OHR: Copy of Principal Clinical Psychologist JD & PS

AuthorityCabinet Office
Date received2025-07-15
OutcomeAll information sent
Outcome date2025-07-30
Case ID4800225

Summary

The requester asked for the job description and person specification for a Principal Clinical Psychologist position advertised in December 2015, along with confirmation of appointment. The Cabinet Office disclosed all requested information, providing the full job description and person specification documents.

Key Facts

  • The request was made to the Office of Human Resources within the Cabinet Office.
  • The position was for a Principal Clinical Psychologist within the Crisis & Inpatient Recovery Service.
  • The advertised role required HCPC registration and a postgraduate doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology.
  • The job description outlines duties including complex psychological assessments and evidence-based treatments.
  • The authority confirmed that all information was sent to the requester.

Data Disclosed

  • 08 December 2015
  • Jobtrain ID: 2883
  • Pay Band: 8b
  • Job Evaluation Reference No: 0426v5/JE/15
  • 23 pages
  • 2 documents
  • 2025-07-15
  • 2025-07-30

Original Request

This information request is submitted to the Office of Human Resources. Please provide the advert wording, job description and person specification for the Principal Clinical Psychologist position within the Mental Health Services - In-patient Services Team, as advertised on or around 08 December 2015 (Jobtrain ID: 2883; http://bit.ly/1XVDgMD). Please also confirm whether anyone was appointed to that role (note: I am not requesting the personal information of the person(s) appointed). Thank you in advance.

Data Tables (29)

