Specialist Psychologist in ENT

at  Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

We are seeking to recruit a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to work with people referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat Service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Specifically, the postholder will work within the rhinology and laryngology/ airway reconstruction multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). In the rhinology service, which relates to correction for physiological rather than cosmetic reasons, working with BDD [JR1] and managing expectations regarding the effects of surgery are particularly key. In the laryngology/airway reconstruction service, the post holder will work with a range of people diagnosed with airway disorders and other benign conditions of the head and neck. . A trauma aware approach, and the ability to treat PTSD will be very helpful, although training can be offered in these areas.
Since this is a specialist area we are open to individuals who may not have had experience in the area but who do have a proven interest in psychological interventions to facilitate the delivery of physical healthcare. The postholder will be employed by CNWL and will therefore benefit from CPD for the large body of psychologists within the Trust, as well as peer support and supervision from within the Department of Clinical Health Psychology.
We are also open to applications from newly qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologists who would like to work towards a preceptorship, the preparation and guidance for which will be offered by the lead for Clinical Health Psychology.
To provide a highly specialist psychology service to patients and staff of ENT including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
To contribute to enabling staff, patients and relatives from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a specialist in ENT Psychology.
To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.
Imperial hospitals have the largest number of ICU beds in London’s North-West sector. There are 4 qualified Practitioner Psychology posts across the 3 hospital sites and psychology is a highly valued component of the ICU service delivery, supported by clinicians and business managers alike.
All psychologists in the Clinical Health Psychology department are employed by Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust and have Approved Associate status with ICHT.
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

• To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients and staff of the ENT service, including specialising in an awareness of, and ability to work with, traumatic injuries/illnesses issues interacting with other aspects of psychological functioning.
• To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.
• To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
• To act where appropriate as coordinator for someone’s care within the hospital or as liaison between the acute hospital and community services
• To support families and other significant members of a patient’s network, in responding to the patient’s state, needs and, where appropriate, death.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

• To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
• To offer support to staff members of the ENT in their delivery of optimal care to patients
• To offer support to staff members of the ENT who experience stress or distress in relation to their work role
• To contribute to the team or service’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.
• To advise other members of the relevant Multi-Disciplinary Teams on specialist psychological care of clients.
• To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
• To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

KR 3 Policy and service development

• To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
• To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
• To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.

KR 4 Care or management of resources

• To take care of, and use carefully, the Trust’s equipment and physical resources.
• To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.

KR 5 Management and supervision

• To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist.
• To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.
• To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
• To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.
• To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.

KR 6 Teaching and Training

• To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
• To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the work of Clinical Health Psychology by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and health-related matters in particular and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.
• To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.

KR 7 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.

KR 8 Research and development

• To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.
• To initiate and carry out appropriate research
• To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the knowledge base with the wider Clinical Health Psychology team
• To use existing outcome measurement and assessment where available and assist other staff in the implementation of same.
• To contribute to the development of outcome measurement as required by the need to continually improve the services of the Clinical Health Psychology department

KR 9 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.

KR10 General

• To travel to other hospital sites of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and of CNWL trust as appropriate for meetings, trainings or other relevant purposes.
• 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 and to support others involved in such situations.
• To work flexibly where the services might require, within the overall Job Plan.

Please refer the Job description for details