An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly specialist clinical or counselling psychologist or psychotherapist within the Psycho-oncology team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. We are looking to appoint an empathic, enthusiastic and dynamic psychological practitioner to contribute to the provision of a specialist psychology service for patients with cancer across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT . This is a fixed term maternity leave cover post within a large, established, friendly and supportive team of psychologists and psychotherapists working across cancer and oncology services.
The postholder will work individually and systemically to support patients, carers and staff from diverse backgrounds throughout the cancer pathway, alongside working to foster a psychologically safe environment within cancer services. They will contribute to Level 2 teaching and supervision for specialist cancer staff as well as provide training, consultation and reflective practice as appropriate. The postholder will undertake service evaluation, audit and research as required and work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, guided by the policies and procedures of the service. Supervision and management will be provided by one of the experienced senior psychologists within the psychology team and there will be opportunities to link and work alongside other psychologists and psychotherapists working in other medical specialities within the broader ICHT Clinical Health Psychology Department.
Desirable candidates may have particular interests in third wave therapies (i.e., ACT, CFT), adjustment and coping in acute and chronic illness, systemic and narrative approaches, trauma informed models and approaches, attachment, existentialism, models of loss and grief and non-diagnostic approaches to understanding distress (e.g., the PTMF), amongst other therapeutic approaches. The postholder will have access to CPD and training offered through CNWL, as well as other training opportunities.
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Clinical and Client Care
- To provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for patients with cancer across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred patients when required and as appropriate.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To act as liaison on the patient pathway, between the acute hospital, primary care and community services as necessary for the psychological well-being of the patient
Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
- To contribute to the effective working of the Psycho-oncology service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
- To contribute to the team’s delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
- To be proactive in challenging discrimination and supporting the development of culturally competent services.
Policy and service development
- To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
- To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
- To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
Care or management of resources
- To take care of, and use carefully, the Trust’s equipment and physical resources.
Management and supervision
- To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
- To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Course’s Supervision Training.
- To offer supervision and consultation to non-psychological staff working in cancer services in ICHT
Teaching and Training
- To provide specialist training in psychological approaches to care to other professions as appropriate.
- To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
Record-keeping and Information Governance
- To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
Research and development
- To undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development
- To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.
- To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC ‘Standards for Continuing Professional Development’.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.
- To comply with the HCPC ‘Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics’ and ‘Standards of Proficiency’, and ensure professional development in line with these.
- To adhere to the BPS’s Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.
General
- To travel to meetings at ICHT and CNWL as appropriate and when required.
- To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour and follow trust policies relating to its management.
- To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
- Where relevant and by agreement with line manager to work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics or Saturday working, within the overall Job Plan.
