Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
Dublin
Staff Job
Grade
Psychologist-Cardiothoracic/Cardiology
Description
& Person Specification
Team within the Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal,
Diabetes and Endocrine Directorate
Job Title / Grade:
.5WTE Staff Grade Psychologist (18.5 hrs/wk, Fixed Term Contract)
Department / Division:
Department of Psychology under the HSCP Directorate
Location:
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Diabetes and Endocrine Directorate
Reporting Relationship:
Psychology Manager
JOB DESCRIPTION
Effective Date: 1st June 2013
Review Date: 1st June 2015
Job Purpose:
The Staff Grade Psychologist will contribute towards an evidence-based-MDT
Cardiovascular Psychology service under the supervision of senior and
principal grade psychologists within the Department of Psychology. Patients
referred by the MDT will be seen and assessed by the psychology service and
patients who are considered in need of a clinical intervention will receive brief
interventions of one assessment with two follow-ups and short-term contracts
of six sessions, with a minority of these patients needing a repeat contract.
The psychology service will also help refer patients onwards to local services
across the country. Also referrals will be made for patients who are
considered to need more specialist mental health or in-depth psychological
input to the appropriate Liaison Psychiatry or community mental health
support services or specialist therapy services.
A panel will be created of staff grade psychologists and will remain valid for 12
months from being created. This panel will be approached in relation to
similar posts created within the Mater Hospital during that period.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
For general administrative purposes day to day reporting will be through the
administrative structure of the Department of Psychology, at the Mater
Misericordiae University Hospital. This Department sits within the Health and
Social Care Professions Directorate.
The staff grade psychologist in the Cardiovascular/Renal directorate will be
required to:
 Implement Hospital policy with regard to psychological services.
 Work as part of the Cardiology/Cardiothoracic MDT within the
Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Diabetes and Endocrine
Directorate.
 Carry out psychological assessment and treatment of patients using
evidence based practice according to guidelines and empirically
supported treatments.
 Work flexibly within a multidisciplinary team to manage a caseload of
in-patient and out-patient clients with complex needs, including clients
presenting with high levels of emotional or psychological distress or
mental illness.
 Ability to work flexibly with patients as ‘in-patients’ and also to follow
them up as out-patients.
 Ability to work with longer-term interventions with patients who are on
LVADs or whom are awaiting a transplant.
 Attend MDT weekly meetings and provide recommendations to the
team as to their formulation of patients’ needs and their suitability for
intervention.
 Maintain a personal programme of Continuing Professional
Development.
Staff Grade Psychologist
Draft date: 17th of October 2014
Review date: 17th of October 2015














Monitor, evaluate and ensure that the quality and delivery of the
professional service, is in keeping with the high standard required by
the services of the Hospital. Attend appropriate level of supervision as
per professional guidelines.
Attend monthly Department of Psychology meetings.
Complete monthly statistics of in-patient and out-patient contact.
Work independently on a service based outcomes audit.
Select appropriate measures to assess clinical change and treatment
outcomes.
Apply multiple treatment interventions which can be tailored to
individual patients which include CBT, Brief-dynamic interventions,
solution focused, emotion focused, ACT and other empirically
supported treatments.
Evaluate individual therapy and clinical effectiveness by use of
research design and selection of psychometrics and comparison of
effect size to established benchmarks.
Disseminate findings of clinical audit to MDT, Department of
Psychology and Health and Social Care Profession Directorate.
Complete cognitive and neuropsychological screening assessments of
adults who have experienced vascular events such as a stroke or TIA
and communicate a patient’s intervention needs based on the cognitive
testing in a clinical report to the MDT or referring agent and to support
agencies where needed.
Maintain collaborative working relationships with psychology
colleagues, members of the multidisciplinary team as required, with
outside agencies and services in the public and private sector.
Maintain proper records of services provided, including client charts, in
a manner compatible with the Freedom of Information Act. Provide
professional reports as necessary, and service reports/data are
required.
Liaise and co-operate with staff from other departments as required
from time to time.
Consult in other appropriate areas designated from time to time by
management in response to requests from other agencies.
Ensure that the highest standards are maintained in the quality and
delivery of psychological services. As part of demonstrating high
professional standards, the Staff Grade Psychologist will work with the
MDT in ensuring that a programme audit and service evaluation will
take place during the 6 months of the project.
Clinical direct patient time morning sessions per week
Four sessions (each 3.7 hours) with 12 patients contacts per week {One of these
sessions might be with a group intervention}
Administration and training
One session per week (3.7 hours) – This session will be used for administration,
report writing, attending supervision and CPD activities.
Staff Grade Psychologist
Draft date: 17th of October 2014
Review date: 17th of October 2015
Training days are 1.5 days per year as per the HSCP Directorate’s Guideline of 3 days
per Whole Time Equivalent.
Annual Leave: 12.5 days prorata (25 days for a 1WTE)
General Responsibilities and Accountabilities
1. Confidentiality
You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in
particular, the right of patients to confidentiality.
2. Policies & Procedures
You are required to familiarise yourself with and adhere to all policy and
procedural documents relevant to your position.
3. Hygiene Standards
The highest standard of hygiene must be maintained in the Hospital at all
times and all staff members are responsible for ensuring compliance with
the Hospitals requirements and standards with regard to hygiene. It is the
responsibility of all staff to have a fundamental understanding of their
individual responsibility in maintaining departmental & site hygiene
standards.
4. Health and Safety
Ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply not only
with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 but also within the
spirit of the Hospital’s mission, vision and values, and they are known and
followed by staff. You are required to familiarise yourself with the
requirements of employees under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
Act 2005 and to promote a work environment that is compliant with the
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Each staff member is
individually responsible for ensuring that the Hospital remains a safe place
to work.
5. Information Technology
Ensure the most effective and efficient use of developments in information
technology for administrative support in a manner, which integrates well
with systems throughout the organisation.
6. Business Continuity Management
Business Continuity Management (BCM) is a holistic management
process that identifies potential impacts that threaten an organisation and
provides a framework for building resilience and the capability for an
effective response that safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders
and reputation” (BS 25999) All Staff employed in the Mater Misericordiae
University Hospital are obliged to:
make themselves familiar with the Organisational
Business Continuity Plan
attend BCM education sessions provided for them
make themselves familiar with their individual roles as
set out in their departmental business continuity plan if
applicable and or the Organisational business continuity
plan
Staff Grade Psychologist
Draft date: 17th of October 2014
Review date: 17th of October 2015
Note:
These duties and responsibilities are reflection of the present service
requirements and may be subject to review and amendment to meet the
changing needs of the Hospital. The incumbent Staff Grade Psychologist will
be required to maintain, enhance and develop their professional knowledge,
skills and aptitudes necessary to respond to a changing climate. The job
description must be regarded as an outline of the major areas of
accountability at the present time, which will be reviewed and assessed on an
on-going basis.
Staff Grade Psychologist
Draft date: 17th of October 2014
Review date: 17th of October 2015
MATER MISERICORDIAE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POSITION
Staff Grade Psychologist
LOCATION
Department of Psychology & Cardiothoracic Team
DATE
17th of October, 2014
Apply New Regulations (from 23rd
Apply Old Regulations (at 22nd Jan 02)
Jan 02)
FACTORS
QUALIFICATIONS
ESSENTIAL

