Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

Role: Part-time (0.6 w.t.e.) 1 year fixed term Band 8a Clinical Psychologist 

Department: Therapy – Clinical Psychology 

Responsible to: Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Therapy

Responsible for:  Clinical psychology and neuropsychology input

Salary range:  £56,404 – £66,127 per annum pro rata (dependent on experience)

Hours of work: 22.5 hours per week

Fixed term: 1-year maternity leave cover from end of March 2024.

Location: Putney, Southwest London

Closing Date: 12th April 2024

Benefits:

• Being part of a large, friendly and supportive psychology team
• Weekly supervision on site from an experienced senior psychologist
• Access to specialist training opportunities
• Weekly psychology department meetings with CPD opportunities
• Interdisciplinary working with complex and interesting client group
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Free parking
• Blue Light Card and Discounts
• On-site cafeteria
• RHN Wellbeing Programme and EAP service
• SRCN supervision available on site

Summary of position and the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

We are recruiting for fixed term clinical psychology cover to join the Psychology department and MDT Therapy team at the RHN.

• 1 Year 0.6 w.t.e fixed term Band 8a maternity leave cover to March 2025

The role is based in the RHN Level 1 Brain Injury Service (BIS), which provides assessments of disorders of consciousness, in-patient rehabilitation following severe brain injury, and disability management for adults with complex neuro-disability. Key responsibilities of the role are to provide a clinical psychology / neuropsychology service including psychological and neuropsychological assessments, formulations and interventions; working with clients, families and multi-disciplinary teams and providing supervision to Band 7 clinical psychologists and Band 6 trainee clinical psychologists.

The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) is one of the oldest independent hospitals and medical charities in the UK. We value person-centred care that focuses on enhancing dignity, independence and quality of life for our patients and residents. Our services span the entire care pathway from post-acute rehabilitation services to end of life care, for people with complex neuro-disability and their families, underpinned by a strong research and education programme. 

At the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, we combine specialist expertise and collaborative interdisciplinary working to provide the best possible care for patients and residents living with neuro-disability.

Main Objectives of the Role

1. Provide a clinical psychology/neuropsychology service, working with clients, families and teams.
2. Provide psychological and neuropsychological assessments, formulations and interventions.
3. To work closely with the MDT including therapy, medical, nursing, and social work colleagues.
4. To contribute to the general professional activities of the discipline of clinical neuropsychology, and to engage in audit, research and continuing professional development (CPD).
5. Demonstrate an awareness of RHN’s values and contribute to achieving them appropriately.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Practice

1. To carry out specialist assessments of cognitive, behavioural and emotional functioning with clients with complex neuro-disability and develop clear psychological formulations based on these assessments.
2. To carry out functional analyses of any challenging behaviours and develop appropriate guidelines and intervention plans.
3. To make recommendations for interventions and care on the basis of the psychological formulation. To deliver and monitor interventions, e.g. cognitive rehabilitation strategies; psycho-education to patients, families and carers; CBT or other psychological interventions; behavioural interventions, as guided by the formulation.
4. To conduct decision-specific complex mental capacity assessments and/or contribute to joint capacity assessments with other members of the MDT as needed. To contribute to best interests decisions and meetings for relevant decisions when patients are assessed to lack capacity to make these decisions for themselves. 
5. To provide information, support and advice to patients’ families and carers as appropriate. To support the MDT in working with families as needed.
6. To work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team, respecting the knowledge and expertise of all team members, whilst providing a psychological perspective on the clinical and service issues.
7. To provide appropriate and prompt input to documentation and formal reports. To participate in monitoring of standards and performance, including timely completion of outcome measures.
8. To participate in improvements for clinical practice and support the development of policies and procedures, as directed.
9. To adhere to professional codes of conduct and practice guidelines, and be aware of legislation relevant to practice, e.g. the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Education, Training and Development

1. To have the skills to provide clinical supervision to Band 6 trainee clinical psychologists and/or Band 7 clinical psychologists within the service.
2. To contribute to teaching and training commitments relating to psychology at RHN. This may include teaching on the staff-wide induction programme and on training programmes for nursing, HCA and therapy assistant staff.
3. To be self-aware about the limits of own competence, and proactive in improving competence, e.g. by making effective use of clinical supervision.
4. To focus CPD around improving knowledge of clinical neuropsychology, particularly the needs of this specialist client group, taking advantage of both internal and external training opportunities.

Research and Evaluation

1. To contribute to and/or undertake audits and service evaluations within the service area as required.
2. To engage in and support research projects as required.

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent overseas qualification.
• Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Good knowledge of clinical psychological assessment techniques and clinical interventions.
• General knowledge of approaches to neuropsychological assessment and behavioural and cognitive interventions.
• Knowledge of relevant guidelines and legislation, particularly the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Desirable

• To have completed training in clinical supervision that has been provided by one or more UK clinical psychology doctorate courses.
• Training in clinical neuropsychology.
• Ability to demonstrate clinical neuropsychological knowledge relevant to this specialist client group.
• Knowledge of neurological disorders
• Knowledge of research design, conduct and analysis.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working clinically with adults with acquired brain injury and/or other relevant presentations (e.g. progressive neurodegenerative disorders).
• Experience of conducting standardised neuropsychological assessments.
• Experience of working with clients presenting with challenging behaviour.
• Experience of working systemically with families and staff teams.

Desirable

• Previous experience of delivering psychological assessments and interventions with clients with severe and complex neuro-disability.
• Experience of conducting decision-specific mental capacity assessments

Interested in applying and hearing from us?

Apply now and please send a cover letter separately to recruitment@rhn.org.uk. Your cover letter should clearly explain how you meet the person specification described above. You can also email Dr Alexandra Rose, Principal Clinical Psychologist (arose@rhn.org.uk) or Rupert Norfolk, Head of Therapy Services (rnorfolk@rhn.org.uk) for informal enquiries.

 

RHN is proud to be a diverse and inclusive employer that respects and values the differences of our people to achieve their full potential.