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TRAINEE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
GENERIC JOB DESCRIPTION
This is a generic job description provided as a guide to applicants for clinical psychology training. Actual Trainee Clinical Psychologist job descriptions may differ from this. Please check with specific clinical psychology course centres and/or the relevant NHS employer for more information.
Accountable to: Director of Clinical Psychology Training Programme or equivalent
Grade: Trainee Psychologist, Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, Band 6
Locality: Variable, dependent on current placement
Base: Clinical Psychology Training Programme Base
Termination: Normally after 3 years. Registration for the Doctor of Clinical Psychology is a condition of continued employment.
Job Purpose
1 To undertake a structured programme of learning including personal study, academic work, research, placement learning and assessment leading to the award of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. 2 To undertake specialised psychological assessments, treatments and other types of clinical intervention with individual clients, carers, families, groups of clients etc; staff training; research and development activity. 3 To work independently on a day-to-day basis. This work will be supervised and reviewed at regular intervals; supervision will usually be offered by a qualified clinical psychologist (although other qualified healthcare professionals may also contribute).
Key Relationships
Trainees report to members of the University programme staff team and are ultimately accountable to the University head of studies; and report to members of the NHS placement staff team and are ultimately accountable to the Trust head of services.
Communication and Working Relationships
Trainees will develop working relationships with their programme director and their university tutor(s), who generally remain constant throughout their training. These relationships encompass all facets of their training. In addition trainees will develop circumscribed supervisory relationships with a number of service-based clinical and research supervisors with responsibility for supervision of specific aspects of their clinical and/or research work.
Most Challenging Part of the Job
Throughout their clinical psychology training, trainees will need to develop a capacity for accurate self-awareness about their current knowledge and skills and use this to determine their own learning needs. The generic nature of training is such that trainees will need to do this in multiple organisational and professional contexts and in respect of several client groups.
Dimensions
1 Works as part of a multi-disciplinary community team or in specialised clinical settings involving largely uni-professional practice; experience of a broad range of clinical and organisational settings is expected. 2 Carries out complex psychological assessments sensitively and independently with a broad range of client groups including individual psychometric testing sessions. 3 Formulates the nature, causes and maintaining factors of highly distressing psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental and clinical literature base and the results of assessment. Communicates such formulations professionally, sensitively and diplomatically frequently in an emotive atmosphere to clients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals relevant to the case. 4 Plans and implements bespoke, formulation-driven psychological interventions, or programmes empathically, sensitively and independently, with a broad range of client groups, carers (including relatives), families, groups of clients etc and evaluates the impact of such intervention. 5 Plans and delivers group sessions for clients or their carers. 6 Provides advice and support for carers and other professionals. 7 Networks and consults with relevant external agencies such as social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels. 8 Plans and provides formal and informal training to other psychologists, other professionals, and carers, including the presentation of complex and sometimes contentious psychological and research material. 9 Formal and informal research and development activities designed to inform service development are a major feature of the work, culminating in the award of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Disseminates research findings from own Doctorate, including journal publication and conference presentation. 10 Special emphasis is placed on personal and professional development activity such as weekly clinical supervision, shadowing, joint working, personal study and reflection. Work is managed and goals agreed and reviewed at intervals; works independently on a day-to-day basis. 11 Attends formal teaching and training sessions provided by the University and completes assessment and evaluation procedures as required by the University programme. 12 Brings to bear a greater level of knowledge, training and experience on clinical activity than the assistant psychologist. 13 Is required to travel to placements across a large geographical area and visits a range of settings on placement, including home visits; ability to drive is desirable. 14 Most face-to-face clinical work is sedentary.
KEY RESULT AREA 1
Clinical
1 To undertake structured interviews, psychological assessments (including complex psychometric tests) and observations of individuals and groups. 2 To assist in the development of psychological formulations of clinical problems and the development and delivery of care plans, which include psychological treatment and/or management of clients’ problems. 3 To determine appropriate psychological intervention, taking into account a range of potentially conflicting clinical information and dynamics. 4 To carry out psychological and psychometric tests, to develop interview and observation skills and to assess needs and eligibility for services. 5 To design, implement and modify as appropriate, bespoke psychological interventions with clients, carers, families, groups etc.
4 May assist with providing specialist training to other psychologists, trainees and assistants as appropriate. 5 May be required to demonstrate own duties to other graduate psychologists.
KEY RESULT AREA 3
Research and Developmental Activity
1 To plan, monitor and evaluate own work, using clinical outcomes assessments, small-scale research methodology and statistical procedures. 2 To plan and undertake formal Doctoral research, as agreed with the University programme staff. 3 To manage expenditure from a small research budget. 4 To develop an advanced knowledge base and practical skill in the design, implementation and statistical analysis of a wide variety of types of research, which could include quantitative and qualitative, single case, small N and group comparison studies. 5 To plan and undertake clinical audits or service evaluations, using appropriate methodology and statistical procedures as appropriate, as agreed with the clinical supervisor(s). 6 May plan and undertake practice-based research using or developing validated questionnaires. 7 To enhance own knowledge of clinical psychology, specific client groups and types of psychological difficulty through reading, literature searches and personal study. 8 To comply with the requirements of research governance and evidence-based practice.
