Job summary

We are seeking an innovative and motivated clinical, counselling or health psychologist for a varied and exciting new post in cancer psychology. As a newly created post, this is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and creative professional to engage in service development for those affected by a diagnosis of cancer and its treatments. The post covers the whole of the cancer pathway from “prehab to rehab” (from diagnosis through to post treatment). The role spans direct clinical work and indirect clinical work such as training, consultation and supervision, with plenty of scope to develop the role according to the post holder’s interests. The role includes dedicated time for advice & consultation to both the Macmillan Prehabilitation Team and the Macmillan Next Steps (rehab) Team in the county, to support both teams & the development of services. An important role of the post is also to work closely with cancer MDT professionals and Oncology teams to support the integration of psychologically informed care within services more broadly.

You will be part of creative & friendly cancer & palliative care psychology services with ample opportunities for peer support and CPD.

The post is fixed term for 24 months though with a business case behind it for its continuation, whilst developing cancer psychology services features strongly in NHSE’s current agenda. Traveling across sites in the county would be involved.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for providing a high quality, specialist psychology service for people affected by a diagnosis of cancer and its treatments, consistent with the Trust’s objective of “best care for everyone”. This will include:

– providing specialist psychological interventions to people affected by cancer

– providing psychological expertise to indirect clinical work of consultation, supervision and training to other healthcare professionals and to enable cancer health care professionals to provide psychologically informed care.

– using knowledge and skills to identify and implement audit, service evaluation and service development work.

– being involved in the continued professional development of roles such as assistant psychologists or placements if they arise.

About us

The post holder will work closely with other psychologists in a large and forward-thinking clinical health psychology department. Psychology is highly valued by cancer services and the post sits under the line management and supervision of a consultant clinical psychologist. There are plenty of opportunities for peer support and CPD and the department has particular interests in third wave CBT therapies including ACT, CFT, systemic and other applied psychology approaches. The cancer and palliative care psychology services have strong links with other Psycho-oncology services across the region.

The post is available on a full-time basis, though part time applications are also welcomed.

Informal inquiries and visits are very welcomed too.

Date posted

15 November 2022

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£48,526 to £54,619 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-22-R10389

Job locations

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description in the attached document for further details on main responsibilities.

The role requirements include:

– Doctoral degree in clinical, counselling or health psychology

– Registered as a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council

– Significant understanding of and ideally experience of working with people with physical health issues.

– Skills and experience in providing evidence-based assessments and interventions to individuals and groups.

– Experience of multi-disciplinary working, consultancy, and staff teaching / training within healthcare settings is also desirable.

Applications are welcomed from people with experience of other areas of work (such as older adults or other working age services) who are interested in exploring a different field. The post is also available as a secondment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description in the attached document for further details on main responsibilities.

The role requirements include:

– Doctoral degree in clinical, counselling or health psychology

– Registered as a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council

– Significant understanding of and ideally experience of working with people with physical health issues.

– Skills and experience in providing evidence-based assessments and interventions to individuals and groups.

– Experience of multi-disciplinary working, consultancy, and staff teaching / training within healthcare settings is also desirable.

Applications are welcomed from people with experience of other areas of work (such as older adults or other working age services) who are interested in exploring a different field. The post is also available as a secondment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral degree in clinical, counselling or health psychology
  • Post graduate doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling or Health Psychology (or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996)
  • Registration with the HPC as practitioner psychologist
  • Evidence of regular CPD
  • Desirable

  • Additional post doc training in psychological approaches or therapies
  • Experience

    Essential

  • Appropriate post-qualification experience in the NHS
  • Experience of working in a clinical setting in the NHS and of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
  • Significant understanding of, and experience with, evidence-based psychological models and therapeutic approaches to health and illness including third wave therapies (eg Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapies).
  • Desirable

  • Experience in an acute trust or with people with cancer or other significant physical illnesses
  • Experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling or health psychologist with people cancer or with life-limiting conditions.
  • Significant understanding and experience of working with people with physical health issues, ideally in an acute hospital setting, 1:1, with family members and groups
  • Experience of providing advice, consultation and supervision to other healthcare professionals regarding psychological aspects of care.
  • Knowledge/ Skills

    Essential

  • Knowledge of theoretical models and skills evidence-based practice as employed in level 4 services
  • Ability to put psychological theory into practice in novel and complex clinical settings, synthesising data and theory from a range of evidence-based sources to create individual, group, team intervention plans
  • Highly-developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment including the use and evaluation of psychometric scales within physical health settings; experience in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of audit and clinical data
  • Ability to contain and work therapeutically with people in extreme psychological distress
  • Able to work exceptionally well within a team, to foster psychological safety and a climate of care, compassion and learning
  • Ability to evaluate and prioritise competing clinical demands and to use planned and ad hoc supervision as part of coping with these
  • Mobile to meet the requirements of the post
  • Proficient use of standard IT systems for clinical work , training, and research purposes including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Desirable

  • Further relevant training eg; in specific therapeutic approaches or consultancy.
  • Qualities

    Essential

  • Ability to build positive working relationships, respecting and valuing the contributions made by others and acting in an inclusive, considerate and helpful manner at all times
  • Demonstrable interest in working in physical health and with patients with chronic disease.
  • Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

  • Doctoral degree in clinical, counselling or health psychology
  • Post graduate doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling or Health Psychology (or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996)
  • Registration with the HPC as practitioner psychologist
  • Evidence of regular CPD
  • Desirable

  • Additional post doc training in psychological approaches or therapies
  • Experience

    Essential

  • Appropriate post-qualification experience in the NHS
  • Experience of working in a clinical setting in the NHS and of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
  • Significant understanding of, and experience with, evidence-based psychological models and therapeutic approaches to health and illness including third wave therapies (eg Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapies).
  • Desirable

  • Experience in an acute trust or with people with cancer or other significant physical illnesses
  • Experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling or health psychologist with people cancer or with life-limiting conditions.
  • Significant understanding and experience of working with people with physical health issues, ideally in an acute hospital setting, 1:1, with family members and groups
  • Experience of providing advice, consultation and supervision to other healthcare professionals regarding psychological aspects of care.
  • Knowledge/ Skills

    Essential

  • Knowledge of theoretical models and skills evidence-based practice as employed in level 4 services
  • Ability to put psychological theory into practice in novel and complex clinical settings, synthesising data and theory from a range of evidence-based sources to create individual, group, team intervention plans
  • Highly-developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment including the use and evaluation of psychometric scales within physical health settings; experience in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of audit and clinical data
  • Ability to contain and work therapeutically with people in extreme psychological distress
  • Able to work exceptionally well within a team, to foster psychological safety and a climate of care, compassion and learning
  • Ability to evaluate and prioritise competing clinical demands and to use planned and ad hoc supervision as part of coping with these
  • Mobile to meet the requirements of the post
  • Proficient use of standard IT systems for clinical work , training, and research purposes including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Desirable

  • Further relevant training eg; in specific therapeutic approaches or consultancy.
  • Qualities

    Essential

  • Ability to build positive working relationships, respecting and valuing the contributions made by others and acting in an inclusive, considerate and helpful manner at all times
  • Demonstrable interest in working in physical health and with patients with chronic disease.
  • Disclosure and Barring Service Check

    This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

    Certificate of Sponsorship

    Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

    From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

    UK Registration

    Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

    Additional information

    Disclosure and Barring Service Check

    This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

    Certificate of Sponsorship

    Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

    From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

    UK Registration

    Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).