OR
Dr. Jennifer Hayes, Principal Psychology Manager, HSE Social Inclusion
Email: *
DETAILS OF SERVICE
Cork / Kerry Region Housing First is a unique and progressive service
supporting those affected by long-term homelessness, significant
mental/physical health issues, and addiction difficulties. The Housing
First approach offers the opportunity for individuals who are
experiencing chronic and complex issues to access independent
accommodation whilst offering/providing intensive support. The service
encompasses a multi-disciplinary team including psychology, mental
health nursing, occupational therapy, social work, and case managers.
The Housing First service in Cork and Kerry is represented by three
teams across the Cork City, Cork County, and Kerry.
The addition of these 2 staff grade posts will see a very significant
increase to the psychological services being provided and comes as a
result of the clinical impact and value of psychology on the housing
first teams. The current psychology remit cover Cork city, while the
addition of these two staff grade posts will ensure effective
psychological services into Cork County and Kerry. The successful
candidates will join an established psychological service which has
been to the fore of the development of psychology services for people
who are homeless Nationally. The work carried out to date has been
highlighted at both National and International level and the addition
of these two posts aims to further improve access to psychology for
clients within the Housing First initiative.
Psychology in Housing first is under the umbrella and governance of
HSE Social Inclusion, Psychology. HSE Social Inclusion in Cork and
Kerry is a forward thinking, vibrant and developing area of our health
service. HSE Social Inclusion provide a range of community-based
services in partnership with voluntary organisations and others to
support people who are marginalised and therefore at increased risk of
psychological / physical health problems but impacted by health
inequity to access and benefit from health services. The Department of
Psychology in Social inclusion provides a range of services, together
with our partners, to adults and children impacted by homelessness,
refugees / International protections applicants, people requiring the
support of drug and alcohol services, members of the travelling
community and others.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
The post will be hired by the Sexual Health Centre and seconded to the
Health Service Executive where the reporting relationship is to the
Senior Clinical Psychologist Dr. Jo Rolfe and / or to Dr. Jennifer
Hayes, Principal Psychology Manager.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Working relationships are fundamental to this role and will include
building positive relationships with clients, staff across Housing
First, and other agencies involved with service users, to be able to
fulfil the job specifications.
PURPOSE OF THE POST
Provide a psychology service in line with team service plans and
objectives and within established professional standards, guidelines,
and policy.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CLINICAL / PROFESSIONAL
* In conjunction with the Senior Psychologist in the service, be
responsible for the delivery of professional psychology services
appropriate to the post in line with best practice.
* Assist the Senior Psychologist in the further development of
psychological services.
* Working in close collaboration with Housing First staff, the
provision of a full range of psychological supports to clients
supported by Housing First.
* Attendance and contribution to staff meetings in Housing First, as
appropriate, to provide psychological input to discussions pertaining
to admissions, discharges, meeting the needs of service users in
Housing First.
* Provision of psychoeducation, support and consultation pertaining
to clients’ needs, supports and referral pathways and the needs of
staff in the context of their roles.
* Psychological assessment and screening for adults, where
appropriate.
* Identification and referral of clients who require the support of
other HSE services including Community Mental health services, primary
care services, or others.
* Provision of a range of short-term psychological intervention
services to meet clients’ needs.
* Provision of a range of group Interventions including but not
restricted to emotion regulation, seeking safety, mindfulness,
distress tolerance, or interpersonal skills group.
* Provision of training for staff in relation to understanding
trauma and providing trauma informed care; identifying and supporting
individuals experiencing mental health difficulties; awareness of
vicarious trauma and implementing self-care.
* Joint working with other professionals from other HSE services
e.g. Mental health services to meet the needs of clients.
* Facilitating reflective and/or psychology consultancy groups for
staff to improve reflective practice and thus outcomes for staff to
meet the needs of clients. Target areas include challenging
circumstances/dynamics, preventing re-enactment of traumatic
interpersonal relating, enable emotional processing and to bolster
emotional support and resilience in the team.
* Advocacy for clients and contributing to case discussions with a
trauma informed lens.
* Work within limits of professional competence in line with
principles of best practice, professional conduct, and clinical
governance.
* Work in accordance with the principles and values of recovery as
described in the National Framework for Recovery for Irish Mental
Health Services *.
* Carry a clinical caseload appropriate to the post.
* Provide psychological assessments of the client group based upon
the appropriate use, interpretation, and integration of data from a
variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report
measures, direct and indirect observation and interviews with clients,
family members and / or carers.
* Formulate and implement plans for psychological therapeutic
intervention or management based on an appropriate conceptual
framework, working in home and clinical settings as appropriate.
* Exercise professional responsibility for the assessment,
treatment, and discharge of clients whose problems are managed using
psychologically based care plans.
* Communicate effectively and work in co-operation with other team
members and others to ensure integrated service provision.
* Contribute to and participate in inter-agency work practice and
service delivery as required.
* Initiate and participate in needs assessment and health promotion
as appropriate.
* Provide professional reports as required in accordance with
professional standards.
* Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of psychology
by providing professional consultation, education, guidance, and
support to others as appropriate.
* Attend meetings, committees and / or conferences as required.
* Work in an ethical and professional manner at all times.
* Promote a culture that values equality, diversity, and respect in
the workplace.
RESEARCH & EVALUATION
* Utilise evidence-based literature and research to support
effective practice.
* Undertake appropriate research and provide research advice as
appropriate.
* Publish research outcomes in professionally recognised journals
and share information on outcomes at professional conferences where
appropriate.
* Undertake project management including audit and service
evaluation with colleagues within the service to help develop service
provision.
* Participate in evaluation of all clinical / professional activity
within the post and provide such information as required by the Head
of Department for the purpose of service monitoring and evaluation.
* Represent a professional viewpoint in relation to nationally
accepted good practice, promoting high levels of ethical standards and
professional conduct.
* Contribute to developments and innovative practice in psychology
in the HSE.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
* Participate in continuous professional development initiatives and
ensure compliance with statutory registration requirements.
* Be informed of advances in professional knowledge and practice.
* Attend mandatory training programmes.
* In collaboration with the Senior / Principal Psychologist, attend
training courses as informed by service requirements and career and
personal development planning.
* Engage in and utilise clinical supervision effectively.
* Support the education of those in postgraduate professional
psychology training.
* Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction
with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.
QUALITY AND RISK, HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT
* Adequately identify, assess, manage, and monitor risks within
their area of responsibility.
* Comply with and contribute to the development of policies,
procedures and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant
legislation, regulations, and standards.
* Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality
Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example,
Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and
Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.and
comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining
these standards as appropriate to the role.
* Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy,
water, and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon
and efficient health service.
ADMINISTRATIVE
* Maintain appropriate service user records, databases, and
statistics in accordance with HSE requirements and local guidelines,
Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Acts and other relevant
legislation.
* Maintain professional standards with regard to service user and
data confidentiality.
* Actively participate in development and continuing improvement
initiatives of psychological services in liaison with the Senior /
Principal Psychologist / relevant others.
* Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring, business
proposals, service planning and budgetary control in conjunction with
Senior / Principal Psychologist / relevant others.
* Contribute to the development and implementation of information
sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways and integrated
care arrangements.
* Assist in ensuring that the psychology service makes the most
efficient and effective use of developments in Information and
Communications Technology.
* Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish
Health Service.
THE ABOVE JOB SPECIFICATION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST
OF ALL DUTIES INVOLVED AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE POST HOLDER MAY BE
REQUIRED TO PERFORM OTHER DUTIES AS APPROPRIATE TO THE POST WHICH MAY
BE ASSIGNED TO THEM FROM TIME TO TIME AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE POST WHILE IN OFFICE.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
QUALIFICATIONS AND/ OR EXPERIENCE
CANDIDATES MUST HAVE AT THE LATEST DATE OF APPLICATION:
CANDIDATES MUST MEET HSE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA _AND_ HAVE SUFFICIENT
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A STAFF GRADE PSYCHOLOGIST
WORKING WITH ADULTS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS IN THE HSE
PLEASE SEE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE POST ON HSE WEBSITE AT:
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Health
