The Cancer Psychological Care Team became a permanently established service in 2022. We provide outpatient specialist psychological assessment and formulation-based interventions for patients accessing cancer treatment at King's College Hospital, as well as their family members and carers. The service adopts a compassion-based model of care, guiding how we support patients, MDT colleagues, and each other. There is a range of expertise in the service, including CFT, ACT, CBT, Narrative Therapy, and EMDR. Given the age of the service, we are engaged in a range of exciting service development projects, including EDI work, formulation-based practice, patient involvement, increasing access to psychological care, establishing psychoeducational workshops, training non-cancer specialist psychological therapists in primary care, and increasing the offer of staff psychological consultation for complex presentations.
The successful post holder will work alongside another full-time Band 7 Practitioner Psychologist colleague, three 8a Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist colleagues, an Assistant Psychologist, Trainee Clinical Psychologists, an 8b Principal Practitioner Psychologist (Service Lead), and a dedicated Medical Secretary. They will be joining a friendly, innovative, and supportive team, as well as the wider group of supportive psychologists and psychotherapists working across various medical specialities.
Key objectives for the role are:
Providing timely access to specialist psychological assessment, and psychological therapy, tailored to the needs of patients, throughout and following their cancer treatment journey.
Collaborating with colleagues with links to cancer tumour groups and specific MDMs in the hospital as well as rehabilitation services in secondary and primary care settings to provide high quality care.
Maintain contacts with the community and pathways of referrals and care to ensure patients receive care in the most socially acceptable and supportive environment to them.
Facilitate reflective practice groups for non-qualified staff and supervision groups for MDT colleagues.
Provide training, advice and support for reflective practice, which meets the learning needs of staff throughout services who support people with cancer at King’s.
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
General
- To travel to sites across the Trust, including Princes Royal University Hospital, Orpington, as appropriate and when required
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations – including those associated with physically unwell patients approaching end of life care – and to support others involved in such situations
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:
Kind . We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work
Respectful . We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed
Team . We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional
To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed
