Trainee Health Psychologist

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Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the post have been set in accordance with guidance provided by the British Psychological Society. The main duties and responsibilities of the post are as follow:

Interventions/Communication

·       To carry out psychological assessments of health-related problems.

·       To design and implement health psychology interventions for groups, communities and populations in order to achieve health-related behaviour change, drawing upon appropriate evidence-based theoretical models and motivational skills.

·       To co-ordinate and run intervention groups focusing on health improvement with a broad range of client groups.  Interventions will be delivered in an empathic and sensitive manner.

·       To continually monitor and evaluate clients’ progress and outcomes and make decisions about intervention options. This should take into account both health psychology theoretical models and complex factors concerning the cognitive, behavioural and situational determinants that have shaped the individual and group.

·       To undertake evaluation and overall monitoring of the intervention programmes.

·       To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner to clients, overcoming barriers to understanding and in potentially highly emotive atmospheres.

·       The post holder may be required to work in difficult emotive situations where clients may be experiencing distress associated with their health.

·       To provide comprehensive information and advice to clients and deal with general queries as they arise.

·       To work closely with colleagues in multidisciplinary teams on a day-to-day basis and liaise with referring agents when required.

·       To follow a client -focused and evidence-based approach.

·       To consult with relevant external agencies such as primary care, social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels.

·       To communicate confidential and personal information concerning psychological needs, obtained through assessments and interventions, to referring agents and to the client themselves.

·       To travel and work in a variety of settings across the area served by the organisation as required.

·       To transport clinical files, health related equipment and lap top computer to and from all sites as required.

Service development and consultancy

·       To provide support and guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques.

·       To contribute to local service development and strategic planning in relation to Health Psychology programmes in accordance with agreed local processes.

·       To develop, deliver and monitor consultancies and interventions based on psychological theory, according to needs of client groups who have commissioned or who have received such interventions.

·       To provide consultancy to a range of client groups e.g. communities, teams and organisations.

·       Requests for consultancy will be assessed for relevance and subsequently planned, conducted, monitored and evaluated.

·       To undertake health promotion activities in order to raise health professionals’ awareness of issues related to health and wellbeing, and health behaviour change.

·       To contribute to the organisation and delivery of health and wellbeing campaigns.

Research and development

·       To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research findings to support evidence-based practice in individual and/or group work.

·       To initiate, develop and undertake psychological research, using appropriate methodology and statistical procedures as appropriate and undertake systematic reviews as required.

·       To analyse and evaluate psychological research data and write up results for dissemination as appropriate.

·       To enhance own knowledge of health psychology through reading, literature searches and personal study.

·       To comply with the requirements of research governance and evidence-based practice and ethical considerations.

Teaching and training

·       To design and deliver formal training sessions on psychological aspects of health improvement and/or illness management for multi-disciplinary health professionals (e.g. physiotherapists, nurses and consultants) and other groups as appropriate (e.g. carers), ensuring effective delivery according to best practice.

·       To evaluate and select available teaching and training materials, producing and adapting these materials to meet programme design specifications, learning needs and objectives, and assessment requirements.

·       To plan and implement evaluation procedures for training programmes encompassing health psychology and other relevant knowledge, skills and practices.

·       To actively seek and identify sources of knowledge and best practice in health improvement to modify and update training as appropriate.

·       Publicise training to relevant professionals and other groups as appropriate.

Professional

·       To comply with BPS regulations and the responsibilities of a Stage 2 Trainee Health Psychologist.

·       To participate in regular and ongoing clinical and professional supervision. Coordinating supervision will be with a Health Psychologist on the BPS Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors and the day-to-day workplace supervision will be with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

·       To maintain, review and update supervision plans with the Stage 2 Coordinating Supervisor in accordance with BPS regulations.

·       To be an active part of a team which creates a culture of continuous improvement and collaborative team-working.

·       To work with others in such a way as to encourage trust, openness, creativity and reflective practice.

·       To participate in systems and processes for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including appraisal, clinical/Stage 2 supervision, professional supervision, professional advice and professional and practice development.

·       To adhere to and comply with relevant NHS and local policies and procedures including Information Governance

·       Manage and organise own workload for a broad range of activities and ongoing work.

·       To attend and participate in administrative and service planning meetings as determined by the clinical/professional supervisor(s).

·       To practice and conduct oneself in accordance with fitness for practice requirements.

Information

·       To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including use of electronic databases, report writing and working in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, Health and Care Professions Council and NHS policies and procedures.

·       To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to the client/professional group.

·       To maintain accurate and appropriate records in the Practice and Supervision Log as per Stage 2 Regulations throughout the period of supervised practice. 

To maintain local activity logs and audit in accordance with local NHS requirements.