THORNFORD PARK HOSPITAL
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Chartered Psychologist
Accountable to:
Head of Psychological Services
Location:
Thornford Park Hospital, Thatcham, Berkshire
JOB PURPOSE:
To contribute to the development and delivery of a broad range of psychological services
to mentally disordered patients detained in conditions of low and medium security.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Working within a secure mental health setting involving the potential for direct exposure
to verbal aggression, and the risk of physical aggression.
GENERAL DUTIES:
1.
To process referrals and manage a caseload of patients from the department’s
referral system, appropriate to the post-holder’s level of skill and experience.
These referrals include referrals for assessment and for treatment, including
evaluation of outcome.
2.
According to skill and experience, to undertake assessments specific to the patient
population at Thornford Park, including assessments of psychological needs, of
cognitive functioning, of risk of re-offending, of substance abuse and others.
3.
To formulate and implement plans for the psychological therapy and/or
management of a patients’ mental health difficulties, based upon an appropriate
conceptual framework of the patient’s problems, and employing methods drawn
from evidence based practice. Negotiating the implementation of such plans and
sharing of complex, sensitive, confidential, and at times contentious information
(e.g., public protection concerns).
4.
According to skills and experience, to develop and provide therapeutic interventions
to patients individually and in groups in collaboration with colleagues from the
department or from other disciplines as required.
5.
Working as a member of one or more Multi-Disciplinary Teams, to ensure all
members of the team have access to a psychologically based framework for
understanding care of clients and the service, through the provision of advice and
consultation, and the dissemination of psychological research and theory.
6.
To communicate and receive highly complex and contentious information e.g.,
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about sexual, physical, and emotional abuse) in a highly skilled and sensitive
manner, in the course of psychological therapy.
7.
To undertake risk assessment and management for individual patients and to
provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk
assessment and management.
8.
To receive regular clinical professional supervision appropriate to the development
of specialist skills, in accordance with good professional practice guidelines.
9.
To supervise, as appropriate, less experienced members of staff, including assistant
psychologists.
10.
To provide support, advice and training to staff both within and without the
department.
11.
To undertake audit, and service evaluation with colleagues across the hospital, to
help develop and improve services to patients and their families.
12.
To carry out these duties in consultation with the Head of Department and
contribute to the maintenance and development of a high quality psychological
service as a whole, including the promotion of standards and service audits.
13.
To participate as appropriate in meetings concerned with the operational delivery,
planning and management of the service.
14.
To adhere to departmental, organisational, professional and statutory policies,
guidelines and codes of conduct and practice.
15.
To promote the department’s profile by initiating, undertaking and supporting
relevant Research and Development activities to meet the needs of the patients
within agreed resource constraints.
16.
To maintain effective communication both within and without the psychological
services department, and to produce/maintain appropriate records and reports in
line with departmental guidelines and practice.
The above duties are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the post-holder may be
required to undertake such other duties as agreed with the Head of Psychological
Services that are within the competence of the post-holder and the job purpose.
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