Senior Clinical Psychologist in Paediatric Pain

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Clinical Psychologist interested in paediatric pain management and complex health presentations to join our intensive interdisciplinary paediatric pain management programme (PPMP). Within the PPMP, psychologists are embedded within an interdisciplinary team that includes pain clinicians, advanced nurse practitioners, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and support staff.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated individual to directly contribute to the delivery and ongoing expansion and evolution of the PPMP. The post-holder will play a key role in the supporting of young people and an attending parent in the delivery of the group intervention and in 1:1 sessions, tailoring aspects of the programme. Further, the post holder will work alongside members of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) in assessing the suitability of referrals to the PPMP and in routine follow-ups. As a Senior Psychologist in the team, the post holder will work closely alongside IDT colleagues to inform and support the psychological thinking throughout the programme.

The PPMP is a rich, complex intervention delivered over 3-weeks to children & young people aged 11-18, and their parent or carer. It's design and delivery are part of a large ongoing academic project and the postholder will have the opportunity to be involved in research, audit and quality improvement projects.

Main duties of the job

The PPMP sits within the wider Pain Management Service at Great Ormond Street Hospital. The service is the largest integrated service in the UK with a world leading reputation for treating infants, children, and adolescents with acute and chronic pain in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

The post also sits within the Pain Psychology Services stream which is a part the Trust's Psychological and Mental Health Service (PAMHS). This allows the postholder access to lots of opportunities for learning and development across the department and wider hospital, including academic teaching and specialist interests. We also offer placements to Undergraduate Placement students and Trainee Clinical Psychologists.

The post is being advertised as a fulltime substantive post but we are happy to consider candidates looking for less than fulltime positions. Informal discussions about this role are encouraged and please contact us using the details below.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to recruiting the best person for the job through a fair, open and consistent process that is free from bias and discrimination.

We are working towards becoming an anti-racist organisation. This means creating a workplace where every colleague feels seen, heard and valued, and where racism in any form has no place. Our anti-racism commitment is backed by action through our Anti-Racism Statement and action plan, developed in collaboration with our REACH staff network.

We actively challenge discrimination, dismantle barriers and embed equity across all aspects of our workforce, including recruitment, progression and development. All applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, health condition or employment history.

We particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and LGBTQ+ community members. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Business Disability Forum, and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Our staff networks, including REACH, PRIDE, ENABLED and Women's Networks, are active and executive supported. These employee-led networks play a vital role in shaping an inclusive culture at GOSH and are open to all colleagues.

Together, we are building a culture where inclusion is not optional - it is essential.

Person specification

GOSH Culture and Values

Essential criteria

• Our values | Collaboration| Curiosity | Respect

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential criteria

• Honours Degree in Psychology.
• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS/HCPC, including pain psychology.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council as Practitioner Psychologist.
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists

Desirable criteria

• Post-doctoral training or recorded CPD experience in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice including aspects of paediatric pain.

Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their carers, and other professionals.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
• Evidence of skilled and productive multidisciplinary team working
• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, including verbal abuse.
• Evidence of service development and team leadership skills
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.

Desirable criteria

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management in chronic and complex pain and mental health.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist in children's services
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, presenting with the full range of clinical severity care settings.
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts, of working in a multicultural framework and actively promoting anti-racism and inclusive practice
• Experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist within paediatric and/or CAMHS or significant experience of working with adults with chronic pain
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and young people and child protection
• Experience of supervising junior Psychologists including Assistant Psychologists, Trainee Clinical Psychologists, undergraduate Psychology Placement Students and/or other professionals
• Experiencing in delivering evidence-based interventions for a range of child and adolescent mental health problems.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of presenting psychology to multidisciplinary audiences.
• Experience of teaching or training.

Additional employer information

Please be advised that:

The recruitment process for all admin and clerical roles at Bands 2-4 will be a two stage recruitment process whereby shortlisted candidates will undertake an online literacy, numeracy, ICT and typing test. Only those candidates who pass the competency test will proceed to a formal interview.

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification criteria for this post will be shortlisted. Please note that where high volumes of applicants have been received, additional criteria may on occasion be used to determine the final shortlist.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

• Job Description and person specification (PDF, 775.0KB)
• Staff Benefits Leaflet (PDF, 108.2KB)
• Our GOSH Values (PDF, 516.8KB)