Job overview

The Stroke Psychology Service is delighted to seek a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Psychology service within the Stroke Pathway. The successful candidate will work within the existing stroke pathways across the Health Board, supporting the acute and community multidisciplinary teams and supporting patients and families affected by stroke through the delivery of direct and indirect psychological approaches.

The role will also involve the provision of support, consultation, teaching and training to other health professionals across stroke pathways.

This service is part of the Hywel Dda Clinical Health Psychology Service, with a close working relationship with the Critical Care Psychology Service and Regional Neuropsychology Service. The Clinical Health Psychology Department is strong, dynamic and motivated which strives to offer high standard, value-based healthcare and will embrace the successful candidate with peer support in their new role.

We would welcome interest for full or part time working and there will be a combination of working directly with patients and staff, as well as remote working.  Psychologists with limited experience are also welcome to apply as we will support professional and clinical skills development.

Main duties of the job

The Health Board has four Acute Stroke Units within each General Hospital and community stroke services which are integrated within the Neurological Rehabilitation Service, which is based in Carmarthen. This role is an exciting opportunity to work alongside the Stroke Psychology Lead in developing models of psychological care across the Acute Stroke Units and Early Supported Discharge pathways, in line with best practice guidelines.

To provide specialist psychological assessment to patients affected by stroke, by using psychological and neuropsychological assessment tools, self-report measures, structured observations and interviews with patients, families and other health professionals.

To support multidisciplinary professionals and wider systems around stroke patients through psychological guidance, consultation and training.

To provide person-centred, evidence-based formulations and treatment plans to support the management of patients’ psychological, neuropsychological and mental health difficulties.

To provide psychologically informed approaches, advice and consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues across various stroke pathways and settings.

To support the Stroke Psychology lead to meet the psychological aspects of the National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke and Welsh Government Stroke Delivery Plan. 

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services