Job Description

The post holder will provide a Clinical Psychology Service to patients in the specialist field of chronic pain, providing highly specialist psychological assessment (often in the context of specialist multidisciplinary clinics), treatment and consultation. This includes helping patients with chronic pain to live a full and healthy life, using evidence-based ACT principles and methods. Psychologists are integral members of the multidisciplinary team, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policy and procedure. They have responsibility for ensuring the theoretical integrity of the therapy they offer and guiding the multidisciplinary team in providing a high-quality service based on current research and knowledge. They offer advice about clients' psychological care to other professionals as well as non-professional carers. As a senior member of the clinical team the post holder will be expected to take responsibility for psychological services provided within the Pain Management Department and to offer consultation and supervision to other psychologists and members of the multidisciplinary team. The post holder will also lead the research activities within INPUT to contribute to the advancement of pain science and care. The post holder will provide strategic advice and support to enable other MDT clinicians to become research active.Main duties of the jobThe main duties of the job encompass both clinical and research activities. The unique purpose of the role is to conduct high level research and audit with the purpose of guiding and improving clinical practice in pain management. The post holder takes responsibility for routine data collection, for the large INPUT database, and for designing and implementing research and audit. This includes guiding and supporting other clinicians to be research active and representing the department at appropriate conferences and scientific meetings.About usThe Chronic Pain Service at Guys and St Thomas' is one of the largest in the country and enjoys an international reputation. The multidisciplinary team includes clinical psychologists, pain consultants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and clinical nurse specialists working in an integrated way and treating both inpatients and outpatients. The team at the INPUT Pain Management Unit use an approach based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help patients with chronic pain address problems with chronic pain more effectively and participate more fully in daily life according to their goals and values. Research is an important part of the department's work. The psychologists are instrumental in leading the treatment approach and research within the multidisciplinary team. The psychologists are involved in providing complex psychological assessment, including assessing patients for their suitability for various treatment options offered in the department. They provide group-based treatments as well as individual psychological therapy. Because of the range of interests within the department the service receives numerous tertiary referrals from all over the south of England with complex pain problems. These patients require multidisciplinary detailed assessment and management. The department has a commitment to training and education within the Trust and Medical School. The department has an active research programme and strong links with King's College London.Date posted06 April 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalaryxc2xa370,387 to xc2xa380,465 a year per annum inc. H.C.A (Pro rata of full time)ContractPermanentWorking patternPart-timeReference number196-LIS9424Job locationsINPUT Pain Management UnitWestminster Bridge RoadLondonSE1 7EHJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease find details in the attached .The main responsibilities are providing a clinical service for chronic pain patients, both individually and in groups, and leading research and audit in the department.The clinical model used in our service is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease find details in the attached .The main responsibilities are providing a clinical service for chronic pain patients, both individually and in groups, and leading research and audit in the department.The clinical model used in our service is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential

• Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or health psychology as accredited by the BPS or similar body
• Completed a PhD, or have a Master's in research methodology

Clinical ExperienceEssential

• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience in providing supervision for Band 5-8 multidisciplinary clinicians
• Experience of providing both group- based and individual interventions

Desirable

• Significant experience in the field of health psychology, particularly working with chronic conditions.
• Significant experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.

Research experience and knowledgeEssential

• Significant experience post-doctoral qualification leading large clinical research projects as Principal Investigator, including obtaining relevant ethics and R&D approvals.
• Experiencing providing research line management.
• Experience publishing research papers in international journals.
• Advanced knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis and qualitative methodologies, as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.

Desirable

• Significant experience engaging patients to shape research and service delivery.
• Knowledge of advanced approaches to statistical analyses (e.g., for clustered data, moderation/mediation)
• Highly developed skills for disseminating research to a range of audiences (clinicians, researchers, patients, public) in a range of formats.

Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential

• Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or health psychology as accredited by the BPS or similar body
• Completed a PhD, or have a Master's in research methodology

Clinical ExperienceEssential

• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience in providing supervision for Band 5-8 multidisciplinary clinicians
• Experience of providing both group- based and individual interventions

Desirable

• Significant experience in the field of health psychology, particularly working with chronic conditions.
• Significant experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.

Research experience and knowledgeEssential

• Significant experience post-doctoral qualification leading large clinical research projects as Principal Investigator, including obtaining relevant ethics and R&D approvals.
• Experiencing providing research line management.
• Experience publishing research papers in international journals.
• Advanced knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis and qualitative methodologies, as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.

Desirable

• Significant experience engaging patients to shape research and service delivery.
• Knowledge of advanced approaches to statistical analyses (e.g., for clustered data, moderation/mediation)
• Highly developed skills for disseminating research to a range of audiences (clinicians, researchers, patients, public) in a range of formats.

NHS