Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Knowledge skills and experience required:

Makes judgements and responds appropriately to patient’s responses and mood during therapeutic interventions.

Analyses patients’ progress when facilitating therapeutic activities and makes recommendations to the qualified psychologist in relation to possible adjustments required to the activities.

Identifies non-routine situations and escalates to qualified staff.

Responsible for recognising signs of patient harm and risk including abuse or neglect, poor clinical practice, and reporting all such concerns to the qualified psychologist.

Responsible for maintaining appropriate boundaries with patients.

Undertakes basic analysis of data from clinical audits and behavioural data

Work is checked and monitored through regular clinical supervision from qualified psychologists, in accordance with professional practice guidelines.

Carries out delegated duties in accordance with agreed care plans, policies and procedures within range of own competency and scope of practice.

Measurable Result areas:

Clinical Responsibilities

Undertakes psychological assessment of patients under supervision, using structured tests and reporting results to the qualified psychologist for further assessment

Assists the qualified psychologist in the formulation of neuropsychological interventions.

Delivers psychological interventions and well-being activities under supervision and reports progress to the qualified psychologist for further consideration. Patients with acquired brain injury may present with behaviours that challenge and may display aggression.

Administrative Responsibilities

Undertakes administrative tasks in relation to own work and as requested.

Uses Microsoft Office applications on a daily basis.

Prepares test materials and visual aids. Uses basic psychometric testing equipment.

Assists in the development of self-help and other educational material for use by clients, carers and other healthcare staff

Responsibility for Information Systems

Responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in accordance with the Trust and professional record keeping standards.

Responsibility for Planning/Organising & Strategic/Business Development

Organises own workload on a day to day basis, prioritising work as appropriate.

Plans and organises therapeutic activities for individual patients or groups in accordance with care needs.

Policy Development

Contributes to the development of policies and procedures in own area as part of the team.

Service Development, Project Management

Contributes to continual safety and quality improvement activities as part of the team.

Financial Responsibilities

Personal duty of care to complete time sheets, mileage forms, expense claim sheets etc, accurately and in a timely manner, providing receipts as required.

Responsibility for Physical Resources, Estates, Hotel Services

Has a personal duty of care to ensure all equipment is used safely and effectively, following manufacturer’s instructions, immediately reporting any defects in accordance with local procedures.

Uses available resources efficiently and effectively.

Research and Audit

Keeps up to date with new developments in the field, undertaking literature searches to inform evidence-based practice.

Demonstrates an awareness of the audit process within the clinical governance framework and the relevant standards that are required and monitored within the team.

Assists in clinical audits in own work area, undertaking data collection and basic analysis using statistical software programmes.

Staff Management, Training and Development

Participates in the induction of new staff into the clinical area.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Communicates in a way which recognises difference and ensures that people feel included and their individual communication needs are met.

Communications with patients must at all times be appropriate in content, effective and respectful and made compassionately and positively to minimise anxiety and distress related to their health and well-being.

Uses appropriate communication methods to ensure effective therapeutic engagement with patients where understanding may be limited.

Attends multi-disciplinary team meetings providing structured, objective clinical information to assist in decision-making.

Ensures that communication with members of the public is professional and courteous at all times.