Job Description
JOB TITLE:
Clinical Psychologist (1.0 WTE)
LOCATION:
Ty Catrin Low Secure Personality Disorder Service
GRADE:
Equivalent Band 7
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Head of Psychology
LIASES WITH:
Head of Psychology, psychology personnel,
Responsible Clinician, Responsible Manager, Multidisciplinary teams
JOB SUMMARY
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To be responsible for the systematic provision of a high quality specialist
psychology service for service users.
To be responsible for the development, delivery and maintenance of evidencebased group and individual interventions for patients within the service,
including the setting up and evaluation of such treatment via conducting high
quality research.
To provide ongoing support to ward staff and clinical teams in the formulation
of the difficulties and strengths of patients, including mental health,
personality, offending behaviour, self-harm and aggression .
To provide specialist assessments and formulations of the mental health,
personality and behaviour of patients within the service.
To provide specialized advice on the management and treatment of patients
and to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
To work within professional guidelines, personal competencies, service
policies, the Mental Health Act and current practice guidelines.
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The post holder works in Ty Catrin Low Secure Personality Disorder Service.
Currently this consists of an in-patient facility across a number of different ward
environments, housing both male and female patients. People with a known or
suspected diagnosis of personality disorder are detained for treatment under various
sections of the Mental Health Act (1983). The service may, over time, incorporate an
assessment and treatment service for out-patients, or patients who have been
discharged from the secure facility. Members of the psychology department attend
meetings and conduct individual and group therapies within the ward environment
and may see out-patients in the unit, in prisons and at other in-patient settings. Given
the nature of low secure services, there is considerable and frequent exposure to faceto-face verbal and physical aggression as well as exposure to patients who evidence
suicidal ideation and intent or who frequently engage in deliberate self-harm. The
post holder is expected to maintain professionalism and awareness of the potential
risks for service users, themselves, other colleagues and members of the general
public at all times. The post holder deals with professional, legal, and personal
challenges on a regular basis, including possible media interest.
Due to the security status of Ty Catrin, the post holder works under the direction of
the security policies of Pastoral Cymru, the Mental Health Act (1983) and current
practice guidelines, as well as professional guidelines as outlined by the British
Psychological Society.
KEY RESULT AREAS
1.
Clinical
1.1 To be responsible for the development, delivery and maintenance of evidencebased treatment initiatives for people with personality disorder, with such
initiatives to include individual and group therapy. To rely upon patient’s response
to such treatment initiatives for the development and refinement of psychological
formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a
number of provisional hypotheses.
1.2 To provide complex and sensitive information to patients of the service who may
present with serious personality difficulties, mental health problems, and
offending histories who may pose a risk of aggression or violence or who may
engage in serious self-harm or suicide attempts. The post holder must attend to the
principles of managing personal exposure to highly distressing or emotionally
sensitive material and behaviour.
1.3 To provide highly specialist psychological assessments for patients of the service
based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex
psychological data from a variety of sources, including psychological and
neuropsychological tests, self report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect
structured observations, semi-structured interviews and clinical interviews with
patients, family members and others involved in the patient’s care.
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
1.4 To formulate and implement plans for formal psychological treatment and/or
management of a patient’s personality difficulties, mental health, challenging
behaviour and/or offending behaviour, based on an appropriate conceptual
framework of their complex problems, and employing methods of proven efficacy
across the full range of care settings.
1.5 To deliver psychological treatment to patients as required. Such treatment to
relate to the patient’s needs as identified through the process of assessment and
formulation.
1.6 To evaluate and make decisions with regards to the individual treatment and
management needs of patients presenting with complex needs that account for the
complexities and dynamic nature of their presentation, and after liaison with the
multidisciplinary team. These judgments are to be based upon both theoretical
and therapeutic models and complex factors concerning historical, personal, and
developmental processes that have acted as influential aetiological factors in
determining their presentation.
1.7 Provision of specialized consultation (including advice and guidance) to multidisciplinary teams and other professionals with regards to the effective
psychological management, treatment and enhanced understanding of patients’
presentation and behaviour, that include provision of hypotheses and formulations
that draw upon psychological models of understanding.
1.8 To ensure that all members of the multi-disciplinary team have access to a
psychologically based framework for the understanding and care of patients
through the provision of advice and consultation and the dissemination of
psychological research and theory.
1.9 To undertake specialized assessments of violence risk, risk of sexual offending,
suicide risk, psychopathy and other risk areas (e.g. stalking, fire-setting) for all
patients of the service, based upon structured professional judgement. To provide
specialized advice to other professionals on aspects of risk assessment and risk
management across a range of domains.
1.10 To manage the emotional (and occasional physical) issues arising from
working with clients in significant distress and who have often engaged in
offending behaviour.
1.11 This post involves frequent exposure to potentially distressing situations
including violence and aggression, verbal aggression, deliberate self-harm,
suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Exposure to distressing behaviour and
psychological content involving experiences of severe trauma mean that healthy
self-regulation of emotional and behavioural responses, and well developed selfreflective capacity, is a core component of this post.
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
1.12 To communicate in a skilled, professional, and sensitive manner information
concerning the assessment, formulation, treatment and management plans of
patients, and to monitor and evaluate progress during the course of multidisciplinary care.
1.13 To communicate psychological assessments, formulations and treatment
progress via a written psychological report, which will normally (but not
exclusively) be presented via a patient’s CPA. The post-holder may also need to
provide written psychological reports for other purposes, including Mental Health
Review Tribunals, Manager’s Meetings, Court Hearings, etc.
1.14 To ensure a high level of accuracy in the recording and scoring of
psychometric test results. To ensure that the findings of psychometric tests are
accurately interpreted and carefully fed back to the patient, patient’s family, multidisciplinary team and referrers.
1.15 To form positive working relationships with colleagues, referrers and partner
agencies (e.g. non-statutory services). To at all times behave in a polite, courteous
and professional manner to staff, patients, carers and colleagues. To attend and
contribute to departmental and multi-disciplinary meetings.
2.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
2.1
To provide teaching and training to staff on the effective psychological
management of personality difficulties, mental health, offending behaviour,
aggression and violence, and suicide and self-harm. To assist with on-going
post-qualification training (CPD) and induction of all grades of multidisciplinary staff on areas falling within the postholder’s area of developing
expertise.
2.2
To develop and deliver training across the service connected to areas falling
within the postholder’s area of developing expertise.
2.3
To supervise the interpretation of assessments and formulations completed by
other staff as required, including the work completed by psychology assistants,
clinical or forensic psychology trainees, and psychology placement students
working within the confines of Pastoral Cymru. Connected to this, to oversee
that the treatment targets of patients are clearly identified by the multidisciplinary team based on this assessment, formulation and treatment plan.
2.4
To assist with the supervision of aspects of assessment and formulation
completed by other staff, as required. This will include the design and
delivery of training on the use and interpretation of structured professional
judgement guides, psychometric measures and other assessments.
2.5
To provide professional guidance and support to more junior trainees, applied
psychologists or assistant psychologists attached to the service as and when
appropriate.
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
2.6
To maintain and develop skills in the area of professional post-qualification
training, including the receipt of clinical supervision and maintenance of a
continuing professional development log.
2.7
To provide advice and training to staff working with patients presenting with
Personality, mental health, and offending difficulties across the service, where
appropriate.
3.
Management, Recruitment and Service Development
3.1
To assist the Head of Psychology in the development and delivery of a high
quality, responsive and accessible psychology service.
3.2
To participate, as appropriate, in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing
process and as a member of interview panels for assistant psychologists and
undergraduate placement students.
4.
Research and Service Evaluation
4.1
To formulate, design and implement research projects to further the
knowledge of psychological assessments, structured professional judgements,
interventions, formulation, and group therapies and related theories. This will
include working with other members of the service, but with an expectation
that the post holder will lead some research projects. Also to provide research
advice and consultation to other staff undertaking research.
4.2
To utilize theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidencebased practice in individual and group-based psychological treatments with
other team members.
4.3
To undertake audit in consultation with Pastoral Cymru’s audit group and the
Clinical Goverance Group to monitor and improve the service. To attend
meetings as part of Clinical Governance as determined by the Head of
Psychology.
4.4
To assist the Head of Psychology in project management, including audit,
research and service evaluation, with colleagues within and across the service
and at sister sites, to help develop and improve services for patients and staff.
5.
General
5.1
To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest
professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and
external CPD training and development programmes.
5.2
To ensure the development and articulation of best practice in psychology
within the service area and contribute across the service by exercising the
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist-practitioner, taking part in regular
professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement
with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related
disciplines.
5.3
To maintain and promulgate the highest standards of clinical record keeping
including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the
responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with
professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society or other
relevant identified professional body, and with Pastoral Cymru policies and
procedures.
5.4
Ensure all required reports are completed within a reasonable time scale and
specifically in time for clinical meetings (e.g. CPA meetings, Clinical Team
Meetings, etc), as determined by the Head of Psychology, Responsible
Clinician and/or Responsible Manager, or other senior members of the clinical
team.
5.5
To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies
and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health
(including mental illness and personality disorder).
5.6
Be responsible for the safe use of equipment (e.g. OHP, flipchart, video, video
conferencing etc).
