Specialist Psychologist in ENT

We are seeking to recruit a Clinical / Counselling Psychologist to work with people referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat Service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Specifically, the postholder will work within the rhinology and laryngology / airway reconstruction multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). In the rhinology service, which relates to correction for physiological rather than cosmetic reasons, working with BDD JR1 and managing expectations regarding the effects of surgery are particularly key. In the laryngology / airway reconstruction service, the post holder will work with a range of people diagnosed with airway disorders and other benign conditions of the head and neck. A trauma aware approach, and the ability to treat PTSD will be very helpful, although training can be offered in these areas. Since this is a specialist area we are open to individuals who may not have had experience in the area but who do have a proven interest in psychological interventions to facilitate the delivery of physical healthcare. The postholder will be employed by CNWL and will therefore benefit from CPD for the large body of psychologists within the Trust, as well as peer support and supervision from within the Department of Clinical Health Psychology. We are also open to applications from newly qualified Clinical / Counselling Psychologists who would like to work towards a preceptorship, the preparation and guidance for which will be offered by the lead for Clinical Health Psychology. Main duties of the job

• To provide a highly specialist psychology service to patients and staff of ENT including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
• To contribute to enabling staff, patients and relatives from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a specialist in ENT Psychology.
• To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
• To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
• To agree outcomes / results with clinical / professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved., KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients and staff of the ENT service, including specialising in an awareness of, and ability to work with, traumatic injuries / illnesses issues interacting with other aspects of psychological functioning. 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 act where appropriate as coordinator for someones care within the hospital or as liaison between the acute hospital and community services To support families and other significant members of a patients network, in responding to the patients state, needs and, where appropriate, death. KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service. To offer support to staff members of the ENT in their delivery of optimal care to patients To offer support to staff members of the ENT who experience stress or distress in relation to their work role To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities. To be proactive in challenging discrimination and supporting the development of culturally competent services. To advise other members of the relevant Multi-Disciplinary Teams 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, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes. To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects. To contribute to 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. To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed. KR 5 Management and supervision To be responsible for the allocation and / or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist. 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. To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate. KR 6 Teaching and Training 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 work of Clinical Health Psychology by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and health-related matters in particular and by 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 maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry. KR 8 Research and development To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits. To initiate and carry out appropriate research To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the knowledge base with the wider Clinical Health Psychology team To use existing outcome measurement and assessment where available and assist other staff in the implementation of same. To contribute to the development of outcome measurement as required by the need to continually improve the services of the Clinical Health Psychology department 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. KR10 General To travel to other hospital sites of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and of CNWL trust as appropriate for meetings, trainings or other relevant purposes. 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 and to support others involved in such situations. To work flexibly where the services might require, within the overall Job Plan.,
• oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• oTo communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• oTo plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
• oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
• o To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as case reviews
• o Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
  
  Essential
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, or equivalent
• oRegistered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
Experience Essential
• oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in a health psychology speciality
• oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature
• oPost-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• oExperience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.
Desirable
• Experience of working in ENT or physical trauma
• Experience of working with families and / or staff groups
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training., Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for a range of problems addressed by Clinical Health Psychology
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities
• Familiarity with factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care
Desirable Experience of, or interest in, contributing to funded or unfunded research projects in the area of specialisation,
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
• Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
• Ability to manage, with appropriate support as necessary, verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.
  
  There are 4 qualified Practitioner Psychology posts across the 3 hospital sites and psychology is a highly valued component of the ICU service delivery, supported by clinicians and business managers alike.
All psychologists in the Clinical Health Psychology department are employed by Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust and have Approved Associate status with ICHT. The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.