Job Title: Principal Clinical Psychologist
Location: Crisis & Inpatient Recovery Service
Accountable to: Director, Mental Health Service
Reports to: Manager, Crisis & Inpatient Recovery Service
Pay Band: 8b
Job Evaluation Reference No: 0426v5/JE/15
Organisation Chart: (attached) See Page 14
JOB PURPOSE To provide a qualified specialist clinical psychology service to patients of the service team, across all sectors of care; providing specialist psychological assessment and therapy at the same time as offering advice, training and consultation on patients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service. The post holder will apply an empirical approach to psychological problems expressing concepts in operational terms and empirically evaluating treatment, using both group and single case experimental designs in everyday clinical practice. The post holder will provide treatment which will focus on the opportunity for new adaptive learning and on producing changes outside of the clinical setting. Problem solving is an important integral part of this treatment. The post holder will make all aspects of therapy explicit to the patient, and the post holder will endeavour to work in a collaborative relationship with the patient in which they plan together strategies to deal with clearly identified problems. Therapy is time-limited, and has explicitly agreed goals. To thereby help understand, prevent and ameliorate psychological distress and disorder and improve the mental health and well being of local service users.
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB 1. Professional knowledge acquired through an undergraduate degree in psychology (2.1 honours or higher) 2. Postgraduate doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology or training and professional experience completed in an EEA member state, leading to HCPC Registration as a Clinical Psychologist. (http://www.hcpc-uk.org/apply/eeaandswitzerland/) 3. Further short speciality courses (hypnotherapy, EMDR etc) 4. Clinical supervision and further specialist training and experience. 5. Training in Neuropsychological Testing 6. Training in Ability Testing 7. Psychological Assessment 8. Psychological Formulation 9. Intervention planning (care plan) and execution 10. Training in various psychological interventions and formulations:  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy  Behavioural Therapy  Cognitive Analytic Therapy  Psychodynamic Psychotherapy  Family Therapy  Heath Psychology 11. Specific training for multiple mental illnesses: Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Multiple Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia, Eating Disorders, drug/alcohol abuse, somatic problem, sexual or physical abuse and difficulties such as marital problems, sexual dysfunction, tourettes, selective mutism, autism and chronic pain etc. 12. Specific Training in various disciplines: Adult, Older Adult, Child, Learning disabilities, Neuropsychology and Inpatient. 13. Research skills at a level comparable to the publishing standard of medical journals such as PAIN etc. 14. Presentation Skills Training 15. Management Skills Training (working with care teams etc) 16. Mandatory Core Training
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES The post holder will: 1. Work as an independent and autonomous professional within HCPC guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for his or her own work. 2. Select and administer highly specialist psychological assessments including specialised psychometric assessment (intelligence, memory, executive functioning etc) requiring skilled manipulation of test material, neuropsychological assessment, self-report measures, as appropriate, structured observations, clinical interviews, and to interpret and integrate this highly complex data. 3. Be required to carry out complex psychological assessments sensitively and independently with a broad range of patient groups and problem types including individual psychometric testing sessions. 4. Formulate psychological treatment plans that are specific to each client, based upon an analysis of complex factors contributing to the presentation, and selectively drawing on appropriate conceptual and theoretical models. 5. Deliver evidence based psychological treatments, monitoring outcome and modifying and
largely uni-professional practice; experience of a broad range of clinical and organisational settings is expected. 25. Formulate the nature, causes and maintaining factors of highly distressing psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental and clinical literature base and the results of assessment. 26. Communicate the aforementioned formulations professionally, sensitively and diplomatically, frequently in an emotive atmosphere to patients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals relevant to the case. 27. Plan and implement bespoke, formulation-driven psychological interventions, or programmes empathically, sensitively and independently, with a broad range of patient groups, carers (including relatives), families, groups of patients, etc. and evaluate the impact of such intervention. 28. Plan and delivers group sessions for patients or their carers. 29. Provide advice and support for carers and other professionals. 30. Network and consult with relevant external agencies such as social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels. 31. Plan and provide formal and informal training to other psychologists, other professionals, and carers, including the presentation of complex and sometimes contentious psychological and research material. 32. Place special emphasis on personal and professional development activity such as weekly clinical supervision, shadowing, joint working, personal study and reflection. Work will be managed and goals agreed and reviewed at intervals. 33. Attend formal teaching and training sessions as part of personal and professional development. 34. Most of the face to face clinical work of the post holder will be sedentary.
 CLINICAL The post holder will: 1. Provide specialist psychological assessments of patients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the patient’s care. 2. Formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a patient’s mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patient’s problems, and employ methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings. 3. Take responsibility for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. 4. Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental
circumstances and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times. 27. Work in situations where there are barriers to acceptance and possible exposure to aggression. 28. Receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with BPS/HCPC guidelines and criteria procedures.
