Assistant Psychologist (Functional Neurological Disorder)

The job is based in the neuropsychology section of the Functional Neurological Disorders service, which consists of a Consultant Neuropsychologist and a Clinical Psychologist. The psychology service is part of a multi-disciplinary team, which includes Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Neurology and Neuropsychiatry. The post will be based within the inpatient service for adults with Functional Neurological Disorders.

The service accepts referrals for patients with a range of functional neurological symptoms.

The post-holder will work as park of the multi-disciplinary team, delivering group-based and individual low intensity psychological interventions, under supervision of the Consultant Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist. A significant part of the job will involve data collection and data management of assessments and outcome measures, carrying out audits, and becoming involved in clinical research.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:

Better outcomes for our Patients

More opportunities for our People

Fairer more consistent care for our Population

Best Value for Public Purse

Our vision for five years from now:
Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.

We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.

More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.

Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.

Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.

We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.

Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.

We will contribute to system financial balance

The job will be concentrated on the well-established MDT inpatient service, and will be based within the Rosa Burden Centre. Some outpatient work may be required in the form of remote follow-ups and online groups for patients who have been through the service. The job will not involve outpatient work with people who have not gone through the inpatient programme.

Direct clinical work will involve running and co-facilitating groups, with psychologists and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. These groups include a range of psychological approaches including education groups, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cogntive-Behaviour Therapy, and Compassion-Focussed Therapy.

Individual clinical work will include supervised delivery of low intensity psychological interventions, and administration of outcome measures. Although there will be an awareness of trauma-informed care. direct trauma work will not be part of the role.

Data collection, data management and audits will be an important part of the role. It is proposed that the assistant psychologist will co-ordinate collection of outcome measures for the MDT.