Pyschology Lead - Critical Care

This is a fantastic opportunity to set-up and establish health psychological support to critically ill people in Somerset and the staff who look after them. This innovative post will be supported with regular external clinical supervision from an experienced Critical Care Psychologist, internal service line management, and professional consultancy with the Head of Psychological Professions.

The post holder will also have access to psychological colleagues throughout the Trust through the health psychology network, heads of speciality meetings and practitioner psychologist forums. The Trust has strong links with Exeter University psychological training and there are research and teaching opportunities, as agreed and appropriate.

This post is for 30 hours a week, with 15 hours dedicated to supporting patients and staff at Yeovil District Generals Critical Care Unit and 15 hours dedicated to supporting patients at Musgrove Park Hospital. We are happy to be contacted to discuss opportunities for flexibility within this, and we are aware that some potential candidates may have part-time teaching or research positions they would wish to continue alongside clinical work.

We have secured funding at Band 8b, Agenda for Change, for this post across the two adult general Critical Care Units in Somerset and are keen to find the right person to lead the development of this service.

Main duties of the job

To work as pathway lead and provide direct assessment and management for in-patients in Critical Care based at both Musgrove Park Hospital (MPH) and Yeovil District Hospital (YDH), as well as serving as a core member of the Multi disciplinary team. An aspect of your role will be to identify areas where psychological provision in Critical Care can be improved.

You will be expected to provide direct psychological assessment and management for inpatients in Critical Care at both sites to help ensure optimal patient outcomes and to offer psychological support to staff at YDH.

You will be required to set up an evidence based approach to working with patients in Critical Care and create and implement pathways for patients transitioning from Critical Care.

There will be an expectancy for you to contribute to business cases aimed at expanding the Critical Care psychology service.

Please see the attachment for in depth detail around both sites of the organisation and the local area.