Principal Psychologist and Deputy Lead

Please review the attached Job description for more information about the role.

Key Responsibilities

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients accessing the Psycho-oncology service including the use of measures and interventions specific to the patient group and in conjunction with other members of the MDT as appropriate To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required. To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans. To develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a highly specialist psychology service to patients accessing cancer services at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust To ensure that all services provided are acceptable and accessible to the diverse communities which make up the patients of the Psycho-oncology service, taking care to be proactive with under-served groups. KR 2 Responsibilities for team or service clinical functioning To deputise in the co-ordination and (and chairing) of meetings for the Psycho-oncology service to ensure effective functioning and review when appropriate To deputise for the psycho-oncology lead in agreed specified areas and at agreed times, asrequired. To co-lead in developing the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities. To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services. To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients. To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members. KR 3 Policy and service development To implement policies and procedures in own area of work. To identify any aspects of the Psycho-oncology service which could be improved and propose changes to practices or procedures in the Psycho-oncology service and in interactions with partner services. To initiate and implement service development projects, as agreed with clinical/professional lead. To attend wider Clinical Health Psychology department team meetings and contribute to the ongoing CPD programme and department initiatives To participate in the ongoing implementation of new initiatives (e.g. national guidelines) across relevant services. To lead the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities. KR 4 Care or management of resources To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources. KR 5 Management and supervision To provide clinical leadership to more junior psychologists, psychotherapists and other professionals, as appropriate. To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism. To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate. To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate. KR 6 Teaching and Training To offer teaching, training, group facilitation and consultation to staff working across cancer services at Imperial, including Level 2 psychological skills training and supervision. To facilitate specialist clinical placements for trainee applied psychologists and psychotherapists in the Psycho-oncology service as part of the Clinical Health Psychology departments processes for allocating and supporting trainees. To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the Psycho-oncology service by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in clinical psychology overall and by supporting the Psycho-oncology team in implementing knowledge gained in practice. To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles. KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures. To ensure the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry, in those parts of the service for which the post-holder has leadership responsibility. KR 8 Research and development To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits To initiate and carry out appropriate clinical research. To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same. KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines. To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies. To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these. To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures. To ensure that all psychology and psychotherapy staff for whom the post-holder has leadership responsibility, maintain professional standards and continuing professional development. KR10 General To travel to the different sites making up ICHT as appropriate and to CNWL sites when required. To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management. To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations such as palliative care, unexpected death and serious errors and to support others involved in such situations. To work flexibly where the needs of the Psycho-oncology service require which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics or Saturday working, within the overall Job Plan.