KEY RESULT AREA 4
Information Technology
1 To maintain appropriate records of own work, in electronic and hard copy, in line with NHS and Social Care policies and professional guidelines. 2 To maintain relevant administrative systems of own work, electronic and hard copy, in line with relevant guidelines. 3 To submit statistical information, activity and quality data of own work as required by the University programme, NHS, regional or national bodies. 4 To word-process material relevant to the Doctoral programme (such as essays, case studies, service-oriented research projects, clinical audits and the doctoral thesis) using suitable word- processing and spreadsheet software. 5 To use information technology as appropriate, within direct clinical work, research and treatment interventions. 6 To undertake clerical functions requiring some familiarity with applied psychology, including literature searches, developing and maintaining training packs, information leaflets, inputting data and other tasks necessary for the efficient running of the service and/or training needs. 7 To undertake computerised literature searches using major clinical databases such as PsychInfo, Medline and Cochrane, to inform routine clinical work and as preparation for the design of major doctoral research and smaller scale placement-based projects. 8 To develop competence in advanced statistical software (such as SPSS) for the analysis of clinical research and research data.
TRAINEE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
GENERIC PERSON SPECIFICATION
This is a generic person specification provided as a guide to applicants for clinical psychology training. Actual Trainee Clinical Psychologist person specifications may differ from this. Please check with specific clinical psychology course centres and/or the relevant NHS employer for more information.
Criteria Essential/ Desirable
Prior Academic Qualifications
First degree in Psychology, or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society.
Essential
Evidence from undergraduate and any postgraduate study of a capacity to undertake study at a Doctoral level, as indicated by a good class of degree or its equivalent, or by postgraduate study in a field related to Clinical Psychology.
Essential
Prior Experience
Experience of paid or voluntary work in a clinical, community or clinical-academic setting exposing the person to client groups and service settings directly relevant to clinical psychology. This experience can be gained in a range of contexts; including NHS or University settings, the voluntary sector or organisations affiliated to the NHS. It follows that a variety of pre-training roles would be relevant, including (but not restricted to) Assistant Psychologist, Research Assistant, Graduate Primary Care Worker, Nursing Assistant, and Healthcare Assistant.
Essential
Sufficient relevant clinical/clinical-research experience to familiarise the person with working practices in NHS/UK statutory service-settings.
Essential
Evidence that this experience (as above) engenders realistic expectations of the demands and nature of Clinical Psychology training.
Essential
Evidence that this experience (as above) has developed an awareness of the contexts in which Clinical Psychology services are usually delivered.
Essential
Evidence that this experience includes building and sustaining relationships with service users in relevant organisational contexts.
Desirable
Evidence of learning from supervision of clinical practice. Desirable
Evidence of a capacity to undertake research at a postgraduate level.
Essential
Skills/Abilities - Knowledge
Specialist knowledge of clinical psychology acquired through relevant prior experience, undergraduate teaching and/or clinically supervised practice, and the potential to build upon and extend such knowledge through training.
Essential
Skills/Abilities - Communication
Effective communication skills, both orally and in written format.* Essential
Evidence of potential to communicate complex, technical and Essential
Capacity for frequent extended periods of intense concentration in a range of clinical contexts (eg individual/group therapy, clinical assessments/interviews, clinical supervision) which require active participation which takes account of dynamic processes, and where planning of appropriate responses to these dynamic processes is required.
Essential
Potential to work effectively under pressure, including working directly with staff and clients who may be highly distressed, analyse data where there may be frequent interruptions, prioritise work, operate a waiting list, meet short deadlines and an unpredictable work pattern which requires regular revision of plans.
Essential
Ability to function well in the context of unexpected or uncertain outcome, or in the absence of guidelines or in novel situations, and to contain anxiety and distress on behalf of others, including other staff within the organisation.
Desirable
Ability, with appropriate support, to undertake psychological assessment, and therapy in an emotionally demanding environment, with frequent exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances, including situations where sexual abuse, family violence and breakdown, mental illness or terminal ill health, may be the focus of psychological intervention.
Essential
Evidence of potential ability to work as a lone worker in circumstances where there may be exposure to severe distress, verbal or physical aggression.
Desirable
Evidence of potential ability to work effectively whilst exposed to unpleasant working conditions including frequent exposure to verbal aggression and occasional exposure to physical aggression.
Desirable
Practical Ability and willingness to travel across the training region.* Essential
Current driving licence and car/motorcycle owner. Desirable
- After any reasonable adjustments to compensate for disability, including adjustments required to comply with the DDA.