 PROFESSIONAL The post holder will: 1. Contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the team’s operational policies and services, by attendance at meetings at which service developments are planned and discussed and through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. 2. Contribute to service development initiatives and to the design, implementation and evaluation of service development and governance projects within the psychology service or primary health care team. 3. Implement new or revised psychology policies or procedures in own area of work and proposes changes and developments in local psychology practices and procedures as appropriate. 4. Draw the attention of professional line manager and other service managers to unmet needs and shortfalls in the availability of psychological services, offers suggestions about service initiatives and developments and advises managers on other aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters require attention. 5. Support the psychology line manager in the co-ordination and day-to-day management of the workloads of Assistant Practitioners, graduate psychologists and undergraduates on attachment and provides professional and clinical supervision to Assistants, graduates and students on as required. 6. Involve him or her self, as appropriate, in the short listing and interviewing of Assistant Practitioner grade and graduate psychologists. 7. Have responsibility for careful and responsible use, transport and storage of material resources as allocated (including test materials and equipment, books, stationery and IT equipment). 8. Draw to the attention of the psychology manager shortfalls in the material resources necessary to fulfil the post-holder’s expected professional functions or the objectives of the psychology service of which they are part, including test materials, books and relevant equipment. 9. Follow the advice and policies of the post provider including knowledge, awareness of, and compliance with the legal framework relevant to the post and patient group. 10. Be familiar with and abide by confidentiality and information handling and storage guidelines of the post provider. 11. Participate in regular developmental reviews with the Manager, Psychological Therapies Service, identifying CPD needs, agreeing objectives, identifying training needs and formulating a personal plan. 12. Cooperate in the use of rooms, books, tests and other equipment needed to carry out duties. 13. Attend and participate in administrative and service planning meetings. 14. Practice and conduct themselves in accordance with the BPS/HCPC codes of conduct.
 PLANNING & ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS The post holder will: 1. Take responsibility for the planning of his or her, own workload e.g. organise appointments with staff and patients and plan patient sessions. 2. Demonstrate flexibility in planning: specifically a capacity to monitor, evaluate and adjust plans accordingly over time. 3. Organise and plan his or her, own training programmes and team workload. 4. Maintain a firm grasp of the literature relevant to the post, periodically applying his or her research skills to maintain and further their knowledge. Moreover, they will be expected to research any new area within which they apply their skills i.e. making themselves aware of contextual information/ knowledge pertaining to changing service development etc. 5. Take responsibility for undertaking research and disseminating that knowledge (teaching/training). 6. Take responsibility for psychological aspects of policy development for other services across one or more organisations.
 COMMUNICATION The post holder will: 1. Communicate complex, technical and clinically sensitive or contentious information to individuals with whom clinical psychologists usually work. This includes both psychologists and fellow professionals, as well as individual patients and their relatives/ carers (who may be manipulative or hostile). 2. Tailor communication in a manner which is congruent with the needs of the recipient, including the needs of patients with a range of emotional difficulties, or who have difficulty in communicating or understanding. 3. Exercise both appropriate assertion and diplomacy according to the particular situation, with professional colleagues, carers, relatives, and patients with a range of challenging emotional difficulties (hostility or antagonism). 4. Work to gain agreement from the patient to facilitate conflict resolution, or illicit sensitive information. 5. Have good presentation and teaching skills suited to both formal and informal settings. 6. Demonstrate capacity to work through interpreters or advocates (if required).
 MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP The post holder will: 1. Contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the team’s operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. 2. Advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing. 3. Manage the workloads of assistant and graduate psychologists, within the framework of the team/service’s policies and procedures. 4. Provide input, as appropriate, in the short-listing and interviewing of assistant/graduate psychologists. 5. Develop specialist programmes of care/ care packages: providing highly specialised advice concerning care. 6. Frequently take the responsibility for accessing patients and developing person centred care plans e.g. phobias, multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, post trauma or therapeutic group work. 7. Provide specialist advice to other disciplines and/or services.
 CLINICAL GOVERNANCE The post holder will: 1. Demonstrate understanding of the commitment to clinical governance, including reference to National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and other relevant evidence based practice. Plans patient contracts / plan of interventions adjusting when necessary as part of on–going evaluation of intervention with the patient. 2. Complete Clinical Risk Indicators with patients and to assess and plan management of identified risk, taking responsibility and being accountable for involving other members of the multi-professional team where appropriate. 3. Participate in the evaluation of service delivery and identify unmet needs and contribute to organisational changes to improve the service. 4. Utilizes evidence based assessment and outcome measure tools as means of monitoring and evaluating the service. 5. Utilize evidence based assessment and outcome measure tools as means of monitoring and implementing policies relating to provision of psychology services. 6. Be involved in proposing changes to service delivery 7. Contribute to policy discussions at a wider organisational level.
 SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT The post holder will:
1. Have a sound knowledge of computer use which may include word processing, spreadsheets, database programmes, publisher, PowerPoint and SPSS. 2. Take responsibility for keeping manual records within case notes; keeping them securely and confidentially as per guidelines/policies. 3. Maintain relevant administrative systems of own work, electronic and hard copy, in line with relevant guidelines. 4. Maintain appropriate records of own work, in electronic and hard copy, in line with NHS and Social Care policies and professional guidelines. 5. Take responsibility and be accountable for recording and updating appropriately their own patient caseload information on ‘RiO’, the Department’s computerised database system and to be aware of and comply with safe practice guidelines to maintain patient confidentiality. 6. Submit statistical information, activity and quality data of their own work as required by the regional and national bodies or NHS. 7. Undertake clerical functions requiring some familiarity with applied psychology, including literature searches, developing and maintaining training packs, information leaflets, inputting data and other tasks necessary for the efficient running of the service and/or training needs. 8. Undertake computerized literature searches using major clinical databases such as PsychInfo, Medline and Cochrane, to inform routine clinical work and as preparation for the design of major research and smaller scale audit-based projects. 9. Develop competence in advanced statistical software (such as SPSS) for the analysis of clinical research and research data. 10. Continually update patient records. 11. Demonstrate an understanding of and be able to use appropriately clinical risk documentation and other assessment or outcome measure documentation. 12. Take responsibility for ensuring patient notes that are removed from the building are stored in the appropriate secure and confidential manner as per Service policies. 13. Take responsibility for ensuring that rooms used for psychology purposes outside of his/her own department or service are appropriate for such use e.g. privacy, space etc. 14. Take responsibility for identifying and/or address any deficits or defects inherent in the service systems or equipment.
 DECISIONS & JUDGEMENTS The post holder will: 1. Deal with complex facts or situations requiring assessment of a range of clinical options. 2. Make initial assessments of a patient’s presenting needs. 3. Must identify patient capacity. 4. Must deal with multiple complex issues, identifying and selecting the most appropriate therapeutic treatment modality or alternatively, making decisions with regard to referrals to specialist services. 5. Utilise skills in assessing patients, relatives and interpreting patient, family situations and making appropriate formulations.
6. Make assessments on patient presentation including clinical risk assessment. This may necessitate the need for urgent onward referral to other dept. within service or to another organisation e.g. A& E Dept. Consultant Psychiatrist, Sexual Health clinic, Crisis Response team. 7. Analyse and take into account a wide variety of complex information relating to patient before reaching conclusions or making clinical decisions. This information may conflict with other elements e.g. patients may present as being at risk of harm to themselves and others, however, there may be conflicting information provided from friends and teachers. 8. Act independently and uses his or her, own clinical knowledge, training and experience to make an informed decision. 9. Take responsibility for completing a Clinical Risk Indicator with the patient, usually several times a week as one is completed for every new patient. This involves accountability for assessing risk, deciding how it should be managed, documenting and disseminating the information to relevant professionals. 10. Use his or her, own initiative and clinical judgement to decide how each situation should be managed, taking into account service and department wide policies. 11. Make complex clinical judgements throughout and between clinical sessions. 12. Demonstrate the ability, confidence and sound clinical judgement required to work independently with patients. 13. Respond appropriately to any circumstance that may arise e.g. disclosure of current child abuse and to ensure all relevant policies and guidelines are adhered to. 14. Frequently be required to make sensitive and difficult judgements due to the nature of the presenting facts or situations e.g. there may be need to break patient confidentiality in cases of serious risk of harm to patients or others. 15. Continually be responsible for interpreting professional and ethical guidelines and principles in order to reach a sound clinical decision. 16. Practice autonomously and will not be directly supervised on a day to day basis. 17. Take responsibility for decisions regarding accepting/declining referrals, clinical judgements in relation to clinical approach or techniques offered and in particular where there may be issues of high risk e.g. acute suicide risk or episode of serious self harm to patients or others remain the decision of the post holder.
Confidentiality In the course of your duties you may have access to confidential material about patients, members of staff or other business of the Department. On no account must information relating to identifiable patients be divulged to anyone other than authorised persons, for example, medical, nursing or other professional staff, as appropriate, who are concerned directly with the care, diagnosis and /or treatment of the patient. If you are in any doubt whatsoever as to the authority of a person or body asking for information of this nature, you must seek advice from your manager. Similarly, no information of a personal or confidential nature concerning individual members of staff should be divulged to anyone without the proper authority having first been given. Failure to observe these rules will be regarded by your employers as gross misconduct which could result in disciplinary action being taken against you. In the case of information held on computer systems, you may be held personally liable if you in any way knowingly contravene the appropriate terms of the Data Protection Act 2002.
Health & Safety/Security It is the duty of all employees to work in such a way that accidents to themselves and to others are avoided, and to co-operate in maintaining their place of work in a tidy and safe condition, thereby minimising risk. Employees will, therefore, refer any matters of concern through their respective line managers. Similarly, it is each person’s responsibility to ensure a secure environment and
bring any breaches of security to the attention of their managers.
Safeguarding The Isle of Man Government is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects staff to share this commitment. Staff must work in accordance with all health and social care policies relating to safeguarding.
JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT I have read and agree with the content of this job description, and accept that the role will be reviewed annually as part of the development review process. Job Holder’s name (please print) …………………………………. Job Holder’s signature: ……………………………………………… Line Manager’s name (please print) ……………………………... Line Manager’s signature: ………………………………………….. Date: …………………. Date: ………………….
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION (Justifiable as necessary for safe and effective performance) ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS (A clear definition for the necessary criteria) DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS (Where available, elements that contribute to improved/immediate performance in the job)
METHOD OF LINK
ASSESSMENT TO
(Application, CV, KNOWL
Portfolio, EDGE &
Certificates, SKILLS
References, FRAME
Interview) WORK
