Principal Clinical Psychologist
Job Description
Job summary
We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Band 8a (0.7 WTE) for 1 year maternity cover to work with children and teenagers who have cancer and with their families. This is an exciting opportunity to join an experienced multi-disciplinary medical and nursing oncology unit, where leadership, innovation, research, teaching and training are strongly encouraged. The psychology service provides a comprehensive assessment, consultation and support service both internally and externally to the Paediatric and Teenage Units. The role encompasses both clinical and neuropsychological work. This is a very well established psychology team which is growing in size, with excellent professional and compassionate staff, very well supported by our efficient and caring administration team within a cancer Centre of Excellence.
Main duties of the job
o To contribute to the systematic provision of a high-quality specialist clinical psychology service to paediatric oncology patients and to their families, within the working context of the paediatric psychosocial team and within the wider context of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.o To supervise Band 7 psychologists, Trainee Clinical Psychologists and other clinical members of the team who provide psychologically based care and treatment.o To work autonomously within professional guidelines.o To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research.o To propose and implement policy changes within the paediatric oncology clinical psychology service.o To provide specialist advice and consultation on patients' psychological care to non-psychologist colleagueso To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of the psychological practice within the service.
About us
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.
Job responsibilities
For further information, please refer to the Job Description / Person Specification:
Clinical responsibilities In conjunction with the Consultant Paediatric Psychologist, other team members and the wider paediatric multi-disciplinary psychosocial team, contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive clinical psychology service for children and young people with cancer, and their families Providing specialist psychological assessments of children and adolescents with cancer and their families, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of sources.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues. To provide clinical training placements for trainee clinical psychologists, ensuring those trainees acquire the necessary skills, competencies and experience to contribute effectively to good mental health care and to contribute to the assessment and evaluation of such competencies
Management, Recruitment, Policy and ServiceDevelopment To participate as a senior clinician in the development of a high quality, responsive and accessible service Advising both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing.
Research and Service Evaluation Responsibilities To work with the Consultant Paediatric Clinical Psychologist, as a senior clinician, in the evaluation, monitoring and development of the teams operational policies, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit and ensuring incorporation of psychological frameworks for understanding and provision of high-quality care To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence- based practice in individual work and in work with other multi-disciplinary team members.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Post-Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or it's equivalent for those trained abroad or prior to 1996), accredited by the BPS
- HCPC registration as a Clinical Psychologist
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of clinical practice, and attendance at specialist short courses
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist, including experience in post qualification experience in paediatrics
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the lifespan and presenting with the full range of clinical severity. Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems
- An understanding of the impact of serious ill health on children, young people and their families
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for patients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified clinician and within a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience of teaching and training and clinical supervision
- Theoretical and practical knowledge of neuropsychology
- Experience of supervising qualified psychologists, trainee clinical psychologists and/or assistant psychologists
- Experience of conducting research, audits or service evaluations in a clinical setting
Desirable
- Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams within a hospital setting, and the ability to form good working relationships
- Experience of working with children and young people with cancer
- Significant experience in neuropsychological testing
- Experience of supervising multi-disciplinary staff
- Active participation in clinical psychology SIGs or other cross-service forums
Skills Abilities/knowledge
Desirable
- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapy for use in physical health settings, and in difficult to treat groups
- Knowledge of legislation and implications for clinical practice
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Royal Marsden Sutton
Sutton
SM2 5PT
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/working-royal-marsden (Opens in a new tab)
