Applied Psychologist/Highly Specialist Applied Psychologist

Job overview

This post is offered at either Band 7 (developmental) or Band 8a (senior) level, depending on the experience and competencies of the successful candidate.

At Band 7, the post holder will work as a developing specialist pain management psychologist, providing high-quality psychological assessment and intervention for individuals with persistent pain as part of a multidisciplinary team. They will work with a degree of autonomy within clearly defined clinical frameworks, receiving regular clinical supervision, and contributing to service delivery, audit, and development activities.

At Band 8a, the post holder will function as a senior specialist psychologist, delivering highly specialist psychological care for complex and high-risk presentations in persistent pain. They will work with a high level of clinical autonomy and be responsible for providing clinical leadership within the multidisciplinary team, including supervision of other staff, contributing to service development and innovation, and supporting the strategic direction of the service.

***Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.***

Main duties of the job

Across both levels, the role will contribute to the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions, multidisciplinary team working, and the ongoing development of a high-quality pain management service

• Within a busy Pain Clinic, work as part of a close inter-disciplinary team.
• Develop, co-ordinate, facilitate and deliver generic and specialised pain management programmes.
• Work autonomously within the pain clinic to deliver intensive 1:1 intervention.
• Assess highly complex pain patients for 1:1, group work and specialist medical procedures.
• Act as a highly specialist resource to the wider professional community (Applicable for Band 8a)
• Support policy implementation and service development.
• Participate in audit and research.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Interpret and integrate complex data from a variety of sources including psychometric tests, direct and indirect observations, and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in their care.
• Formulate a care pathway for either group or individual work, as appropriate.
• Assessment for group work includes careful consideration of group dynamics and individual motivational factors (including stages of change).
• Utilise Motivational Interviewing skills during assessment and intervention.
• Work as part of an inter-disciplinary team in the development, delivery and evaluation of generic and specialised PMPs and group based programmes
• Provide evidence-based short-medium term intervention for clients experiencing psychological barriers to effective management of their chronic pain condition.
• Following a comprehensive and rigorous psychological assessment, provide feedback to an interdisciplinary team to inform upon the appropriateness of invasive procedures such as implantation of spinal cord stimulator (applicable for Band 8a)
• Act at all times in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society.

For further information please see attached job description