Clinical/Practitioner Psychologist in Diabetes

Job Overview

This post is Fixed term/Secondment for 21 months until 06/01/2027 to meet the needs of the service.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical/Practitioner Psychologist to join the Diabetes Psychology Service in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB). This is a service consisting of three full-time psychologists, and is the first specialist adult diabetes psychology team in Wales. This post will be based at Wrexham Maelor Hospital which is within commuting distance from Chester, Liverpool and Shrewsbury.

The service is research active, has strong links with the Wales and UK Diabetes Psychology networks, the National Diabetes Strategic Network and third-sector stakeholders. The post holder will also be a member of the BCUHB Health Clinical Psychology Department, which is a supportive, friendly and growing department of Clinical Psychologists and Psychotherapists working in physical health services across BCUHB and has strong links with the North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme.

**Please note that internal applicants wishing to take on the role as a secondment will need to obtain the permission of their line manager before applying**

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to undertake clinical work within the East BCUHB Adult Diabetes Service, working directly and indirectly with people living with diabetes, families and staff members. The post holder will be embedded into the local secondary care diabetes team, and will be working alongside the Consultant Clinical Psychologist service lead. The Psychologist will also provide training, supervision, consultancy and advice to multidisciplinary colleagues on psychological aspects of diabetes management and contribute to service evaluation and planning. As well as working in secondary care, the post holder may also work in community or primary care settings. All post holders will be provided with diabetes specific training.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales . Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and ‘Proud to Lead’ competence framework.

Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the “Disability Confident Employer” scheme.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

All post holders will be provided with diabetes specific training.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

Person specification

Training And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Good Honours degree in Psychology. Eligibility for Chartered status with the BPS.
• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS with HCPC registration following qualification. Or equivalent which gives Practitioner Psychologist Status with the HCPC.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Advanced training in research design and methodology.
• Training/ qualifications in specific therapeutic models applicable to Health Clinical Psychology (e.g. Mindfulness, ACT).
• Clinical supervision training for Doctoral trainee Clinical Psychologists
  
  

Knowledge

Essential Criteria

• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practised within clinical psychology.
• Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology theory and practice, including neuropsychological and psychometric assessment and interpretation, psychological therapies and their application.
• Willingness to develop knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to diabetes services.
• Participation with CPD as recommended by BPS & HCPC.
• Has attended taught post-graduate course or pursued supervised self-directed study in an area or areas of health clinical psychology.
• Knowledge of legislation and Welsh Government policy, NICE and other guidelines relevant to professional practice in diabetes service provision in Wales.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Record of publications in peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books.
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Willingness to develop additional specialist skills through supervised training or experience in Diabetes Clinical Psychology including case presentations, group supervision and short courses post-qualification.
• Additional appropriate experience, working as a qualified Clinical/ Practitioner Psychologist, including significant post-qualification experience working with people with physical health difficulties and/or chronic pain.
• Experience of working with service users with adjustment and/or mental health difficulties across the adult lifespan and their families and carers.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and experience of a variety of relevant therapeutic approaches as applied to chronic physical health conditions.
• Experience of teaching and liaising with other professional groups.
• Significant post-qualification experience in the field of Health Clinical Psychology (e.g. diabetes, pain management, cancer/palliative care, renal medicine).
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
  
  

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to use highest level of interpersonal and communication skills, ability to convey and receive highly complex/sensitive information effectively, requiring empathy and reassurance, in a highly emotive atmosphere.
• The ability to overcome psychological resistance to potentially threatening information, whilst maintaining high degree of professionalism at all times.
• Ability to create and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary settings.
• Demonstrates high standards in written and verbal communication.
• Ability to make clinical and service-related judgements involving complex facts requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of several options.
• Ability to evaluate critically research evidence relating to clinical effectiveness and service development.
• Ability to plan and organise a range of clinical or service-related activities and programmes.
• Ability to implement agreed policies and strategic long-term service developments within the service.
• Formal training in breakaway techniques.
• Computer literate, and ability to use standard and specialist software.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Ability to speak Welsh.
• Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner.