Macmillan Cancer Psychologist

Job overview

We are pleased to offer an opportunity f or a dedicated individual to apply to join our supportive and compassionate team.

The Cancer Psychological Care Team provides specialist psychological assessment and interventions for patients, family members and carers. The service was originally established in 2019 as part of a fixed-term partnership project between King’s College Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support, with permanent status agreed in 2021. Enhanced service provision was confirmed which has enabled an increase in the number of psychology positions in the service structure and helped to secure the continued delivery of evidence-based psychological care for the future. The team does not only offer clinical services, but is involved in liaising with existing services in the community to help integrate secondary and primary care in order to better share resources and enable access to services in the most culturally and practically acceptable location for the population that we serve.

This is an exciting time to join a team that offers a unique opportunity to be involved with novel service development projects and contribute to shaping a compassionate service culture. The main objective of this post will be to contribute to the provision of an integrated cancer psychological support service across KCH.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will carry a varied caseload of patients affected by cancer, and offer specialist psychological assessment, treatment, and the planning, implementing and monitoring of outcomes. There will be opportunities to participate in the provision of clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, and to undertake service evaluation and audit.

The successful post holder will be supported by an 8B Principal Practitioner Psychologist Service Lead, have regular supervision with a Practitioner Psychologist, and will work alongside two 8A Highly Specialist Psychologists, another Band 7 Practitioner Psychologist and Trainee Clinical Psychologists. We also have a dedicated Medical Secretary.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 Providing timely access to effective psychological therapy tailored to the needs of patients throughout and following their cancer treatment journey.
 Collaborating with colleagues with links to cancer tumour groups and specific MDMs in the hospital as well as rehabilitation services in secondary and primary care settings.
 Maintain contacts with the community and pathways of referrals and care to ensure patients receive care in the most socially acceptable and supportive environment to them.
 Facilitate reflective practice groups for non-qualified staff.
 Provide training, advice and support for reflective practice, which meets the learning needs of staff throughout services who support people with cancer at King’s.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (Doctoral trainees in their final months of gaining their qualification will also be considered)
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
• Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Highly sophisticated knowledge of psychological research design and methodology and complex statistical analysis.

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of models of health psychology in addition to models of psychopathology
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in cancer

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
• Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
• Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience.
• Experience of developing and carrying out research projects.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams with colleagues from a range of disciplines.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs specifically related to physical illness.

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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