QUALIFICATIONS 1. Registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a 1. Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology. HCPC Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist and Doctorate certificate equivalent Or similar training completed in an EEA member state leading to HCPC registration HCPC Registration
Practitioner Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist: as a Practitioner
Psychologist/Clinical
2. (a) Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in clinical Psychologist
psychology (the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology), the completion of
which includes the study of models of psychopathology, psychometric and
and neuropsychological assessment, two or more distinct psychological
therapies and lifespan developmental psychology Doctorate certificate
equivalent
OR
Or similar training
(b) training completed in an EEA member state and meaningful work completed in an
experience leading to HCPC Registration as a Clinical Psychologist. EEA member state
leading to HCPC
The point (b) is specifically designed for professionals that completed different registration
paths of training and have previous work experience outside the UK and IOM –
see, please, International EEA mutual recognition rights: http://www.hcpc-
uk.org/apply/eeaandswitzerland/
CRITERIA FOR
SELECTION
(Justifiable as
necessary for safe and
effective performance)
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
(A clear definition for the necessary criteria)
DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS
(Where available, elements that
contribute to improved/immediate
performance in the job)
1. Pre-qualification training and
qualifications in research
methodology, staff training and/or
other fields of applied psychology.
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE 1. Doctorate certificate or equivalent training completed in an EEA member state and meaningful work experience 2. Interview 3. CV 4. Application form] 5. References
1. Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design 1. Knowledge of the theory and
and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical practice of specialised
fields of psychology or equivalent training completed in an EEA member psychological therapies in specific
state and leading to HCPC registration as a Practitioner difficult to treat groups (e.g.
Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist (International EEA mutual recognition personality disorder, dual
rights) diagnoses, people with additional
disabilities etc).
2. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of
patients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, 2. High level knowledge of the
community, primary care and in-patient settings. theory and practice of at least two
specialised psychological
3. Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups, across the therapies.
whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of
clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism 3. Knowledge of legislation in
in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse relation to the patient group and
and the threat of physical abuse. mental health.
4. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and individual and 4. Experience of teaching, training
group based treatment of patients across the full range of care and/or supervision.
settings, including primary and secondary/ specialist care and
inpatient/residential, outpatient and community team settings. 5. Experience of the application of
clinical psychology in different
5. Experience of working in a primary care psychological service setting cultural contexts.
where self-referral, drop-in, and highly skilled brief psychological
interventive consultations are part of the service provided for 6. Computer literacy i.e. word
individuals, couples, and families. processing, SPSS (Statistical
Package), use of e-mail (outlook)
6. Knowledge of service policies and procedures. and internet. Familiarity with
research tools analysis.
7. Knowledge and awareness of cross cultural issues
7. Experience of the application of
8. Evidence of and commitment to continuing professional development. clinical psychology in different
cultural contexts.
9. Clinical risk assessment and management knowledge and skills,
including a clear understanding of clinical governance. 8. Experience of working within a
multicultural framework.
10. Ability to demonstrate a knowledge and awareness of research based
practice. 9. Experience of working
therapeutically with ‘difficult to
KNOWLEDGE &
EXPERIENCE
1. Doctorate
certificate or
equivalent
training
completed in an
EEA member
state and
meaningful work
experience
2. Interview
3. CV
4. Application form]
5. References
11. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with patients of all ages across the lifespan and of wide-ranging presenting problems that reflect the full spectrum of clinical complexity and severity. 12. Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision. treat’ patients.
10. Knowledge of the theory and
practice of specialised
psychological therapies in specific
’difficult to treat’ groups (e.g.
personality disorder, challenging
behaviour, dual diagnoses,
people with additional disabilities
etc).
11. High-level knowledge of the
theory and practice of at least
one specialised psychological
therapies.
12. Knowledge of relevant legislation
and DoH policy and
implementation guidelines in
relation to mental health in
general and the client group with
which this post is concerned.
SKILLS & ABILITIES 1. Doctorate certificate or equivalent training completed in an EEA member state 2. Interview 3. CV 4. Application form 5. References
1. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment
commensurate with doctoral level training or equivalent training
completed in an EEA member state and leading to HCPC registration as
a Practitioner Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist (International EEA
mutual recognition rights), including specialist clinical interviewing,
behavioural observation, complex psychometric testing and specialist
neuropsychological testing.
2. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment,
intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and
intense concentration.
3. Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally
and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive
information to patients, their families, carers and other professional
colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
11. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with
patients of all ages across the lifespan and of wide-ranging presenting
problems that reflect the full spectrum of clinical complexity and
severity.
12. Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
SKILLS &
ABILITIES
1. Doctorate
certificate or
equivalent
training
completed in an
EEA member
state
2. Interview
3. CV
4. Application form
5. References
4. Able to use psychometric tests and psychological equipment in
accordance with standardised timing, stimulus presentation and
response monitoring requirements.
5. Skills commensurate with doctoral level training or equivalent training
completed in an EEA member state and leading to HCPC registration as
