Practitioner Psychologist/ Psychological Therapist
You will be one of a team of six psychologists, working as part of a multidisciplinary service which aims to help individuals to understand and manage persistent pain by developing self-management skills. Psychologically informed practice is key to our service, and you will work closely with other team members to empower people with long-term pain and other health conditions to improve their quality of life. The role involves one-to-one work, and facilitation of both face-to-face and online groups. Individuals may experience other health conditions and mental health issues alongside persistent pain, requiring a multi-faceted approach using a variety of models of therapy.
The role is based in Brighton & Hove and coastal West Sussex (including Worthing and Bognor Regis). This is a very exciting time for us as we continue to grow and develop our multidisciplinary pain management service across Central and West Sussex. The persistent pain team requires creative and innovative psychologists who can help to shape foundations for exceptional care. Working alongside our clinical specialists, you will be key to delivering psychological components within the pain service.
Main duties of the job
To provide psychological assessment to adult patients within the Persistent Pain Service.
To undertake assessment and management within the Pain Assessment and Triage Team clinics, 1:1 therapeutic work and within the group Pain Management Programme (PMP).
To provide specialist advice and consultation to non-psychology colleagues on patients\' psychological care.
To provide training and education in psychological understanding and interventions to colleagues, and where relevant staff in other services and agencies.
To work with the Team to develop psychology services within the organisation.
To utilize research skills for audit, policy, service development and research in the use of psychological therapy within the service to ensure the use of evidence based/best practice.
To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service\'s policies and procedures.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?
* Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
* Varied environments: community hospitals, patients\' homes, and bases across Sussex
* Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
* Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
* Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
* Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
* Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
* Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast
Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence -- guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job responsibilities
a) To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care working within professional guidelines as a fully specialised and autonomous practitioner.
b) To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment and / or management of a clients persistent pain presentation, which often includes both mental and physical health issues, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems and employing methods of proven efficacy.
c) To utilise very highly developed observational skills and psychological flexibility.
d) To organise this effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities and use of resources in a timely manner.
e) To make available and enter appropriate information required for the service databases whilst at the same time complying with Trust IT regulations.
f) To utilise computer literacy skills to obtain relevant clinical and service information electronically (where appropriate) and to access knowledge through internet searches and transfer relevant information between relevant parties ensuring compliance with Trust and National guidelines.
g) To maintain the highest standard of administration, clinical record keeping and report writing according to professional and Trust guidelines.
h) To work with existing resources whilst responding efficiently to constant changes that require reprioritisation as necessary.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Post graduate qualification in clinical or counselling psychology (registered with the health professions council) or other core profession (such as mental health nurse or health psychology practitioner) with additional therapy accreditation in NICE guideline evidence based practice (e.g. BABCP).
* Accreditation with relevant professional body: Relevant professional accreditation (HCPC for psychologists and BABCP for CBT therapists)
* Post - qualification training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
* Post qualification experience of working as a psychological practitioner within an NHS context
Experience
* Experience of assessment and therapy with patients with long term health conditions and co-morbid psychological problems either in a specialist health psychology service, acute hospital, or within an IAPT service/ primary care
* Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team setting and working collaboratively with other disciplines from physical and/ or mental health
* Experience and ability to manage own caseload and time
* Good record of Continuing and Professional Development in accordance with professional body of applicant. Willingness to continue to do this and to demonstrate levels congruent with accreditation/reaccreditation
* Evidence of continued professional development relevant to working within a long-term conditions psychological therapy service
* Have conducted assessments for suitability for treatment, conducted assessments according to service criteria
* Worked in a service with agreed targets to demonstrate clinical outcomes
* Experience of working within NHS psychological therapy services or equivalent
* Experience of offering training and consultation to other staff groups including physical healthcare staff
* Experience of using CBT and/or ACT to treat the full range of common mental health problems as well as OCD, phobias and trauma.
* Experience of working psychologically with patients with Long term health conditions or within an MSK pathway
* Received regular supervised practice according to service provision and professional body requirements
* Experience of working within or physical healthcare team as a psychological therapist
* Experience of working therapeutically with patients who have Long Term Conditions and/or medically unexplained symptoms
* Experience providing assessment with recommendations for onward referral to other services
* Experience of supporting patients to engage with behaviour change using approaches such as motivational interviewing
Skills
* Full range of skills and competencies as required for professional accreditation as Psychologist or CBT therapist
* Demonstrates knowledge of research evidence, national guidance and clinical protocols for psychological interventions for patients with long term health conditions
* Computer literate - competent with standard software packages - internet, word, excel, PowerPoint
* Demonstrates high standards in written and verbal communications with ability to adapt style of communication to different professional and non professional groups
* Ability to demonstrate use of robust risk assessment and risk management skills using service protocols and guidance
* Ability to engage with and develop appropriate therapeutic relationships with clients with complex psychological and physical health conditions
* Demonstrates high standard of record keeping, with due regard for NHS Confidentiality, Data Protection and Information governance, abiding by codes of ethics and guidance for good practice of professional body
* Has full understanding of the Ethical Principles and Codes of Practice for own professional body
* Ability to establish good working relationships with local stakeholders [e.g. GPs, Practice Managers, nurse specialists, physicians within primary and secondary care, and with 3rd sector organisations]
* Awareness of how psychological interventions fit into a mental health and physical health referral pathway
* Ability to complete clinical audits
* Can provide additional third wave CBT based interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focussed Therapy
* Have skills to train/teach mental health awareness to other members of staff in primary care setting; 3rd Sector, other health care professionals
* Skills in offering consultation and supervision to non-mental health professionals such as nurse specialists, to develop collaborative formulations and treatment plans for patients with complex physical health conditions and co-morbid psychological presentations
* Skills in working effectively within a multidisciplinary setting
* Experience of working therapeutically within a group setting
Other
* Collaborative approach to working with patients to empower them to manage their health conditions, using a variety of therapeutic approaches such as CBT, ACT or CFT
* High level of enthusiasm and motivation
* Ability to work with a psychological therapies team and within a physical healthcare team and foster good working relationships
* Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
* Ability to work under pressure and autonomously
* Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
* Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with patients, & in own personal and professional development and in supervision
* The ability and skills to act as an advocate for the service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system
* Ability to travel to all locations across the locality (public transport is not available to all destinations). If not a car owner/driver, please state how you will travel
* Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
* An understanding of the principles of equal opportunities in relation to staff and patients
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata
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