultative advice and supervision for colleagues, education of colleagues and service based research. This 8a post consists of 1 session of a clinical psychology service to neurology patients providing neuropsychological assessment, 2 sessions to brain injury patients, 1 session of which will be attached to and delivered at the Whittington House ABI unit (a small 3 bedded step down brain injury rehab unit), 2 sessions to the acute stroke ward at Cheltenham General Hospital, and 3 sessions to the Community Neurology Service.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
Contribute to the psychological assessment and care of individuals with neurological conditions, stroke, and acquired brain injury at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital with a further session being delivered at Whittington House ABI unit.
Duties will include:
Neuropsychological assessment of individuals with known or suspected neurological conditions to inform diagnosis / care planning.
Specialist psychological / neuropsychological assessment and intervention with individuals with acquired brain injury / stroke their families, and the wider MDT involved in their care
Interdisciplinary working contributing to a coherent goal-directed rehabilitation service.
Establishing and embedding best patient care initiatives.
A commitment to the provision of evidence-based health care is essential as is experience in neuropsychological assessment and the ability to assess creatively and functionally. You also require a good understanding of the psychological factors influencing physical health and delivery of health care, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as an appreciation of the need to adjust therapeutic input to take into account the presence of cognitive impairment. Enthusiasm, commitment and an ability to work as part of a team are essential.
Working for our organisation
An autonomous 8a role across Stroke, Neurology and Brain Injury
An innovative, stimulating and well organised environment – part of a well-established Clinical Health Psychology department employing a range of applied psychologists
A friendly and supportive team of colleagues, excellent peer support and regular supervision, with an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
A commitment to the training and support of applied psychologists and active involvement in the local clinical doctoral courses.
Dedicated time within the role for advancing special interests and professional development.
While the post holder will spend time at both Whittington House, Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, they will be part of a team of 7 other psychologists delivering a service to neurological rehabilitation in GHNHSFT, a team known for excellent peer support.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical
Direct clinical intervention through the application of a range of psychological theories and models to analyse, understand and interpret complex situations and behaviours in order to formulate solutions and treatment which is tailored to individuals needs. This requires the capacity to engage in intense concentration for prolonged periods of time.
In collaboration with senior psychologists and the multi-disciplinary team develop and deliver highly specialist programmes of psychological assessment and intervention (including advice and consultancy to other professionals) tailored to meet the needs of individuals and families with a broad range of the most complex psychological difficulties in managing and adjusting to their condition in order to improve their psychological and/or physical wellbeing.
Contributing to safe discharge planning and community follow-up plans, taking the lead on matters of cognition and psychological well-being for adults.
Although the postholder acts autonomously and is professionally accountable for their own practice, in common with all clinical psychologists, receives regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines.
Being referred the most complex cases for which standard therapeutic approaches may not be appropriate and which other colleagues cannot deal with. For example, brain injury patients may have significant barriers to communication, sensory loss and cognitive difficulties.
Effective communication of highly complex, contentious, delicate and often unwelcome information to patients, families and colleagues, within a highly emotive atmosphere, in a rapidly changing context. This involves working alone with patients who may be in a highly emotional or distressed state and could present with physically and verbally challenging behaviour (and assessing and managing patients with sensory and/or cognitive impairment). This requires a high level of interpersonal and communication skills. This may require confronting rigidly held unrealistic beliefs and expectations.
Provide highly specialised advice and consultation on care, therapy, and psychological aspects of physical health to multidisciplinary teams, staff groups, patients and carers. This may involve such things as motivating patients who could lack insight into their difficulties.
Respond to requests for consultation on staff and organisational issues
Responsibility for managing own time, planning of patient’s clinics and patient/carer groups. Organising the workload of doctoral clinical psychology trainees and psychology assistants.
Use of neuropsychological/psychometric assessment tools requiring dexterity, speed and accuracy, with narrow margin for error. Interpretation of assessment results, requiring the use of analytical and reasoning skills. This could involve considering complex inter-related issues, such as possible effects of on-going treatment, physical health, mood and anxiety levels.
Responsibility for maintaining clear and accurate patient records in the department and in hospital health care records, including writing and word processing letters and reports to outside medical and other referrers.
Although the post holder acts autonomously and is professionally accountable for their own practice, in common with all Clinical Psychologists undertakes regular guided reflective practice with a (senior) colleague in accordance with good practice guidelines (often referred to as clinical supervision).
Policy and Service Development
Implement policies and service developments in line with government directives.
Identify service needs, setting up new initiatives which will enhance patient care outcomes.
Teaching / Training
Clinical supervision of doctoral clinical psychology trainees / students / Assistant Psychologists.
In depth knowledge and experience of psychological aspects of health care and teaching methods.
Teaching psychological aspects of physical health to other healthcare professionals within specialist services.
Research and development
To regularly undertake applied clinical research and audit programmes, using a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies with the aim of improving health outcomes of patients their families and carers. This utilises reflective scientist- practitioner and doctoral level research skills.
Supervision of Assistant Psychologists and Clinical Psychology Trainees in research and development.
Offer consultation to other professionals with reference to research or audit-based activity.
Additional Contact:
Dr Aileen Thomson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Lead for Neurology Psychology and Brain Injury Service - aileen.thomson@nhs.net 03004228523
Person specification
Qualifications
* Eligible for membership of the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology and for BPS chartered status
* HCPC registration
* Achieved or working towards QiCN
Experience
* Experience with a variety of clinical assessments and interventions.
* Experience of neuropsychological assessment and interpretation.
* Experience of MDT working
* Experience of working in a Brain Injury rehabilitation setting
Knowledge and skills
* Demonstrate excellent communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal and written
* Demonstrate ability to work autonomously
* Ability to supervise other staff
* Ability to formulate and work therapeutically with complex patients using a variety of therapeutic approaches
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
You will only be contacted by the Recruitment Team via email if you are shortlisted for this post. Please ensure therefore that you check your e-mail account regularly.
If you require sponsorshipfor a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under theUKVI points based system
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Name Dr Clare Tangye Job title Consultant Clinical Psychologist Email address clare.tangye@nhs.net Telephone number 03004228523 Additional information
Dr Aileen Thomson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Lead for Neurology Psychology and Brain Injury Service - aileen.thomson@nhs.net
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