About this role
Job summary
22.5 hours per week.
We are delighted to offer this exciting opportunity for a Clinical Psychologist to join our Clinical Neuropsychology Team.
We are looking for a Clinical Psychologist who is enthusiastic about working with people with neurological conditions and able to take a prominent role within our service. We provide neuropsychological input across community and inpatient services, including the Community Neuropsychology Service, Community Neurological Rehabilitation Team, the specialist regional neuro-rehabilitation unit and the stroke rehabilitation unit.
We are looking to recruit a Clinical Psychologist at Band 7 who can then be trained and supported to develop into a Band 8a Principal Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychology.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
Main duties of the job
Clinical work is complex and varied, offering opportunities for psychologists to develop their skills in a broad range of areas including neuropsychological assessment, specific interventions, staff consultation, service development and research. The post holder would work as an autonomous practitioner and would be expected to develop specialist responsibilities within the service that balance their experience, interests, and the needs of the service.
The post holder would be joining a team that includes a Consultant Neuropsychologist (0.6 WTE), two Principal Clinical Psychologists (0.9 and 1.0 WTE), a Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (0.8 WTE) and an Assistant Psychologist (0.4 WTE). We have honorary undergraduate psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists on placement. We have close working relationships with colleagues in Neuropsychology in University Hospital Plymouth and across the South West region. We also have close relationships with the University of Plymouth and the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Psychology is an integral part of our multi-disciplinary team, and the post holder would be expected to develop close working relationships with colleagues from other disciplines, for example through joint working, consultation and supervision.
Clinical supervision is provided robustly, and the post holder would be expected to fulfil their roles as both supervisee and supervisor to more junior members of the psychology team.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Clinical Neuropsychology Service delivers services for patients with neurological conditions across a number of settings:
The Community Neuropsychology Service provides assessment and intervention for adults with acquired brain injury within Plymouth.
The Community Neuro Rehab Team provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation for adults with a range of neurological difficulties.
The Plym Neurological Rehabilitation Unit provides specialist inpatient rehabilitation for patients with a range of neurological conditions, including spinal injury, acquired brain injury and progressive disorders.
The Stroke Rehabilitation Unit provides multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for adults following stroke.
Close liaison with Clinical Neuropsychology in Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust aims to ensure appropriate psychological input may be provided at all stages of acute and continuing care and rehabilitation. We have strong links with the University of Plymouth, including the provision of placements for trainees on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course and contribution to teaching on the programme. The post holder will:
Respond to referrals requests for for neuropsychological input through triaging, prioritising and using systems to appropriately manage levels of demand, as agreed with the lead psychologist and service managers.
Identify and deliver appropriate individual and group interventions to service users and their families.
Manage resources appropriately.
Identify and provide opportunities for other members of the multi-disciplinary team to gain understanding of how psychological knowledge can support their work with service users, through using developing psychological formulations with team members, participating in multi-disciplinary meetings and decision making or other opportunities for providing consultancy and advice.
In liaison with service managers, identify and deliver opportunities for staff learning and reflection, through reflective practice, debrief and training sessions.
In liaison with service managers, identify opportunities for and conduct service development projects in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
Participate in and contribute to CPD and peer supervision within the wider SAMHP team.
Engage in appropriate practice supervision.
5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical:
To provide a neuropsychological input to the neuro-rehabilitation pathway, including assessment, formulation and delivering neuropsychological interventions to service users and their families in either individual or group formats, according to need.
To engage service users with complex neurological difficulties and support them in considering how psychological approaches to their difficulties could support their rehabilitation.
To monitor and evaluate neuropsychological interventions using appropriate measures.
To maintain accurate clinical records and record data as required by the organisation.
To communicate both orally and through letters and reports, highly complex information concerning assessment, formulation and intervention plans to service users, professional colleagues and to family members, as appropriate,
To provide specialist neuropsychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to service users formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.
To contribute a psychosocial perspective within the multidisciplinary team including for those service users not directly on caseload and attend individual patient reviews and risk management meetings where appropriate.
To liaise effectively with professionals working in other service areas or organisations to support increased understanding of the neuropsychological needs.
Teaching, training and supervision
To provide regular reflective practice sessions to the multi-disciplinary teams and other ad-hoc opportunities for reflection on practice, including individual or group debriefing following incidents.
