Job Description

Job Purpose The principal purpose of the job is to improve the psychological health & wellbeing of people with learning disabilities This will be achieved in this post by: 1. Providing a Psychology and Psychological Therapies service within the South West Regional Learning Disability Neurodiversity (LDND) Inpatient care pathway and where appropriate to integrated mental health and wellbeing services. 2. Implements specific assessment (including intellectual functioning assessments; screening for neurological deterioration and clinical observation), clinical care packages and advice to people who use services, family members , carers and professionals within standing operating procedures under the supervision of principal and Lead Psychologists.



3. The post holder will be supported by the Lead Clinical Psychologist and senior colleagues within the specialism. The post holder will be expected to make good use of the expertise of others within the service to further develop their clinical skills with people with learning disabilities. 4.



To work within professional guidelines and DPT procedures and protocols. 5. The post holder will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body. Duties and Responsibilities Communication and Working Relationship Skills Clients, family and carers: To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner with clients who may have specific difficulties in understand and/or communicating and who may be distressed.

Multidisciplinary team colleagues:

To work closely with colleagues in the multi-professional integrated learning disability services on a day to day basis. Health & social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services care. To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice. Senior managers & professional staff: To maintain and build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in the Learning Disability and Neurodiversity Services and in DPT, to foster a positive approach to the integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation.



Analytical and Judgemental Skills In a supervised context, to undertake clinical assessments and observations within the South West Regional LDND Inpatient care pathway and evaluate the findings. In addition, to undertake audit and research activities within the Learning Disability service and evaluate the findings. Planning and Organisational Skills To plan and prioritise own workload. To provide psychology knowledge as a result of research and audit activity to the multi-professional planning, development and marketing of learning disability services within DPT.



Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy Assessment & intervention: To make assessments, and deliver treatment interventions within a supervised context for individuals, carers, families and groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues. Consultation & guidance: In a supervised context, to provide advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families. Audit and Research: To carry out audits of service provision and research within a supervised context involving individuals, carers, families and groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation Policy & service To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.



Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources Careful use of equipment Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management There is a requirement to support learners on a regular basis which includes the achievement and updating of profession specific training to the required standard to fulfil this role Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties To maintain accurate records To be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its internal communication. Responsibility for Research and Development R & D: To undertake service-relevant research as indicated above and development activity agreed within the learning disability service. Freedom to Act The post holder is accountable for their own professional actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines.



In a supervised context, to work within clinical professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the governance of psychological practice within the Health and Social Care Partnership for People with Learning Disabilities.