Senior Clinical Psychologist: Adult Health Psychology (Respiratory)

We are delighted to offer this position in the Respiratory Psychology Service (adult) within our rapidly expanding Clinical Health Psychology Department at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT). The service began with a pilot in 2021 and has since received permanent funding; it was relaunched in November 2022. This service comprises of a Principal Clinical Psychologist, the current role advertised and administrative support.

The service provides direct and indirect input into outpatient and inpatient respiratory MDTs including with the asthma team. The successful candidate will be more involved in work on the respiratory wards and new Respiratory Support Unit at Calderdale Royal Hospital. There is some flexibility for the role to be adjusted to reflect the interests and qualifications of the postholder.

This opportunity is ideally suited to someone who is creative and dynamic, as the service is still in the earlier stages of its development. We appreciate that candidates may not have had respiratory experience. Importantly we require a willingness and enthusiasm to learn condition specific information, working with the inpatient and community MDT's.

Supervision will be provided from within the psychology department, offering good opportunities for professional support and development., The successful candidate will be an integral part of the Respiratory MDT's, who value the input of Clinical Psychology for their patients and staff; they will provide psychological services and clinical expertise within these MDT's.

The post holder will be expected to deliver compassionate and skilled psychological care to respiratory patients predominently as inpatients but with some outpatient input. In addition to direct therapy work, there will be the need to work closely with specialist nurses, allied health professionals and medical staff, supporting the development of psychological care within their specialties. The role will involve some supervision, teaching, training, and consultation to the team. Service-evaluation and audit will also be an important and valued element of the role.

Given these are relatively new services, this is an exciting time to contribute to the ongoing service developments. The post holder will also see their role develop in response to changing demands and opportunities as they arise. For example, the role sits within adult respiratory services in CHFT, but there is a current pilot to address the psychological needs of those aged 16+ with asthma transitioning to adult care, and to work alongside the new asthma paediatric psychology service starting in 2025.

We are a growing Clinical Health Psychology Department with good relationships across CHFT. We are committed to developing excellent quality care that aims to meet psychological needs of patients who are treated within CHFT. We develop services in a patient focussed way and compassionate care is at the heart of our Department. We actively encourage and support CPD, supervision, service-related audit and research. As a newly established department, there is significant scope to work creatively in the continuation of new trust wide developments and be part of shaping our culture.