a Practitioner Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist (International EEA
mutual recognition rights) in the formulation of problems from a
psychological and systemic perspective and in the implementation of
highly specialist psychological therapies, interventions and management
techniques that are appropriate for use with complex presenting
problems. Able to deliver established/evidenced based psychological
therapy to fidelity.
6. Specialist skills in systemic approaches consistent with at least
introductory level training in systemic family practice, applicable to
work with individuals, couples and families with complex multi-level and
multi-agency issues.
7. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills (written and
verbal) including the ability to empathically, sensitively and effectively
communicate clinical and condition related information to patients, their
families, carers and professional colleagues (within and outside the
NHS) that is extremely complicated or technical; extremely sensitive
and potentially distressing to the recipient; or that is extremely
contentious or challenging.
8. When communicating with patients, carers and colleagues, has the high
level interpersonal skills necessary to obtain and convey highly
complex, sensitive or contentious information in emotionally charged
and extremely emotive settings, in a manner that addresses and
overcomes psychological resistance, hostility, antagonism, and
problems of motivation and engagement, as well as barriers to
understanding arising from cognitive, cultural or linguistic factors.
9. Ability to respond safely to physical aggression and to promote
personal safety and the safety of others, drawing on training in de-
escalation and breakaway where provided.
10. Skills in providing consultation and advice from a psychological
perspective to members of other professional and non-professional
groups.
11. Doctoral level knowledge or equivalent of research methodology,
research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced
within the clinical fields of psychology.
12. Ability to provide teaching and training on relevant psychological
topics, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for
presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
13. Awareness and understanding of the differential needs of people from
black and minority ethnic groups and of the service issues arising
within a multicultural urban area.
14. Evidence of continuing professional development consistent with
expected standards of the Health Professions Council.
15. Familiarity with the ethical and professional standards expected of
Clinical Psychologists as laid down by the Health Professions Council.
16. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-
professional groups.
17. Ability to drive and holds full driving licence.
18. Ability to and experience in providing regular support and clinical
supervision to others on an individual basis. This may be to other
psychologists, counsellors, health professionals and /or professionals
working with people with mental health needs.
19. Demonstrate a high level of self awareness, i.e. Strengths, and
weaknesses, personal qualities and skills.
20. Proficient organisational and time management skills.
21. Ability to maintain professional boundaries at all times.
PERSONAL 1. Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. 1. Interview
ATTRIBUTES 2. CV
2. Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people 3. Application form 4. References
with mental health problems and associated disabilities.
3. Is a ‘team player’ and has demonstrated ability to work and deliver to
team and organisational objectives
4. Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism, and to reflect on
and manage own emotions and those of others, when faced by highly
distressing material, problems and circumstances (e.g. when dealing
with family breakdown, sexual abuse) on a frequent basis.
5. Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism, and to reflect on
and manage own emotions and those of others, when faced by
challenging behaviour, including frequent verbal abuse and occasional
threatened physical abuse.
6. Ability to work independently, reliably, consistently and with initiative in
circumstances where there is a need for discretion to work within
defined team/Trust policies, service principles, professional codes of
practice and other appropriate parameters and to determine how
objectives agreed with manger are best achieved.
7. Adaptable and able to work flexibly when required (e.g. in the light of
changing service priorities).
8. Capacity for tolerating frustration, change and high levels of demand
with an ability to work effectively under pressure.
9. Ability to attend and concentrate in an intense and sustained manner
on a frequent basis when using specialist and complex methods of
psychological assessment and treatment, or when completing research
activity.
10. Capacity to sit in constrained positions for extended periods of time on
a frequent basis during the completion of client assessment and
therapy.
11. Commitment to the involvement of service users and carers on the
development and delivery of mental health and other care services.
3. Application form
4. References
12. Willingness to travel between sites within the Trust as required.
13. Confident and assertive professional manner.
14. Calm, resourceful and resilient.
15. Flexible approach, enthusiastic and self-motivated.
16. Ability to work well under pressure and on through own initiative.
17. Ability to manage change both professionally and personally.
18. Ability to identify needs and seek support when necessary.
19. To identify areas of improvement in one’s own practice and identify
means or resolving deficits or identifying means of gaining further
learning/experience.
20. Making one’s self available to offer support and/or aid development in
colleagues if requested, to facilitate in-house supported learning and
development.
OTHER RELEVANT REQUIREMENTS 1. Personal experience of working with people with mental health problems. 2. Experience of working within a multicultural framework. 1. Doctorate certificate or equivalent if the training was undertaken in other country 2. Interview 3. CV 4. Application form 5. References
1. Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media
materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and
academic settings.
2. Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as
appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of
regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
3. Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
4. Awareness and understanding of the purpose and mechanisms of
clinical governance and an ability to employ such mechanisms to
maintain and improve standards of clinical practice.
5. Commitment to working within a multicultural framework.
OTHER RELEVANT
REQUIREMENTS
1. Personal experience of working
with people with mental health
problems.
2. Experience of working within a
multicultural framework.
1. Doctorate
certificate or
equivalent if the
training was
undertaken in
other country
2. Interview
3. CV
4. Application form
5. References

