Job Title:                    Senior Clinical Psychologist

Location:                    Kilbixy Paddocks/Balsonna Barn, Co Westmeath

Reporting to:             Therapy  Manager, GALRO

Yearly CPD opportunities are available

Candidate will: –

• Be of good character.
• Hold a Third Level degree and appropriate clinical qualifications in Psychology which are accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland or the UK.
• Submit proof of their registration on the PSI Register permitting clinical practice.
• Have at least 3-5 years experience working as a Clinical Psychologist.
• Experience with ADOS/ADIR preferable but not necessary.
• Have a working knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support.
• Have a special interest in behavioural challenges and disability support needs.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, report writing skills and be proficient at managing records in electronic format and hard copy.
• Have ability to provide support and advice to people with various presentations, challenges and personalities.
• Have ability to assess a person’s condition, formulate, implement and advise on the implementation of a treatment plan.
• Be able to apply evidence-based treatments and use electronic equipment for various assessments, treatment plans and tasks.
• Have up to date knowledge of practices in behavioural Psychology in 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 front line care staff and families in relation to the behaviour support needs of children and adult service users.
• All GALRO staff require to be Garda Vetted at least every three years.

Primary Function: –

To study cognitive, emotional and social processes and behaviour by observing, interpreting and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environment.  Develop treatment plans that address psychological and psychosocial disorders.

Duties: –

1. Carry out psychological and functional assessments.

2. Deliver professional psychology services appropriate to the post in line with best practice.

3. Establish the effects of environmental condition and circumstance on a person’s behaviour.

4. Observe and study individual behavioural patterns.

5. Record behavioural characteristics of individuals and of groups.

6. Provide information to management and frontline staff regarding how and why people interact with one another and their environment in the way that they do.

7. Conduct interviews with service users and their family/next of kin.

8. Carry out standardised and non-standardised assessments and/or tests to compile relevant information.

9. Diagnose disorders and anomalies.

10. Consult with relevant professionals and other clinical disciplines with regard to an individual’s diagnosis.

11. Use a variety of information, theories and practices to observe, interpret, predict, analyse and address human behaviour issues.

12. Assist individuals to understand their belief systems, emotional responses and actions in order to maintain, alter or prevent certain behaviours.

13. Carry out functional assessments of presenting behaviours and reactive responses.

14. Prepare treatment plans to treat individuals with behavioural concerns that impair learning or social functioning.

15. Support frontline staff and service users throughout the treatment process.

16. Communicate and collaborate with other professionals, service users, families, care givers and frontline staff to ensure consistency in the implementation of treatments.

17. Adopt proactive and reactive strategies to address behavioural challenges in given situations.

18. Monitor and record treatment progress.

19. Review service user progress to determine improvements.

20. Act as consultant to frontline staff and behaviour support workers.

21. Provide guidance and advise on responding to given behaviours for the overall wellbeing of the service user and with the intention of helping to alter those behaviours in an observable way.

22. Guide behaviour support workers to adjust plans to effect improvement and to take account of environmental changes and changing needs.

23. Keep up to date with developments and new strategies to improve the overall wellbeing of service users.

24. Maintain high standard of record keeping in compliance with current legislation, regulatory requirements and GDPR rules.

25. Exercise duties in accordance with all legislative requirements in relation to the role.

26. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role that may be required from time to time.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties involved and consequently the post holder will be required to perform other duties relevant to the post that may be assigned from time to time and to be pro-active in developing the post.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The post holder will from time to time have access to or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of a client 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 client.