Senior Clinical Psychologist

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Clinical Psychologist to join the Psychological and Mental Health Services department at Great Ormond Street Hospital (PAMHS). The postholder will join the largest Paediatric Psychology Service in the UK, working with the dynamic and supportive Specialist Health Conditions Team, with specific input to the Gastroenterology Service.

The Gastroenterology department is one of the UK's leading centres of excellence in treating complex diseases affecting the gut, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Gut Motility issues, Gastro-Allergy and Parenteral Nutrition. Clinical Psychology is a highly valued profession within each multi-disciplinary team helping to optimise medical care by working with patients, their families and the MDT.

The post holder will offer psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to children, young people and families living with a broad range of gastroenterological conditions. Living with gastroenterological conditions of varying complexity, can adversely impact on all aspects of young people’s lives, including their psychological wellbeing, functioning and self-esteem. In addition, psychological aspects can interfere with the ability of young people to engage effectively in their medical care.

Main duties of the job

Common areas for psychological input include adjustment to and living with a medical diagnosis, procedural distress, treatment adherence, pain management, low mood, anxiety, identity and body image, and feeding and eating concerns. We also provide specialist psychological input for patients experiencing disorders of the gut-brain axis.The Specialist Health Conditions Team offers psychological input to children under the care of six medical specialties: Dermatology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Urology, Gastroenterology and Neurology. In addition to your work with the Gastroenterology team you will contribute to the flexible delivery of psychology services across the stream, in response to new developments and organisational changes. You will provide supervision of junior colleagues, including Trainee Clinical Psychologists from the local Clinical Psychology Doctorate Courses. As a psychology team we draw upon a range of therapeutic modalities including Narrative therapy, CBT, Systemic, ACT, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Attachment and Mentalisation Based Approaches. There are opportunities to work in creative formulation driven ways with young people and families, offering individual, family, parent and group interventions. The role includes regular work with external agencies and GOSH MDT’s. There is a strong commitment to, and opportunities for, continuing professional development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the Job Description attached.

This job description is intended as an outline of the areas of activity and can be amended in the light of the changing needs of the service and will be reviewed as necessary in conjunction with the post-holder.