Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To carry out specialist psychological assessments of patients referred to the OOKP service, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological 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 patients care, in order to reach a psychological formulation of the patients difficulties.

To be responsible for holding and managing a clinical caseload and to exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the planning and prioritising of own workload and the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients, within the bounds of the service operational policy.

To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups drawing on different psychological and explanatory models

To formulate and implement plans for evidence based psychological treatment and/or management of a patients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patients problems.

To evaluate and make complex decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

To undertake complex risk assessments and risk management for individual patients. To provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

To facilitate a patient peer group, including overseeing governance and pragmatic issues and supporting patients in the running and use of this group.

To provide consultation, mentorship, supervision and advice about psychological issues at a high level of professional expertise to other members of the team/service.

To provide specialist psychological advice, consultation, training and clinical supervision to other professionals in order to develop a psychological understanding on the basis of which to plan, implement and evaluate evidence based interventions for patients with complex needs.

To communicate effectively in writing and orally complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

To receive and provide regular clinical supervision.

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of legislation, policy and developments in the provision of services relevant to the Clinical population.

To keep abreast of developments in the relevant professional area of expertise and pursue further training within resources available.

Provide expert advice, consultation, training and clinical supervision to other members of the service.

To provide pre- and post-qualification teaching of applied psychology and psychological therapy, as appropriate.