Assistant Psychologist, Critical Care

Job overview

This post is an exciting and challenging opportunity for dynamic and self-motivated assistant psychologist to join the clinical health psychology service for the critical care department at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Derriford Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is comprised of two adjoining wards: a general ICU with up to 18 beds, and a Neuro ICU with up to 10 beds. Derriford Hospital is a Major Trauma Centre and is part of the Peninsula Trauma Network.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

The key component of the role will be clinical:  providing assessment and screening of the psychologically and cognitive functioning of critical care patients, providing psychological first aid and psychoeducation and support ICU related rehabilitation. An emphasis with be on the assessment and treatment of patients at high risk of psychological distress and trauma. The successful candidate will work with referrals from the critical care team and other inpatient wards. They will also work with healthcare staff, supporting mental health and wellbeing, and supporting the unit’s Expert by Experience group.  The post holder will contribute to the department’s service evaluation, research and audit activities.

The successful candidate will embrace the challenge of working both in critical care and following patients through onto the ward.  The role is part of the multi-disciplinary critical care rehabilitation team, whose focus is on reducing the impact of Post Intensive Care Syndrome, which includes the physical, psychological and cognitive consequences of critical illness.  A key part of the role will be multi-disciplinary consultation, assessment and intervention with inpatients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical:

1. The post holder will undertake work with patients on a one-to-one basis, contributing to highly specialist critical care psychology assessments and interventions, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist

2. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of critical care patients. This will include administering psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and carers.

3.  The post holder will collate and summarise data, along with an observational record of the assessment session, for their supervisor.

3. To feedback specialist opinions to patients, families, carers and other professionals under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Health Psychologist.

4. To assist in the formulation and delivery of individual and group psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Health Psychologist.

5. The post holder will reliably and accurately record clinical and research information. This will include a combination of written and electronic records, using a range of software packages including Word, Excell, Teams, Access, PowerPoint, and SPSS.

6. To assist in the organisation of the waiting list.

7. To plan and prioritise own workload in respect of clinical, research and other activities.

8. To attend and participate in all relevant clinical and professional meetings.

For further details please see the attached JD