Principal Clinical Psychologist for Cancer Services

Responsible for

a) Co-ordinating specialist service for cancer including managing patient workload and providing psychology input to the wider clinical team. b) To provide consultation and clinical supervision/support to Specialist Cancer Care staff in relation to the psychosocial care of their patients. These activities may be provided in a variety of formats. c) Provision of specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. d) Formulating and implementing plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy and / or effectiveness. e) Implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, adjusting and refining psychological formulations as required. f) Evaluating and making decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. g) To exercise full responsibility and autonomy for the treatment and discharge of patients from the Psychology Service, ensuring appropriate assessment, formulation and interventions, communicating with the referral agent and others involved with the patients care on a regular basis. h) Contributing directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients in receipt of cancer services across all the hospital. i) Assessing, monitoring, and managing clinical risk in order to minimise this risk to clients, other people, and oneself, and providing advice on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management. j) Communicating to clients, referrers and others involved in the clients care - on a need to know basis orally, and in writing, in a skilled and sensitive manner. Information might concern the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients. k) Developing and maintaining links with other professionals working within cancer services at Queen Victoria Hospital including Consultants, Cancer Nurse Specialists and Allied Health Professionals. l) Attending clinical meetings, case reviews, and case conferences as appropriate. m) Maintaining/managing the waiting list for referrals to psychology. Informing hospital managers in respect of demand. n) Maintaining up to date client records in line with hospital policy. O) Carrying out other clinical duties as may be agreed with the Lead Clinical Psychologist. Policy and

Service Development Responsible for

a) Implementing policies and procedures relevant to the delivery of psychological services and cancer services within Queen Victoria Hospital b) Contributing to the development, evaluation and monitoring of psychological services operational policies, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. c) Identifying and advising the Lead Clinical Psychologist and Cancer Services on potential improvements to working practices and procedures within QVH areas of work and/or within teams. d) To contribute to developing strategies to implement the NICE guidance on improving care for adults with cancer. Human Resources Clinical Supervision

Teaching and Training Responsible for

a) Receiving regular clinical and management supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines. b) Planning, organising, and providing teaching and training sessions on topics related to clinical health psychology for colleagues and/or staff from other disciplines and third sector services linked to the hospital. c) Continuing to gain additional highly specialist post qualification experience and skills relevant to clinical psychology and/or the service (as agreed with the Lead Clinical Psychologist). d) Developing skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision and to provide supervision to other MDT staffs psychological work, as appropriate. e) Observing a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources used in the course of ones own work. f) Attending service and business meetings within the Department of Psychological Therapies, as well as in the Caner Services as required and appropriate. g) Providing, as required, professional and clinical supervision of Assistant Psychologists including workload management. h) Contributing to regular clinical psychology training through, for example, provision of clinical placement supervision for trainees, ensuring acquisition of required skills and competencies, and contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of them. Management and Recruitment a) To manage the workloads of Assistant and Trainee Clinical Psychologists, within the framework of the teams/services policies and procedures. b) To be involved, as appropriate, in the shortlisting and interviewing of Assistant and graduate Psychologists.

Research and Development Responsible for

a) Conducting and supervising research, particularly, in areas of clinical relevance. b) Utilising theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members. c) Undertaking clinical project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision. Information Technology Responsible for a) Collecting, recording, maintaining and providing data and statistics, including clinical information, in accordance with Queen Victoria Hospital Foundation Trust and National requirements and policy, and comply with appropriate monitoring and review processes as required. b) Completing paper-based data entry forms and, occasionally, creating and inputting to spreadsheets and databases as required. Personal and Professional Development a) Participate in the Trusts annual appraisal system designed to identify objectives and personal development opportunities. b)Ensure that all mandatory training is up to date c) The post holder will be responsible for continually maintaining their working knowledge of local practices, policies and procedures and highlight ongoing training and development needs to their manager. d) To receive regular clinical supervision from a suitably qualified clinician and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues. e) To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychological therapy across the service, by taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the relevant field. f) To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders professional and service manager(s). g) To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual and group work.