Oncology Psychotherapist / Counsellor

Job overview

Are you a BACP / UKCP accredited counsellor or psychotherapist wanting to work as part of a MDT in a psych-oncology service

We are looking for a Sutton based Band 7 0.6wte Oncology Counsellor/ Psychotherapist to work in our ‘exploratory’ psychological therapy pathway ( integrative, existential, person centred and psychodynamic approaches).AS well as OP and IP work with patients this role will include providing supervision to nurses/ AHPs within the trust. Experience working in an oncology, hospice or other complex physical health setting is essential. Additional training in another health care profession is desirable, e.g. nurse/ AHP/ medic.

You will be joining a supportive team of qualified and trainee psychological and psychiatry professionals including counsellors and psychotherapists, psychology (clinical and counselling), psychosexual therapists psychiatry and mental health nursing. There is good CPD provision.

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic groups, as well as people who have a disability.

We encourage you to contact us to discuss the role. Please contact • Liz Carruthers, Senior Oncology Counsellor on Elizabeth.carruthers@rmh.nhs.uk or 020 7808 2777

Please note the provisional interview date is Thursday 8th October.

Main duties of the job

• To work within our ‘exploratory’ pathway providing existential/ person centred/ psychodynamic/ integrative therapies (our other pathways are: directive, family, sex therapy, psychiatry/ mental health nursing)
• Provide a high-quality specialist counselling/ psychotherapy service to adult cancer patients within the context of the Adult Psychological Support Service, including assessment and evidence based interventions associated with the complex physical and psychological impacts of a cancer diagnosis
• Work autonomously, within professional guidelines, code of conduct and the overall framework of the team/trust policies and procedures.
• Provide specialist advice and consultation on patients’ psychological care to colleagues through psychosocial meetings, multidisciplinary team meetings and attendance at clinics if appropriate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility – patient care

• To work as a clinician in the delivery of a counselling service to the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, working directly and indirectly with patients, and with members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in the care of cancer patients, to improve patients’ psychological wellbeing, quality of life and coping strategies.
• To provide specialist psychological assessments for patients referred to the Adult Psychological Support Service and make decisions about support options considering the individual needs and choice of the patient, their clinical treatment, prognosis and resources available; referring on to the most appropriate specialists if required.

Education and Development Responsibility – own as well as the development of other

• Maintain a personal programme of continuing professional development as required by professional body and participate in other activities designed to ensure the continuing development of specialized professional clinical skills. This should inform, update and expand practice and be disseminated as appropriate within the team.
• To provide clinical case supervision in both group and one to one format according to need for health care professionals within the organisation related to the psychological support of patients.

Policy and Service Development

In consultation with the Head of Pastoral Care Psychological Care and PALS as well as the Consultant Psychologist:

• Participate in the identification and recommendation of service priorities for psychological practice.
• Participate in appropriate developments in psychological practice.
• Participate in the development, evaluation and monitoring of the services’ operational policies through the deployment of professional skills in service evaluation and audit.

Research, Service Evaluation and Audit

• To routinely collect outcome data for service evaluation and monitoring purposes.
• To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work, work with other team members and to staff in the trust.

Administration and IT

• To undertake administrative duties appropriate to the tasks of the post including the specialized use of IT.
• To be familiar with computer use (e-mail, internet, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.