Recognised Honours degree
in psychology

Recognised Post-graduate
Professional Qualification in
Clinical or Counselling or
Educational or Health
Psychology
DESIRABLE

At least a year of similar
similar health related
context to advertised
post. Having experience
of both Group and
individual assessment
and treatment work of
adults. Supervised
experience during
training is also eligible for
consideration.

Training and experience
in psychological
assessment & therapy
techniques appropriate to
well-being in Chronic
health conditions in
adults.
AND
New Regulations
EXPERIENCE
Staff Grade Psychologist
Draft date: 17th of October 2014
Review date: 17th of October 2015
QUALIFICATIONS

Recognised Honours degree
in psychology


At least 2 years of which were
supervised) or equivalent 2
years experience in another
appropriate area of psychology 
(i.e. Counselling, Clinical,
Educational or Health) at least
2 years of which were
supervised.

AND
Old Regulations
EXPERIENCE

PROFESSIONAL
KNOWLEDGE
Demonstrated competence in
delivering a professional
service including experience in
working with adults who have
a chronic health condition.
/ SKILLS

Clear understanding of need to
attend for clinical supervision

Awareness of current
professional issues

Clear understanding of
professional ethics of PSI

Clear understanding of
contribution of psychology to
the Health Services
Knowledge and understanding
of Mater Hospital Service
Awareness of relevant
legislative and regulatory
framework
Sensitivity to inter-disciplinary
relationships
ORGANISATION
KNOWLEDGE



Staff Grade Psychologist
Recognised postgraduate professional
qualification in Clinical or
Counselling or
Educational Psychology
At least one year’s
experience similar to
advertised post, ie group
work
Training and experience
in psychological
assessment & therapy
techniques appropriate to
adults with chronic health
presentations.
Supervised experience
during training is also
eligible for consideration.

Experience of interprofessional consultative
work and MDT working

Experience of auditing
treatment outcomes

Record of professional
conference
contributions/publications

Familiarity with
“customer
focus”/audit/quality
issues and initiatives
Draft date: 17th of October 2014
Review date: 17th of October 2015
SPECIAL

Ability to work on own initiative
APTITUDES

Ability to work collaboratively
with others

Good communication (written
and oral) skills

Ability to work effectively in a
range of complex
organisational environments

Track record of relevant
CPD activities
PAY SCALE:
Staff Grade Description Effective From
Pts
1
2
3
4
1/07/13 H Rd.
53,983 56,324 58,652 60,959
9
10
11
74,882 77,178 79,458 LSIs
1/07/13 New Ent 1
2
3
4
48,585 50,691 52,787 54,863
9
10
11
67,394 69,499 71,607 (LSIs)
1
2
3
4
1/01/11 New Ent 48,585 50,691 52,787 54,863
9
10
71,317 73,544
1
2
3
4
1/01/10 FEMPI 53,983 56,324 58,652 60,959
9
75,774
5
6
7
8
63,864 65,000 68,131 71,852
5
6
7
57,478 61,388 64,887
8
65,000
5
6
7
8
57,478 61,388 64,887 68,431 75,774
5
6
7
8
63,860 68,431 71,317 73,544
Staff Grade Psychologist
Draft date: 17th of October 2014
Review date: 17th of October 2015