5.7
To maintain up to date knowledge and training in control and restraint and
breakaway procedures to assist with the effective and safe management of a
high risk client group and to assist with maintaining personal safety.
5.8
To ensure all time spent within the service is appropriately spent.
5.9
To ensure that the Head of Psychology is made aware of your whereabouts,
and times when you are outside of the hospital.
5.10
To ensure the Head of Psychology or designated other is informed of all your
sickness and leave, as per Pastoral Cymru policy.
5.11
To work in line with the highest standards of professional practice as
identified by the British Psychological Society code of ethics and conduct
(March 2006).
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Performance Reviews/Performance Obligation: The postholder will be
expected to participate in Pastoral Cymru’s individual performance review
process to ensure continued professional development.
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Job Limitations: At no time should the postholder work outside their defined
level of competence. If the postholder has concerns regarding this, they should
immediately discuss these concerns with their Manager / Supervisor / Consultant.
All staff have a responsibility to inform those supervising their duties if they feel
that they are not competent to perform a duty.
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
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Confidentiality: In line with the Data Protection Act 1998, the postholder will be
expected to maintain confidentiality in relation to personal and patient
information, as outlined in the contract of employment. The postholder may
access information only on a need to know basis in the direct discharge of duties
and divulge information only in the proper course of duties.
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Health & Safety: The postholder is required to co-operate with Pastoral Cymru
to ensure health and safety duties and requirements are complied with. It is the
postholder’s personal responsibility to conform to procedures, rules and codes of
practice; and to use properly and conscientiously all safety equipment, devices,
protective clothing and equipment which is fitted or made available, and to attend
training courses as required. All staff have a responsibility to access medical
advice and treatment and other support at times of need.
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Risk Management: Pastoral Cymru is committed to protecting its staff, patients,
assets and reputation through an effective risk management process. The
postholder will be required to comply with Pastoral Cymru’s Health and Safety
Policy and actively participate in this process, having responsibility for managing
risks and reporting exceptions.
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Job Description: This job description is not inflexible, but is an outline and
account of the main duties of the post-holder. Any changes will be discussed fully
with the postholder in advance. The job description will be reviewed periodically
to take into account changes and developments in service requirements.
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For Clinical Staff Only: All clinical staff are required to comply, at all times,
with the relevant codes of practice and other requirements of the appropriate
professional organisations e.g. GMC, NMC, HPC, etc. It is the postholder’s
responsibility to ensure that they are both familiar with and that they adhere to
these requirements.
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
TY CATRIN BAND 7 PSYCHOLOGIST
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Criteria
Qualifications
How Tested
Essenti
Desirabl Applicati
al
e
Interview Presentatio
on
n
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
x
x
Registration with the Health Professions
Council as a Practitioner Psychologist.
X
X
Good honours Degree in Psychology (2:1 or
higher)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Experience
Experience of specialist psychological
assessment and treatment
Experience of working with people with
personality disorder
Experience of working within secure settings
with patients with severe challenging
behaviour and/or offending behaviour
Experience of teaching and training nursing
and other clinical staff in psychological
formulation and psychological approaches to
treatment of mental health problems.
X
x
x
Experience in one or more psychological
therapy model.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Experience of delivering group programmes
to mental health patients or offenders.
Experience of conducting high-level and
excellent quality psychological research
X
X
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
Skills & Abilities
The ability to provide teaching, training and
supervision to other professionals.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
A highly professional approach to working
with patients and colleagues
X
X
X
A high degree of emotional resilience and the
ability to work in a highly charged emotional
atmosphere, encountering personal trauma in
patients’ lives on a daily basis.
X
X
X
A commitment to continuing professional
development and self directed learning
X
x
X
Highly developed communication skills and
the ability to communicate highly complex
psychological information to a wide audience
in both oral and written domains,
X
X
X
Knowledge of the application of applied
psychology in different cultural contexts.
Skills in the use of complex methods of
psychological assessment, intervention
formulation and management .
Well developed skills in the ability to
communicate effectively, orally and in writing,
complex, highly technical and/or clinically
sensitive information to clients, their families,
carers and other professional colleagues both
within and outside the service.
X
Knowledge of the theory and practice of
specialised psychological therapies in specific
difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. personality
disorder, dual diagnoses, people with
additional disabilities etc).
Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of
healthcare governance as appropriate,
including audit and research.
To support and maintain clinical practice in
the face of regular exposure to highly emotive
material and challenging behaviour.
To have and to employ the skills of healthy
self-regulation of emotional and behavioural
responses, and to employ the skills of well
developed self-reflective capacity.
Skills in research methods and design
Personal Attributes
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
A positive attitude towards clinical supervision
and the ability to use supervision effectively
X
Band 7 Job Description-NSG-September 2010
X
X