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Job summary

Main area
Pain Management/Pain Relief
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week (At The Dudley Group, we understand the benefits of offering a range of flexible working options from day one of employment to support both employees and the Trust. Offering flexible working opportunities is one of the ways that the Trust aims to attract and retain a diverse workforce. Further information on the options available can be found via the link in the job advert.)
Job ref
253-0526-7101737
Employer
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Russells Hall Hospital
Town
Dudley
Salary
£57,528 - £64,750 Per Annum Pro Rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pain Psychologist

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Job overview

THEATRES, ANAESTHETICS, CRITICAL CARE AND PAIN DIRECTORATE 

Pain Psychologist

Band 8a

22.5 Hours Per Week - Part Time Permanent

We are looking to appoint an experienced Pain Psychologist at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.

Reporting to the clinical service lead the role involves providing specialist psychological assessment and intervention to people with a wide range of chronic pain conditions.

The successful candidate will have proven Psychology experience at an advanced level in a healthcare setting with experience of managing patients with chronic pain conditions. You will have an extensive clinical skill set and be confident in working independently. We are looking for a motivated and flexible individual and able to articulate complex clinical issues whilst at the same time discuss diagnosis and treatment options to patients in a sensitive and informative way.

Main duties of the job

You must be a HCPC registered practitioner psychologist and have experience of working with clients who have long-term health conditions.

The post holder will be expected to work across various sites including Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley Guest Hospital and community based sites across the Dudley Borough.

You will be required to deliver psychological interventions including 1:1 Psychology Sessions, working alongside physiotherapy and nursing colleagues as well as group based interventions such as Pain Management Programmes to help support people to manage long-term pain effectively. You will be expected to provide some clinical leadership for aspects of the psychology component to the service. You will be expected to be an active member of the team in audits and service development. 

Working for our organisation

At the Dudley Group our patients and staff are at the heart of all that we do and that is to provide a world class service that aligns with our vision of “excellent health care, improved health for all”.  We are seeking to recruit staff who share our vision and values of making Dudley Group an incredible workplace.

 As part of the NHS People Promise, your wellbeing is our priority, and we are committed to ensuring our employees achieve a healthy work-life balance supported by our flexible working options and by making reasonable adjustments where possible.  We believe no-one should have to sacrifice family, friends, or their personal interests for work.  We are a modern employer able to attract and retain high quality staff through our commitment to the NHS People Promise.

 As an employer, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best. We want to ensure that our workforce is representative of the population we serve. More information - inclusive practice people promise.

 Dudley Group offer many opportunities for our staff to develop and grow within their roles through our Learning & OD Team. These include topics such as communication, wellbeing, team development, cultural competency, and values. 

Please click below to view our EDI page: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion - The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (dgft.nhs.uk)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities that the post holder is required to undertake.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential criteria
  • BSc/BA Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology
  • Post Graduate Doctorate in Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
  • Post qualification training in specific, evidence-based techniques for use with clients with complex psychological presentations and/or physical health difficulties, across the age span
  • Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling or Health) by the BPS
  • Eligible for registration as a Practitioner member of the BPS Division of Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology
  • Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling/Health Psychologist
Desirable criteria
  • Relevant academic qualifications

Communication & Relationship Skills

Essential criteria
  • Highly developed and effective communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to communicate complex, highly personal and sensitive information
  • Able to communicate effectively within the team and build good sound working relationships
  • Advanced ability to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship and manage transference appropriately

Knowledge and Training

Essential criteria
  • Experience of designing and delivering teaching and training
  • Knowledge required specific to the role and clinical area
  • Advanced theoretical and applied knowledge of psychological approaches for people with psychological problems including specialised psychological assessments and interventions for patients with complex and psychological presentations and physical health difficulties
  • Evidence of regular further professional training and experience as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the BPS
  • Well developed psychometric assessment skills
  • Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice in relation to the client group
  • Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis, as practiced within the field of Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology
  • Ability to use IT equipment and programmes, including the use of internet to carry out literature searches for research purposes, databases and patient information systems
  • A commitment to continued professional development, to partnership working and to reflective clinical practice
Desirable criteria
  • Training study days or conferences relating to physical health conditions
  • Able to think strategically; to consider the wider picture for developing specialist services long term and planning developments
  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological interventions for in physical healthcare settings

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in working with people who have physical health difficulties
  • A minimum of 2 years of experience working as a qualified Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychologist within a relevant area
  • Sufficient training and experience to be recognised by the Division of Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology as a suitably qualified psychologist to offer clinical placements to trainee Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychologists
  • Training and Experience in the application of psychological knowledge across a range of mental health presentations, including physical health
  • Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of psychological interventions to patients presenting with the full degree of clinical severity and across a range of clinical mental health presentations
  • Experience of conducting clinically relevant research
  • Experience of working with, and maintaining professionalism in the face of, highly emotive and distressing problems
  • Experience of multi-agency/multidisciplinary working
  • Experience of teaching, training and professional and clinical supervision. Therapeutic expertise in working with groups/carers/families
  • Experience of consultation to non-psychology staff
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of strategic planning and service development
  • Experience of teaching and training psychologists in a Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology doctorate training course

Planning & Organisational Skills

Essential criteria
  • Able to prioritise own work and deal with competing demands to work effectively

Physical Skills

Essential criteria
  • Able to travel across Dudley Group sites as required
  • Ability to work autonomously within scope of practice and levels of competence
  • Ability to work independently as an autonomous practitioner with appropriate level of clinical and managerial supervision and maintain awareness of own limitations
  • Enthusiastic, proactive and interested in service development and team working

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Care Leaver CovenantNHS Pastoral CareArmed Forces Covenant Bronze AwardENEI 2024 Gold

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mr Alex Deutsch
Job title
Advance Pain Practitioner
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01384 244623
Additional information

For further information or to arrange an informal visit contact:
Dr Mohammed Sajad, Clinical Service Lead Pain Management on 01384 244623 (sec) or 
Alex Deutsch, Advance Pain Practitioner on 01384 244623 (sec)

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