Clinical Psychologist - Hyperacute Neurorehabilitation Team in Oxford

Clinical Psychologist - Hyperacute Neurorehabilitation Team

NHS AfC: Band 8a (linked grade 7-8a)

Main area Neuropsychology Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a (linked grade 7-8a) Contract Fixed term: 12 months (n/a) Hours Part time - 7.5 hours per week Job ref 321-MRC-7957507-B8a

Site John Radcliffe Hospital Town Oxford Salary £49,387 - £64,750 per annum / pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 11/11/2026 23:59

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes useValue Based Interviewingto identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic clinical psychologist/neuropsychologist to join our HyperAcute Rehabilitation in reach team at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.

You will need to be a forward thinking, motivated and experienced clinical psychologist with proven leadership and clinical skills to participate in our proof-of-concept HyperAcute Rehabilitation Service based at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

This is a new pilot project so the post holder will be participating and supporting the setting up and developing a 12-month proof of concept specialist hyperacute rehabilitation service within a small team comprising a consultant, AHPs, and Rehabilitation assistants.

This is a new 1 day per week post initially planned as a 12 month fixed term contract.

There is an opportunity to take on this role as a band 7 Preceptorship.

Main duties of the job

As an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team, the clinical psychologist will be responsible for the provision of highly specialist assessments, evidence-based psychological interventions and consultancy services for individuals who have complex rehabilitation needs. As this is a needs based service, it includes a wide range of conditions, but will include those with brain injury and other neurological conditions.

The post holder will provide teaching and training alongside research and evaluation relevant to hyperacute rehabilitation.

As part of a small multidisciplinary team, the post holder will work closely with other health professionals (e.g. rehabilitation consultants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists) and will, at times, represent the team within the wider organization.

The post holder will be a valued member of the Psychological Medicine Service which encompasses Clinical Health Psychology, Children’s Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry.

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .

In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To undertake highly specialist psychological assessment and communicate a clinical opinion in order to inform and/or develop a case formulation to guide psychological intervention/consultation. Assessment will be based on analysis interpretation and integration of highly complex information from a variety of sources including clinical interview, direct observation, questionnaire measures, neuropsychological tests, literature review and psychometric assessment- incorporating medical investigations if relevant. To give an opinion based on this in cases where professional opinion may differ, and in which a judgment must be made about the significance of data where data may be unreliable/missing.
• As an integral part of a psychological assessment, to simultaneously exercise well-developed manual skills (i.e. accurate manipulation of a wide range of test materials, including physical materials), with which accuracy is important and it is often necessary to take account of interfering factors (such as patient distractibility, or level of comprehension).
• To develop specialised plans for formal psychological intervention and/or management of the patient’s psychological difficulties, based on the individual assessment and formulation, and making use of an informed judgment of evidence of treatment efficacy and psychological principles.
• To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions, within and across teams, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining several provisional hypotheses.
• To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options considering both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family, carers or group.
• To support the work of the multidisciplinary team, providing training, supervision and consultancy as appropriate.
• To communicate effectively, empathically and clearly with patients and family members regarding psychological or medical matters which will regularly be highly complicated (such as explanation of multi-faceted clinical formulations including psychological principles, medical factors, personal and family psychological factors, and the implications of these), highly emotionally charged (such as eliciting/discussing experiences of trauma or childhood abuse), and which may require managing difficulties in understanding (such as cognitive difficulties), or overcoming communication challenges with patients who are experiencing high levels of anxiety, depression or symptoms in keeping with enduring mental health difficulties.
• To communicate effectively and clearly with clinical colleagues regarding psychological assessments and interventions by organizing and sharing the highly complex information involved in a relevant and usable form in formal written and spoken reports, as well as in day-to day liaison and consultation.
• In carrying out the duties of the post, to exercise very high levels of mental concentration for prolonged periods (for example in consecutive psychotherapy sessions), regularly requiring sustained emotional concentration (for example in communicating highly distressing news or eliciting/discussing experiences of trauma or childhood abuse), while sitting in a constrained position for extended periods.
• In carrying out the duties of the post, to cope with and manage behaviours that challenge, including verbal abuse and risk of physical aggression (for example from people experiencing high levels of distress, brain injury or enduring mental health difficulties).
• To exercise standard keyboard skills and use a computer as necessary for clinical work, including literature searches, word processing, developing and maintaining training packs, information leaflets, inputting data, report writing, maintaining electronic patient records and other tasks as necessary for the efficient running of the service.
• To record activity and outcome data as required by Psychological Medicine Senior Management Team

Essential and Desirable

• Honours degree in Psychology (main subject) 2.i or above
• Doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent for those trained pre-1996)
• Registered as a practitioner psychologist with HCPC
• Post-doctoral level knowledge of Clinical Psychology and corresponding high levels of skill in assessment and treatment as expected from the necessary qualifications and in keeping with the job requirements (see JD)
• Post-qualification experience of clinical practice with a very high degree of autonomy
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment across a full range of care settings, including inpatient.
• Experience of clinical work around managing common mental health problems
• Experience with individual work, group work, families, and indirect work through MDT colleagues or other carers
• Experience of teaching, training and clinical supervision
• Experience of working with people with physical health conditions
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision.
• Ability to undertake effective training of trained and trainee psychologists and other professionals.
• Highly developed communication abilities in keeping with the job requirements.
• Ability to reflect on all aspects of work undertaken and use supervision to develop clinical skills.
• Ability to undertake service-related research and audit, including research to inform policy development and quality improvement.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance.
• High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialist psychological therapies relevant to spinal injuries
• Ability to cope effectively under pressure.
• Ability to exercise autonomy/initiative.
• Professional attitude to own performance, including interaction with patients and other professionals.
• Able to relate to others with sensitivity and to cope with disability in others.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• BABCP accreditation
• Experience of working in acute neurorehabilitation
• Specialist knowledge of working with patients with brain injury and other neurological conditions.

Sexual Safety Charter : In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit tothe ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process. Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers / Work in the UK - GOV.UK

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

To note: Applicants must write their own applications. If AI tools are used, the application may be rejected as this document is crucial for assessment. This does not prevent you from seeking support via AI with applications for the purposes of any disability and/or long-term health conditions.

When using AI to help write your application, it is important to personalise it, especially your supporting statement. While AI can simplify the process, it will not fully understand the job's requirements and/or showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience. Write your statement to show why you are interested in the role and how you would be a valued member of the team/OUH employee.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Name Dr Ahmad Saif Job title Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine Email address ahmad.saif@ouh.nhs.uk Additional information

Additional contact information:

Dr Louise May Quarmby, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Lead for Clinical Health Psychology, email: may.quarmby@ouh.nhs.uk, tel: 01865 234714

Dr Susannah Brain, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Lead Oxford Centre for Enablement, email: Susannah.Brain@ouh.nhs.uk, tel: 01865 737320

Band 5 NurseandBand 2 Healthcare Support Workerrecruitment iscentralised, meaning when you apply you will be considered fora number of rolesacross the Trust. If you have any questions please email: nursing.careers@ouh.nhs.uk .

Vacancies with our PFI partners

Domestic / catering / porteringservices at theJohn Radcliffe Hospitalare provided byMitie.

Domestic / catering / portering / maintenance engineerservices at theChurchill HospitalandNuffield Orthopaedic Centreare provided byG4S.

Maintenance engineer services at the John Radcliffe Hospital is provided by Equans.

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