Job Description

Principal Clinical / Health / Counselling Psychologist -



Band 8b



20 hours per week (0.53wte) Permanent



A newly permanent Band 8b opportunity has arisen for an experienced Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Health or Counselling) to take a lead in providing and evaluating a highly specialist psychological interventions to patients with chronic pain or complex long term conditions.



To provide psychological assessment and therapy for patients



To work in collaboration with the lead for Pain and LTCs develop services for patients



To liaise closely with the multi-disciplinary team



To work systemically



To contribute to the delivery of teaching, training and supervision for non-psychologist colleagues where helpful in relation to complex health issues.



To utilize research skills for the purposes of audit, policy development and research, joined with other practitioner psychologists



To contribute to service evaluation and service development in line with service objectives and with the aim of meeting national and local guidelines and targets



To liaise with multidisciplinary team colleagues, other health and social care agencies and staff involved with the care group, and with other psychologists both locally and nationally for professional development.

We can offer you:

An autonomous 8b role with the flexibility to develop and shape the service going forward An innovative, stimulating and well organised department - part of a well-established Psychology Department employing a range of applied psychologists A friendly and supportive team of colleagues, excellent peer support and regular supervision A commitment to the training and support of applied psychologists and active involvement in the local clinical doctoral courses. Dedicated time within the role for advancing special interests and funding for professional development.

As a newly reconfigured post this is an exciting opportunity for an innovative and creative professional to work in our Pain Self-Management Team, and our Psychology services within Chronic Complex Long-Term Illness, where there is lots of scope to engage in service development. The post is a combination of outpatient clinical work and indirect clinical work such as training, consultation and supervision, with space for cultivating leadership skills in supporting the growth of psychologically and trauma informed care in services. We wish to recruit someone who relishes MDT working, someone who wants to be present and involved in all aspects of the service, and someone who really values team cohesion and wellbeing. We are looking for someone with a wide range of experience, and this may include previous work in physical health or working in mental health or with clients with complex needs. A background in physical health is not essential. You will need to work and liaise across wider settings where indicated.



The Pain Self-Management team is part of wider Chronic Pain Services in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, and we work with nine supportive Chronic Pain Consultants in our two local Trusts. Our MDT includes Physio and Prescribing Nurses and a great admin team. You will work closely with the clinical lead and managerial colleagues to achieve effective, evidence based psychological provision with close links to pain services and other key medical disciplines.



Additionally, as an experienced practitioner psychologist, you will work alongside the Lead Psychologist in planning the development and systematic provision and evaluation of psychological services for people affected by long term conditions - including high intensity users of services in GHNHSFT. There are many services within the Trust that have no Psychology input, including Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Respiratory.



You will work autonomously within professional guidelines ensuring that services provided are high quality, cost-effective, culturally appropriate and based on best clinical and professional practice, national strategic and policy guidelines.



There will be a good deal of autonomy within the role but there are strong links with a supportive and friendly psychology department (varied services with about 25 Clinical, Counselling, and Health psychology colleagues mostly based in the same building as Pain Management). That gives the post a base in the MDT and in the Psychology service, with lots of opportunities for linking across services. Clinical supervision is valued and there is good support for development and training.



The post is permanent and based at Gloucester Royal Hospital with the post holder required to work in Cheltenham or Hereford at times.



Further information is detailed in the JD and Person Specification document