Full Response Text

File: Chief Exec/Pay Modernisation/Draft & Approved documents/Approved documents

ISLE OF MAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:

Principal Clinical Psychologist

Location:

Crisis & Inpatient Recovery Service

Accountable to:

Director, Mental Health Service

Reports to:

Manager, Crisis & Inpatient Recovery Service

Pay Band:

8b

Job Evaluation
Reference No:

0426v5/JE/15

Organisation Chart: (attached)

See Page 14

JOB PURPOSE

To provide a qualified specialist clinical psychology service to patients of the service team, across all sectors of care; providing specialist psychological assessment and therapy at the same time as offering advice, training and consultation on patients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service.

The post holder will apply an empirical approach to psychological problems expressing concepts in operational terms and empirically evaluating treatment, using both group and single case experimental designs in everyday clinical practice. The post holder will provide treatment which will focus on the opportunity for new adaptive learning and on producing changes outside of the clinical setting. Problem solving is an important integral part of this treatment. The post holder will make all aspects of therapy explicit to the patient, and the post holder will endeavour to work in a collaborative relationship with the patient in which they plan together strategies to deal with clearly identified problems. Therapy is time-limited, and has explicitly agreed goals. To thereby help understand, prevent and ameliorate psychological distress and disorder and improve the mental health and well being of local service users.

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KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB

  1. Professional knowledge acquired through an undergraduate degree in psychology (2.1 honours or higher)
  2. Postgraduate doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology or training and professional experience completed in an EEA member state, leading to HCPC Registration as a Clinical Psychologist. (http://www.hcpc-uk.org/apply/eeaandswitzerland/)
  3. Further short speciality courses (hypnotherapy, EMDR etc)
  4. Clinical supervision and further specialist training and experience.
  5. Training in Neuropsychological Testing
  6. Training in Ability Testing
  7. Psychological Assessment
  8. Psychological Formulation
  9. Intervention planning (care plan) and execution
  10. Training in various psychological interventions and formulations:  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy  Behavioural Therapy  Cognitive Analytic Therapy  Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
     Family Therapy
     Heath Psychology
  11. Specific training for multiple mental illnesses: Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Multiple Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia, Eating Disorders, drug/alcohol abuse, somatic problem, sexual or physical abuse and difficulties such as marital problems, sexual dysfunction, tourettes, selective mutism, autism and chronic pain etc.
  12. Specific Training in various disciplines: Adult, Older Adult, Child, Learning disabilities, Neuropsychology and Inpatient.
  13. Research skills at a level comparable to the publishing standard of medical journals such as PAIN etc.
  14. Presentation Skills Training
  15. Management Skills Training (working with care teams etc)
  16. Mandatory Core Training

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will:

  1. Work as an independent and autonomous professional within HCPC guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for his or her own work.

  2. Select and administer highly specialist psychological assessments including specialised psychometric assessment (intelligence, memory, executive functioning etc) requiring skilled manipulation of test material, neuropsychological assessment, self-report measures, as appropriate, structured observations, clinical interviews, and to interpret and integrate this highly complex data.

  3. Be required to carry out complex psychological assessments sensitively and independently with a broad range of patient groups and problem types including individual psychometric testing sessions.

  4. Formulate psychological treatment plans that are specific to each client, based upon an analysis of complex factors contributing to the presentation, and selectively drawing on appropriate conceptual and theoretical models.

  5. Deliver evidence based psychological treatments, monitoring outcome and modifying and File: Chief Exec/Pay Modernisation/Draft & Approved documents/Job descriptions 3 adapting interventions drawing on a range of theoretical options.

  6. Assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

  7. Take responsibility for the provision of specified highly specialist psychological services within the Mental Health Service.

  8. Take responsibility for psychological interventions with carers of referred patients with adult mental health problems, and serious mental illness.

  9. Provide highly specialist psychological consultation and supervision to colleagues and others and to contribute to a psychologically informed framework within the service.

  10. Communicate skilfully, tactfully and sensitively highly complex and sensitive information with patients with mental health problem (s), including serious mental illness taking account of sensory and cultural barriers to communication.

  11. Provide psychological support to patients who are experiencing (or have experienced)
    serious emotional trauma and also to provide support to carers and staff working with such patients.

  12. May travel for home visits, or community placement as appropriate.

  13. Maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and MHS guidelines, including electronic data entry and recording.

