Job title: Clinical Psychologist
Support location: Leinster Region
Reporting to: Therapy Manager
Person Specification: –
▪ Be of good character.
▪ Applicants must have / be eligible for chartered membership with the Psychological Society of Ireland, and hold a doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent as recognised by PSI)
▪ Provide evidence of chartered registration with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
▪ Possess Department of Health validation of Qualifications.
▪ Have a special interest in behavioural challenges and disability support needs.
▪ Experience with ADOS/ADIR is preferable but not essential.
▪ Engage in the ethical practice of ABA to conduct functional behavioural assessments.
▪ Demonstrate competency in developing and implementing Positive Behaviour Support principles and protocols for individuals with developmental disabilities.
▪ Have the ability to assess a person’s condition and formulate and advise on implementing an intervention plan.
▪ Apply evidence-based interventions and use electronic equipment for various assessments, intervention plans and tasks.
▪ Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, report writing skills, and proficiency managing records in both electronic and hard copy format.
▪ Have up-to-date knowledge of practices in behavioural psychology within social care and community settings.
▪ Have up-to-date knowledge and background in disability, children, and adult services.
▪ Be willing to give sound professional advice to frontline care staff and families about the behaviour support needs of children and adult service users.
▪ Be self-motivated to strive for the highest standards in behaviour support and psychological support interventions.
▪ Have an interest in helping others to cope with difficulties with emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
▪ Be willing to travel to different sites for assessments.
All GALRO staff are required to be Garda Vetted at least every three years.
Primary Function: –
To examine and report on cognitive, emotional and social processes and behaviour by observing, interpreting and recording how individuals relate to one another and their environment. Develop intervention plans that promote positive behaviour.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities: –
1. Carry out functional behavioural assessments and diagnostics.
2. Deliver professional, positive behavioural services appropriate to the post in line with best practice.
3. Establish the effects of environmental conditions and circumstances on a person’s behaviour.
4. Observe and study individual behavioural patterns.
5. Record behavioural characteristics of individuals and groups.
6. Provide training to management and frontline staff on how and why people interact with one another and their environment in the way that they do.
7. Design and implement behaviour support plans or learning/skill acquisition programmes.
8. Analyse and display data to make informed decisions around intervention and learning needs.
9. Provide clinical supervision and guidance to a team of positive behavioural support staff.
10. Conduct interviews with service users and their families/next of kin.
11. Carry out standardised and non-standardised assessments.
12. Participate in and contribute to the Complex Care Committee (CCC) meetings and make recommendation in respect of psychological and behaviour support needs, and interventions.
13. Conduct cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) sessions in accordance with assessed need.
14. Support the clinical team by taking on a role in ADOS, ADIR and AON assessments.
15. Consult with relevant professionals and other clinical disciplines.
16. Use a variety of information, theories, and practices to observe, interpret, predict, analyse and address human behaviour issues.
17. Produce professional reports for distribution to other professionals, management and care staff as required.
18. Maintain records and notes, and ensure all correspondence is in accordance with legislative requirements under GDPR.
19. Oversee holistic therapy programmes and guide Holistic Therapist through structured clinical supervision.
20. Assist individuals in understanding their belief systems, emotional responses, and actions to maintain, alter, or prevent certain behaviours.
21. Carry out functional assessments of presenting behaviours and reactive responses.
22. Prepare intervention plans to treat individuals with behavioural concerns that impair learning or social functioning.
23. Support frontline staff and service users throughout the intervention process.
24. Communicate and collaborate with other professionals, service users, families, caregivers and frontline staff to ensure consistency in implementing interventions.
25. Adopt proactive and reactive strategies to address behavioural challenges in given situations.
26. Report on the effectiveness of treatment programmes and service user presentations to line manager.
27. Act as a consultant to frontline staff.
28. Guide Behaviour Support Workers in adjusting plans to effect improvement and taking account of environmental changes and changing needs.
The above Job Description 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 at all times.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
The post holder will from time to time have access to or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of service users, or information relating to other staff, or GALRO services generally. Such information is strictly confidential and at no time shall it be divulged, discussed or acted upon except in the performance of normal duty relevant to this post, where at all times the post holder will act in the best interest of the service user. All staff are required to abide by applicable organisational policies and procedures as set out. To ensure the consistent provision of quality safe services for the people we support, all GALRO staff must be Garda vetted through the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) and Garda vetting for all employees must be renewed regularly.