Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist

Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist – Sickle cell and Thalassaemia

This permanent post provides a highly specialist psychology service, aligned with the Trust’s World Class Care Values, for inpatients and outpatients with sickle cell and thalassaemia. The role involves delivering specialist psychological assessment and intervention, and offering advice and consultation to MDT and ward colleagues, as well as liaising with other services involved in patient care.

The post-holder will provide consultation, supervision, training and clinical case discussions to the MDT, particularly the clinical nurse specialists. They will work autonomously within professional guidelines and Trust policies, taking delegated responsibility for the governance of psychological practice within their area. This includes contributing to service development, quality improvement and project work supported by data collection for regional reporting.

The role also requires the use of research and audit skills to support policy and service development within the sickle cell and thalassaemia teams.

The post-holder will interview, recruit (where appropriate) and supervise Band 7 psychological therapy staff, trainees and assistant/undergraduate psychologists. They will also offer supervision to other professional groups within the MDT and contribute to Trust-wide and regional meetings, as agreed with the site lead and Psychological Professionals Lead.

Working alongside the red cell lead psychologist, the post-holder will support the delivery of a high-quality specialist clinical psychology service for patients across the red cell pathway at North Middlesex University Hospital.

Key responsibilities include providing specialist psychological assessment and therapy, and offering advice, guidance and consultation on psychological care to non-psychology colleagues. Appropriate support will also be given to partners, carers and families involved in the patient’s care.

The post-holder will work within professional guidelines and Trust procedures, exercising autonomous clinical responsibility where required. They will apply evidence-based psychological knowledge and research skills to support audit, research and agreed service development activities.

The role includes supporting staff caring for patients with red cell disorders across all clinical areas, including the haematology day unit, hyperacute unit, inpatient wards, emergency department, community hub at the George Marsh Centre, St Ann’s Hospital and multidisciplinary clinics, as well as running specialist clinical health psychology clinics.

Routine daily use of personal computers and NMUH clinical IT systems is required.

North Middlesex University Hospital provides care for around 500 patients with red cell disorders primarily sickle cell and thalassaemia. The multidisciplinary red cell service operates as a Specialist Haemoglobinopathy Team (SHT) within the East of England Network, liaising with the UCLH Haemoglobinopathy Co-ordinating Centre (HCC).

NMUH is located on the border between Haringey and Enfield at the most deprived areas of both boroughs, having very high levels of social and economic deprivation with associated high levels of physical and mental health problems.

NMUH has been selected as a site to trial a hyperacute unit where patients with sickle cell disease can bypass emergency care to avoid delays and to receive prompt specialist urgent care. This trial is being conducted as part of an NHSE sickle cell disease quality improvement programme.

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top

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