  14. Ensure that all services provided are acceptable and accessible to the diverse communities which make up the catchment area of the service.

  15. Provide advice, consultation, training and supervision to staff and carers working with adult mental health client group.

  16. May be expected to plan and undertake teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists as appropriate.

  17. Provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate

  18. Contribute to the development of the services through initiating and undertaking service evaluation and audit.

  19. Undertake computer-based literature reviews and carry out research relevant to the service and or client population and provide advice and supervision to other staff undertaking these. Moreover they will contribute to the development of outcome measurement and participate in the implementation of their use.

  20. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.

  21. Examine independently and critically all aspects of work to ensure they comply with the Health Professions Council’s Code of Conduct, the Division of Clinical Psychology's Professional Practice Guidelines and MHS policies and procedures.

  22. Maintain record keeping as required by the professional codes of practice of the HCPC as well as local policies and procedures.

  23. Participate fully and implement standards devised from Trust's clinical and research governance activity.

  24. Work as part of a multi-disciplinary community team or in specialised clinical settings involving File: Chief Exec/Pay Modernisation/Draft & Approved documents/Job descriptions 4 largely uni-professional practice; experience of a broad range of clinical and organisational settings is expected.

  25. Formulate the nature, causes and maintaining factors of highly distressing psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental and clinical literature base and the results of assessment.

  26. Communicate the aforementioned formulations professionally, sensitively and diplomatically, frequently in an emotive atmosphere to patients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals relevant to the case.

  27. Plan and implement bespoke, formulation-driven psychological interventions, or programmes empathically, sensitively and independently, with a broad range of patient groups, carers (including relatives), families, groups of patients, etc. and evaluate the impact of such intervention.

  28. Plan and delivers group sessions for patients or their carers.

  29. Provide advice and support for carers and other professionals.

  30. Network and consult with relevant external agencies such as social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels.

  31. Plan and provide formal and informal training to other psychologists, other professionals, and carers, including the presentation of complex and sometimes contentious psychological and research material.

  32. Place special emphasis on personal and professional development activity such as weekly clinical supervision, shadowing, joint working, personal study and reflection. Work will be managed and goals agreed and reviewed at intervals.

  33. Attend formal teaching and training sessions as part of personal and professional development.

  34. Most of the face to face clinical work of the post holder will be sedentary.

 CLINICAL

The post holder will:

  1. Provide specialist psychological assessments of patients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the patient’s care.

  2. Formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a patient’s mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patient’s problems, and employ methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.

  3. Take responsibility for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.

  4. Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental File: Chief Exec/Pay Modernisation/Draft & Approved documents/Job descriptions 5 processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

  5. Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

  6. Provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to patient formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.

  7. Contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all patients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the patient group.

  8. Undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual patient and provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

  9. Act as care coordinator, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of care plans under CPA including the patient, their carers, referring agents and others involved in the network of care.

  10. Communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.

  11. Undertake structured interviews, psychological assessments (including complex psychometric tests) and observations of individuals and groups.

  12. Assist in the development of psychological formulations of clinical problems and the development and delivery of care plans, which include psychological treatment and/or management of patient problems.
  13. Determine appropriate psychological intervention, taking into account a range of potentially conflicting clinical information and dynamics.
  14. Carry out psychological and psychometric testing; perform interviews and observations to assess the needs of patients and their eligibility for services.
  15. Design, implement and modify as appropriate, bespoke psychological interventions with patients, carers, families, groups, etc.
  16. Communicate confidential and personal information concerning ability level and psychological needs, obtained through assessments and interventions, to referring agents and to the patients themselves, who may have limited understanding and difficulties with acceptance, and where appropriate to relatives and carers.
  17. Provide advice and clinically based supervision to carers about care and management of patient problems.
  18. Assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
  19. Provide emotional support for patients, their carers and families.
  20. Keep appropriate records of work and inform referrers and relevant others through letters or reports.
  21. Work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
  22. Follow a person-focused and evidence based approach.
  23. Work in partnership with service users.
  24. Work in accordance with policies and regulations, as well as those of relevant professional bodies.
  25. Work in a variety of settings including the patient’s own home, in-patient, residential and day centre facilities.
  26. Work in a highly emotive atmosphere, frequently encountering highly distressing problems and File: Chief Exec/Pay Modernisation/Draft & Approved documents/Job descriptions 6 circumstances and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
  27. Work in situations where there are barriers to acceptance and possible exposure to agg

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