Psychotherapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communicating and Relationship Skills

· To communicate highly complex condition related information to service users who may present with high levels of distress or agitation.

· To provide psychotherapy impacting on the behaviour/views of service users presenting with high levels of distress, complexity and risk in the field of mental health.

· To communicate complex specialist psychological formulations, and the integration of subsequent interventions within the multidisciplinary team context.

· To lead and present highly complex, sensitive and challenging clinical and professional communication processes that may impact on service users, carers, staff, the team, the organisation, partner agencies and members of the public, where there are barriers to understanding.

· To communicate highly complex information to users and carers regarding personal, psycho-social problems in an empathic and supportive way. This will involve using a range of highly developed inter-personal skills in situations that can be highly emotional, and challenging and require a satisfactory outcome, e.g. impact of assessments/interventions.

· Professional networking locally and nationally and disseminate/share information with other colleagues.

· Chairs/facilitates complex case reviews/meetings which may involve other agencies or specified organisational/professional forums.

· To ensure effective communication at all levels: strategic, national, local, unit and partner organisations.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

· Regularly demonstrate specialist skills in assessing the needs of service users and their carers, based on the analysis of complex facts and situations. Interventions will be planned on the assessment and interpretation of this information.

· Obtains, analyses and interprets assessment information, presenting symptoms and physical health to develop the appropriate intervention plan.

· Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision making.

· Uses sound judgement in assessing conflicting priorities and needs.

Planning and Organisational Responsibilities

· Plans own clinical workload, implements diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions to help service users with unstable and complex health care problems regain stability and restore health, in partnership with the service user and multi-professional health care teams/agencies and other organisations.

· To co-ordinate the activities of others in the delivery of psychological assessments and interventions

Physical Skills

· Maintain up to date training and knowledge of personal and team safety in the de-escalation and management of violence and aggression.

· Up to date competency in the use of psychometric test equipment where relevant.

· Standard keyboard skills.

· Ability to commute the geographical area to deliver clinical service at a Trust base and remotely where required.

Responsibilities for Patient Care (duties and/or leadership)

· Provides a range of specialist clinical psychological advice, assessment and interventions in a variety of settings that promote service user flexibility/choice, and which are sensitive to cultural preferences.

· Develops and maintains the service user’s control over decision making, assess the service user’s commitment to the jointly determined plan of treatment, and fosters personal responsibility for health.

· May be responsible for ensuring junior clinical staff within the team/service contribute to the effective implementation of programmes of treatment.

· To promote positive service user experience.

Responsibilities for Policy and Service Development Implementation

· To implement policy for own work area, informing senior staff of any barriers to implementation.

· To contribute to service/practice development and implementation and change e.g. Clinical Governance, business planning, psychological strategy.

· To contribute the psychological perspective in reviewing, developing and monitoring operational/clinical policy which impacts beyond own area of responsibility.

· Evaluates service users’ responses to the health care provided and the effectiveness of the care.

Responsibilities for Finance Physical Resources

· Personal duty of care.

Responsibilities for Human Resources (Management, Leadership and Training)

· Accountable for the day to day clinical/professional supervision of clinical staff that includes: regular structured supervision and

performance development reviews (Appraisals) and the initial stages of grievance and discipline for staff reporting directly to them.

· Responsible for supporting the training/teaching of trainee health and social care professionals.

· Contribute to the induction and continuous professional development of assistant and trainee psychologists.

Responsibilities for Information Resources

· To provide accurate and timely information to inform Trust/National databases as required.

· Maintain up to date training and basic IT skills, including keeping an up to date electronic diary and demonstrate a good working knowledge of confidentiality and data protection.

Responsibilities for Research and Development

· To contribute to Trust research and audit projects, both locally and nationally as requested.

Freedom to Act

· Accountable for own professional actions, working within professional code of conduct, organisational policy and guidance to work within professional code of conduct, organisational policy and guidance.

· To provide specialist advice and high level of clinical competency in order to inform and enable other professionals to take clinical actions based on the analysis of the specific challenges/risk situation e.g. clinical risk management.

· Expected results are defined but the post holder has autonomy to decide how they are best achieved, whilst guided by principles and broad occupational policies or regulations.

Standard Paragraphs

· Trust’s Values: Promote and demonstrate the Trust’s 3 values Caring, Learning and Growing. Caring for people while ensuring they are always at the heart of everything we do. Learning and using proven research as a basis for delivering safe, effective, integrated care. Growing our reputation for being a provider of high-quality services and a great place to work.

· Confidentiality: Confidentiality/data protection regarding all personal information and Trust activity must be maintained at all times (both in and out of working hours) in accordance with professional codes of conduct and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act. The post holder should ensure that they are familiar with and adhere to all Trust Information Governance policies and procedures. Any breach of confidentiality will be taken seriously and appropriate disciplinary action may be taken.

· Equal Opportunities: Promote the concepts of equality of opportunity and managing diversity Trust wide.

· Health and Safety: Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, paying due regard to health and safety in the workplace and management of risk to maintain a safe working environment for service users, visitors and employees.

· Infection Prevention and Control: Employees must be aware of their responsibilities to protect service users, visitors and employees against the risks of acquiring health care associated infections, in accordance with Trust policy.

· Professional standards and performance review: Maintain consistent high professional standards and act in accordance with the codes of professional conduct. Employees are expected to participate in the performance review process.

· Service/Departmental standards: Support the development of performance standards within the Service/Department to ensure the service is responsive to and meeting the needs of its customers.

· Finance: All Trust staff will comply with financial processes and procedures

· Safeguarding Children: Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Children Act 1989, 2004.

· Safeguarding Adults: Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Care Act 2014.

Summary

This job Description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the post, and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band. The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development needs of the post holder.