Psychotherapist, Band 7

Job overview

Psychotherapist, Band 7 (18.75 hours a week)

For a newly created and innovative post, we are seeking a skilled and compassionate psychotherapist to provide a specialist psychological service to colleagues in our trust

This is an exciting opportunity for a creative professional to engage in service development alongside other psychology colleagues in the Staff Psychology Service, with plenty of scope to develop the role according to the post holder’s interests. The remit of the work will include developing and providing specialist interventions at an individual and group level, consultation and advice on wellbeing in the trust, and education and training for colleagues through workshops and webinars. The postholder will work closely with colleagues in the Staff Advice and Support hub supporting effective triage assessments and signposting as well as colleagues in Organisational Development to support the integration of psychologically informed practice across the hospital sites focusing on both preventative and responsive approaches.

Interview date: w/c 3rd August

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for providing a high quality, specialist psychological service for staff consistent with the Trust's objective of "best care for everyone". This will include:

- providing specialist psychological interventions to staff including trauma focused therapy

- providing psychological expertise around indirect clinical work including consultation and training for staff

- providing psychoeducation and skills-based training/workshops on identified areas of emotional difficulty

- using knowledge and skills to identify and implement audit, service evaluation and development activities.

- acting independently and being accountable for own actions within professional guidelines and trust policies.-

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Provision of Clinical Services/Clinical Responsibilities

- Direct clinical intervention through the application of a range of psychological theories and models to analyse, understand and interpret complex situations and behaviours to formulate interventions which are tailored to both individual and team needs.  This requires the capacity to engage in intense concentration for prolonged periods of time.

- To act autonomously and be professionally accountable for their own practice and in common with all psychotherapists to undertake regular clinical supervision.

- To develop strong working relationships with divisions, departments and managers who are struggling with work-related distress/trauma or supporting those going through these experiences.

- Clinical interventions may be delivered in person or online and take the form of i) decompression sessions for staff teams following an internal incident or period of prolonged stress ii) providing psychoeducation and skills based training on identified areas of emotional difficulty iii)providing 1:1 psychological support for employees struggling with work related stress or distress or iiii) co-facilitating online workshops/mindfulness drop in sessions.

- Provide specialised consultation to staff, groups and managers on topics related to staff well-being.

- Take responsibility for managing own time, planning clinics and other clinical work. Organising workload of, and supervising students / assistants where appropriate.

- To have responsibility for maintaining clear and accurate records.

- Application of current evidence-based interventions.

- There will be a frequent requirement for intense concentration during sessions and exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.

Professional Development, Education and Training

- Provider of professional advice/education on psychological factors around trauma/wellbeing

- Implement policies and service developments in line with government directives.

- Identify service needs, support with setting up new initiatives which will enhance outcomes.

- To attend and contribute to the regular professional meetings of the staff psychology team, the Department of Psychology and other relevant meetings as required.

- Deliver specialist psychological teaching /training to colleagues, as relevant to experience and knowledge.

- Teaching psychological workshops to staff/co-facilitating psychological debriefs

- Use appropriate information technology to support teaching and training.

- Participate in current Trust performance / development review systems (e.g. appraisal).

- Responsibility for maintenance and development for own professional skills based.

- Remain abreast of recent developments in relevant areas of psychological therapy/theory through personal study and attendance at workshops / conferences.

- Actively participate in local and national special interest groups.

Research and Development

- To undertake applied audit programmes and research where relevant, using a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies with the aim of improving interventions and health outcomes for staff. This utilises reflective scientist-practitioner and research skills.

- Offer consultation to other professionals with reference to research or audit-based activity.

- Regularly carry out evaluation of clinical intervention and making adjustments indicated by this.

- Comply with Clinical Governance requirements.

Communications and Working Relationships

- The post holder will be line-managed and clinically supervised by a Consultant Counselling Psychologist, the Lead for the Staff Psychology Service.  There are close working relationships with 2 other psychologist posts within the service, a principal clinical psychologist and a senior clinical psychologist.

- The post holder would also be linking in and building relationships with other psychologists in the wider department and colleagues in People services as well as staff and teams across the organisation.