To provide training to other members of the multidisciplinary team in the delivery of psychologically informed care and treatment.
To contribute to CPD and peer supervision sessions within the wider neuro-rehabilitation services.
To receive regular clinical supervision from an appropriately qualified and experienced supervisor, in accordance with the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology and the HCPC guidelines and, where appropriate, from other senior professional colleagues.
Management, recruitment, policy and service development:
To participate in multi-disciplinary meetings concerned with the delivery and development of clinical services and contribute a psychological perspective as appropriate.
To contribute as required to the planning and development of the operational policies and service delivery in the neuro-rehabilitation pathway through undertaking agreed project work.
To advise service and professional management on those aspects of the service where neuropsychological matters need addressing in line with service excellence and service objectives.
To contribute to proposals for and implementation of policy and service development changes in relation to neuropsychology across the neuro-rehabilitation pathway.
To contribute to the development of user and carer involvement in the service.
Research, service evaluation & audit:
To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
To contribute to project management, including complex audit, research and service evaluation projects, with colleagues within the service, to help develop service provision.
To provide research advice to other staff undertaking research, including doctoral trainee clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists undertaking research as appropriate.
Professional:
To attend Neuropsychology meetings, operational services and other relevant meetings regularly.
To adhere to professional/accrediting body codes of conduct, policies and procedures (e.g. HCPC, BABCP, BPS).
To be aware of, adhere to, and where appropriate, contribute to the formulation and review of Trust, Area and Service policies and procedures.
To maintain and develop high standards of neuro psychological practice by engaging in continuing professional development and co-operative working/networking with other neuropsychology colleagues.
To receive regular line management
To participate in the Organisations annual performance review and personal development planning process with the appropriate individual(s).
To keep up to date with legislation, national directives, policies and NICE guidelines in relation to the work.
IT responsibilities
To be able to communicate effectively using Information Technology.
To contribute to the maintenance and development of office system and procedures within the service.
To be fully competent in Information Technology (IT) including Systm1 to electronically search and gather relevant information related to psychological assessment and intervention.
To be able to use a range of software packages including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as a minimum in order to be able to process and manage data and information effectively.
To be responsible for maintaining appropriate service statistics and records of work within the requirement of LIVEWELL SOUTHWEST policies , including Systm1
6. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Communicates with people using services and their families / carers, through the provision of neuropsychological assessments and interventions, participation in clinical meetings and through routine presence in the multi-disciplinary environment.
Contributes to the delivery of general clinical services through collaboration with professional staff of other disciplines.
Liaises and works in partnership with other health service providers in the relevant areas and works with statutory and voluntary agencies in the community where appropriate dependent on the needs of service users.
Liaises with professionals outside LIVEWELL SOUTHWEST in relation to professional practice (including teaching and service development)
7. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
This job requires sitting in a constrained position for extended periods of time (e.g. during clinical sessions and meetings). It also requires adequate keyboard skills.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of providing evidence based psychological interventions to adults physical health difficulties. Experience of conducting cognitive assessments. Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams. Experience with routine outcome monitoring, audit and clinically related research. Evidence of engaging in continuing professional development.
Desirable
Experience of working with adults with neurological conditions. Experience in providing evidence-based neuropsychological interventions to adults with neurological conditions Supervision of other professions. Delivering teaching or training. Service innovation and development.
Qualifications Essential
Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent) as accredited by the BPS. Current HCPC registration required.
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of evidenced based neuropsychological therapies relevant to the clinical service Knowledge and understanding of common and complex neurological presentations and the role of neuropsychology within neuro rehabilitation services. Working knowledge of clinical governance, including relevant approaches and tools.
Specific skills Essential
Ability to work autonomously and as part of an MDT. High level of spoken and written communication and presentation skills. Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients with complex mental health needs and presentations Ability to communicate and liaise effectively with practitioners, secondary health services and other agencies. Ability to respond effectively with service users and carers who may be distressed angry, confrontational or violent. Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively. Ability to manage own caseload and time, to work under pressure and set priorities. Ability to maintain resilience while experiencing frequent exposure to highly distressing and emotional situations. Ability to provide effective support to other professionals in managing the emotional demands of their work. Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance. Computer literacy. Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
Desirable
Skills in group work
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Livewell Southwest
Address 200 Mount Gould Road
Mount Gould
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 7PY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)