Job Specification and Terms & Conditions Job Title & Grade - Senior Psychologist Campaign Reference - RQ979 Closing Date - Wednesday May 7th Proposed Interview Date - To be confirmed Informal enquires - Director of Rehabilitation, Catherine Slattery - Location of Post - Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, Co. Dublin Details of Service - Peamount Healthcare is an independent voluntary organisation that provides a range of high-quality health and social care services. We help people return home after a serious illness, we provide safe and homely residential care for those who need it, and we support people to live as independently as possible in the community. This 0.5 WTE role provides psychology services within older person and rheumatology rehabilitation. Peamount Healthcare is committed to the following values: Person centred seeing each person as unique, giving them a voice and focusing on ability. Respect creating a supportive environment where everyone is given courteous and respectful care and support. Excellence enabling interdisciplinary teams to deliver high quality integrated care, meaningful outcomes with a focus on continuous improvement. Team working fostering an inclusive, healthy working environment where people are valued and recognised for their individual and shared achievements. Quality improvement supporting teams to embed continuous improvement methodology as part of everything we do. Education & Research partnering with academia to support education, learning, research and evidence-based care. Reporting Relationship - Director of Rehabilitation or nominee. Purpose of Post Provide psychology service within evidence-based quality and interdisciplinary healthcare environment. Exercise professional judgement in resolving problems and take a leading role in identification, development and implementation of quality improvements. In service training and professional development and development of protocols, strategies, policies etc. Psychology department planning and performance monitoring, benchmarking and work practices development. Eligibility Criteria Qualifications & Experience Essential Criteria Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience of working as a professional psychologist within a Consultant led multidisciplinary team with an adult clinical population ?On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Psychologists Registration Board maintained by the Psychologists Registration Board at CORU. Health A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Character Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of goodcharacter Skills, Competencies and Knowledge The proper performance of these duties will require a high degree of liaison and communication with managers and staff throughout the hospital in the course of their normal duties and responsibilities. Overview of the Role: The post of Senior Psychologist in Peamount Healthcare offers the candidate the opportunity to deliver the best psychological theory and practice applied to age related (12 hours/week) and rheumatology (5.5hours/week) inpatient rehabilitation services It is expected that the successful candidate will make a substantial contribution to clinical services, teaching and research at Peamount Healthcare. Outline of Duties and Responsibilities Clinical duties and responsibilities: Display awareness and appreciation of the services users and the ability to empathise with and treat others with dignity and respect. Undertaking clinical duties including psychological evaluation and assessment, psychotherapy, clinical and psychoeducational interventions with patients, their families and carers, health care professionals and or health care agencies. Providing psychological assessments based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources including clinical interview, psychological tests, self-report measures, direct and indirect observation and collateral information from family, carers, clinical personnel staff and other persons as appropriate. Contributing psychological perspectives and formulations to patient care and implementing plans for psychological interventions and or management based on the appropriate conceptual framework. Maintaining autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and or management of patients attending psychology services at Peamount Healthcare. Maintaining records of clinical work and providing clinical reports as required in a timely fashion and in accordance with professional and organisational standards. To acquire and develop the necessary clinical knowledge and skills incorporating international best practice in order to maintain the highest professional and clinical standards. Providing a psychological service for all patients accepted to the service with timely completion of case notes, reports and all matters pertaining to a complete psychology service. To communicate effectively and work in co-operation with colleagues in order to ensure integrated care and service provision. To liaise and ensure timely communication with other clinicians, professionals and health-care agencies in order to ensure the best care for the patient. Keep up to date with advances in professional knowledge and practice. Keep up to date with developments in national policies, strategies and legislation and perceived impact on service. Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver care in an effective and resourceful manner within a model of person-centred care. Demonstrate effective leadership and team skills with a proven ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team. Demonstrate an ability to manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment. Demonstrate the ability to effectively evaluate information and make appropriate decisions. Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a user-centred service. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate with colleagues, families, carers etc. Demonstrate effective communication skills (written and verbal) required to undertake the duties and responsibilities of the post. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues that may impact on clinical and professional practice. ? Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change. To complete all clinical activity and provide information as required by the Lead Consultantand / or Director of Rehabilitation or nominee for the purpose of service monitoring, evaluation and planning. Research & education duties and responsibilities: Demonstrate knowledge and experience of research methods and competence in undertaking clinical research. To contribute to the research, audit, evaluation undertaken at Peamount Healthcare. To conduct, support and publish service-related research in recognised journals and at academic/clinical conferences as appropriate To use evidence-based literature and research to support effective practice and or service development. To attend internal and external training and education relevant to clinical and professional practice and service development. To contribute to the teaching and training activities the organisation including in-service academic events as appropriate. Offer psychology placements and education for post-graduate psychologists undertaking research and Psychologists in Training from recognised University based Post-graduate Training Programmes as capacity allows. Professional practice duties and responsibilities: Contribute to the development, planning, organisation, and evaluation of psychology services and practice at Peamount Healthcare. Participate in continuing professional development and ensure compliance with statutory development planning. Take responsibility for ensuring that clinical and professional supervision needs and requirements are met. Provide clinical supervision to Staff Grade Psychologists and Psychology Assistants as service develops. Represent and advocate for the psychological needs of health care service users.Contribute to the induction of new staff as appropriate. Attend mandatory training at the Peamount Healthcare Service & policy development duties and responsibilities: Contribute to the development of psychological services at Peamount Healthcare. Contribute to Peamount Healthcare policies and service developments. Contribute to national, health care, educational and research agencies. This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties required for the post and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to her/him from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. This document must be regarded as an outline of the major areas of accountability at the present time, which will be reviewed and assessed on an on-going basis. Other requirements specific to the post Service & policy development duties and responsibilities: Contribute to the development of psychological services Peamount Healthcare. Contribute to policies and service developments. Contribute to national, health care, educational and research agencies. General Responsibilities Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace. Ensure that a safe environment is maintained for staff and visitors in compliance with Health and Safety requirements and best practice. Be responsible for the day to day security of the work area, with particular awareness of fire regulations and security arrangements. Keeping up to date with all relevant mandatory training. Management Duties and Responsibilities Manage and co-ordinate service delivery in the area of responsibility. Ensure the maintenance of appropriate service user records and statistics in accordance with standards of best practice governing psychologists, hospital guidelines and statutory legislation such as Freedom of Information Act, Data Protections Acts and other relevant legislation. Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways and integrated care arrangements. Maintain professional standards with regard to patient and data confidentiality. Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver care in an effective and resourceful manner. Provide line management supervision to assigned staff. Campaign Specific Selection Post A ranking and or short-listing exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your CV. The criteria for ranking and or short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification.Therefore, it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements. Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process. Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview depending on the service needs of the organisation. Annual registration On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Psychologists Registration Board maintained by the Psychologists Registration Board at CORU. The reform programme outlined for the Health Service may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed. The job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder.It is intended to be neither definitive or restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned. Terms & Conditions of Employment Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, Co. Dublin. Tenure The current vacancy available is a Permanent post on a Part-time basis. The post is pensionable.A panel may be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part time duration may be filled.The tenure of these posts will be indicated at expression of interest stage. Appointment as an employee of Peamount Healthcare is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004. Remuneration Remuneration is in accordance with the salary scale approved by the Department of Health: 367Y Psychologist, Senior Clinical Current salary scale with effect from 01st March 2025: €97,528 (point 1) to €114,638 (point 8) Working Week The hours allocated to this post are 17.5 hours per week. The allocation of these hours will be at the discretion of the Department Head and in accordance with the needs of the service. HSE Circular 003-2009 Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day/Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016 applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016 Annual Leave As per Health Service Executive (HSE) 30 Days Pro Rata Probation All employees will be subject to a probationary period as per the probation policy. This policy applies to all employees irrespective of the type of contract under which they have been employed. A period of 6 months probation will be served: On commencement of employment. Fixed term to permanent contract. Permanent employees commencing in promotional posts will also undertake a probationary period relating to their new post. Pension Employees of Peamount Healthcare are required to be members of the Hospitals Superannuation Scheme. Deductions at the appropriate rate will be made from your salary payment. If you are being rehired after drawing down a public service pension your attention is drawn to Section 52 of the Public Services Pension (Single and Other Provisions) Act 2012. The 2012 Act extends the principle of abatement to retired public servants in receipt of a public service pension who secure another public service appointment in any public service body. Maternity Maternity leave is granted in accordance with the terms of the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2001. Sick Leave Peamount Healthcare operates a Sickness Absence Management policy in line with the new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme as introduced in 31st March 2014. Pre-Employment Health Assessment Prior to commencing in this role a person will be required to complete a form declaring their health status which is reviewed by the hospitals Occupational Health Service and if required undergo a medical assessment with this department. Any person employed by Peamount Healthcare must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Validation of Qualifications & Experience Any credit given to a candidate at interview, in respect of claims to qualifications, training and experience is provisional and is subject to verification. The recommendation of the interview board is liable to revision if the claimed qualification, training or experience is not proven. References Peamount Healthcare will seek up to two written references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated. The hospital also reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees. Garda Vetting Peamount Healthcare will carry out Garda vetting on all new employees. An employee will not take up employment with the hospital until the Garda Vetting process has been completed and the hospital is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to clients, service users and employees. Character Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character. Health & Safety These duties must be performed in accordance with the hospital health and safety policy. In carrying out these duties the employee must ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act. Staff must carry out their duties in a safe and responsible manner in line with the Hospital Policy as set out in the appropriate departments safety statement, which must be read and understood. Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines, 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 Peamount.Protection and Care and comply with associated Peamountprotocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service. Quality, Risk & Safety Responsibilities It is the responsibility of all staff to: Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements with regard to Quality, Risk and Safety. Participate and cooperate with external agencies on safety initiatives as required. Participate and cooperate with internal and external evaluations of hospital structures, services and processes as required, including but not limited to: National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections. HSE Standards and Recommended Practices for Healthcare Records Management Safety audits and other audits specified by the HSE or other regulatory authorities. To initiate, support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with the hospitals continuous quality improvement programme. It is the responsibility of all managers to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for Quality, Safety and Risk within their area/department Education and Training Participate in mandatory training programmes. Pursue continuous professional development in order to develop professional knowledge and keep updated with current and legislation. Specific Responsibility for Best Practice in Hygiene Hygiene in healthcare is defined as the practice that serves to keep people and the environment clean and prevent infection. It involves preserving ones health, preventing the spread of disease and recognizing, evaluating and controlling health hazards. It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure compliance with hospital hygiene standards, guidelines and practices. Department heads/ managers have overall responsibility for best practice in hygiene in their area. It is mandatory to complete hand hygiene training every 2-years and sharps awareness workshops yearly. Skills: CORU Registered Experienced Excellent Communication Skills