Lead Practitioner Psychologist in Cancer and Palliative Care

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Lead Practitioner Psychologist to join their innovative Psycho-oncology Service. This role offers a unique opportunity to work across both hospice and oncology settings, providing specialist psychological services to patients and their families. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in clinical psychology, particularly in cancer and palliative care, and will demonstrate leadership skills within a multidisciplinary team. Join a supportive environment that values diversity and aims to deliver high-quality care to the community.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology required.
• Evidence of continuing professional development is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate psychological services for palliative care.
• Provide clinical supervision and lead the psychological team.

Skills

Clinical Psychology

Palliative Care

Leadership Skills

Psychological Assessment

Multidisciplinary Teamwork

Education

Post-graduate Doctoral Level Training in Clinical Psychology

Masters in Health Psychology

Job description

Lead Practitioner Psychologist in Cancer and Palliative Care

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

This role offers a rare and exciting opportunity to combine an interest in both hospice and broader oncology work, across a single hospital site.

It will suit someone with good experience in cancer / palliative care, and a desire to further develop their leadership skills.

The successful applicant will join the Macmillan Psycho-oncology Service, deputise for the consultant psychologist and provide leadership for Ealing services: Ealing Hospital and Meadow House Hospice.

The role is integrated into the wider Psycho-oncology Service and receives additional support from the very active clinical health psychology network.

Direct clinical work will include outpatient oncology clinics within the main hospital, and within the hospice, psychological services work with both patients and families.

This is a highly stimulating area of work, enhanced by the cultural diversity of the population we serve. Colleagues within hospice and cancer services are friendly and demonstrate a persistent commitment to delivering high quality care.

Informal enquiries or visits are very welcome. Please contact Dr Mark Barrington, Head of Psychological Services, on 07946 621 218 or email:[e-mail]

Main duties of the job

• Develop, co-ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of psychological services to Meadow House Hospice and cancer services at Ealing Hospital.
• Personally provide highly specialist clinical input across palliative care/cancer services at Ealing hospital (including highly specialist assessment, treatment planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes).
• As required, deputise for the Consultant Practitioner Psychologist and contribute to management/leadership/provision of MPoS.
• Initiate and collaborate in service evaluation, audit and research.
• Provide clinical supervision, consultation and training.
• Ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychological specialists within MPoS.
• Provide line management to less senior psychological specialists.
• Work as an autonomous professional within the guidelines and policies of the BPS, HCPC and LNWH, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
• Undertake policy development in collaboration with other senior clinical/operational colleagues.

About us

LNWH provides cancer services to the London boroughs of Harrow, Brent and Ealing across three hospital sites, Northwick Park, Ealing Hospital Central Middlesex (including St Mark's Hospital). The Trust provides surgical and chemotherapy services, including specialist treatment for Head and Neck and Complex Colorectal Cancer under St Marks Hospital. We have links closely with the local and regional cancer centres for radiotherapy and other specialist services.

Meadow House Hospice situated alongside Ealing Hospital, provides specialist palliative and end of life care for patients with life limiting illness who live in the boroughs of Ealing or Hounslow.

The Macmillan Psycho-oncology Service (MPoS), operates within a model of stepped care and is therefore well integrated into the wider staff team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

Job responsibilities

To view the main responsibility, please see the attached the Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

• 1.Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS. Eligible for BPS Chartered Psychology Status and registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• 2.Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HCPC.
• 3.Registered with HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
• 4.Completion of formal training in clinical supervision.
• Masters or other post graduate training in health psychology or models of psychological therapy relevant to the health setting

Knowledge and experience

• Advanced knowledge of complex methods of psychological assessment including the theory, evidence base and application of psychological approaches and interventions for people with physical health conditions including cancer and under palliative care.
• Highly-developed knowledge in approaches to consultation provided to multidisciplinary services and other professional/non-professional groups
• Well-developed knowledge of the use clinical governance to support and maintain good clinical practice.
• Well-developed knowledge of the needs of individuals from diverse social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and experience of applying clinical health psychology within this context.
• Substantial experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist within a multidisciplinary team with adults presenting with physical health problems, presenting problems that reflect the whole life span, full range of clinical severity and full range of care settings including inpatient, outpatient, community, and residential care settings
• Ability to demonstrate leadership skills in relation to exercising clinical responsibility for service users psychological care and treatment and for professional actions within the roles of clinical psychologist, keyworker/care co-ordinator and within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan
• Compassionate, flexible, sensitive and committed with an enthusiasm for multi-disciplinary working and a thoughtful approach to developing psychological services within this context
• Experience of developing and facilitating staff teaching and training for psychologists, the wider multidisciplinary service. Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care and actively working to promote effective team working. Experience of representing psychology within the wider organisation.

HEART values

• Demonstrate commitment to Trust HEART values: honesty, equity, accountability, respect, and teamwork

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.

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Depending on experienceper annum inclusive HCAS