Agenda for Change Job Evaluation– Additional Advice, May 2005

The DHP advises all Health Psychologists working in the NHS to read the updated advice provided by the Union AMICUS and the BPS Family of Psychology committee. The advice gives more information on Applied Psychology job profiles and the matching of current psychology posts to these profiles. The AMICUS union representing all applied psychologists in the NHS has produced this additional guidance for all psychologists to clarify changes to the job profiles and the situation for trainers of applied psychologists working jointly in the NHS and with academic departments. Previous information can be found on this web site, department of health web site and the BPS webs site to supplement this advice.

In addition, the DHP has been receiving a number of enquiries from qualified health psychologists and trainees regarding their NHS posts being matched to the psychology profiles (or them being challenged about this). The DHP advises all NHS Health Psychologists to think carefully about their  job description and person specification and the DHP emphasises the need for posts to be matched to an appropriate psychology profile. The DHP does not advocate matching to non-psychology profiles unless there is a significant non-psychological component to the post and the person specification does not require post-graduate health psychology training and experience to perform the roles/s.  Advice on the trainee bands (5 & 6) are available and depending on individual contracts and posts the DHP advises trainees with an MSc in Health Psychology to match their posts to band 5 (although depending on experience this may band 6). For stage 2 trainees band 6 is appropriate.  However stage 2 trainees may also be employed in posts which could be matched as band 7 depending on their chartered status, experience, competencies and the job requirements. Stage 2 trainees should ensure that their training status is recognised within their job description and that this allows for appropriate management and supervision arrangements.

For Health Psychologists working in posts that are not in psychology departments and that have local titles not relating to psychology (e.g. smoking cessation co-ordinator) the DHP advocates that HPs negotiate with their local managers to be matched on psychology profiles and that this should be dependent on the need for health psychology qualifications, training and competencies within the post and person specification (although local titles can also be maintained within this local service).

Please download the AMICUS/BPS file for more detailed information - click here.

For further support, information and advice on health psychology posts being matched then please contact Dr Claire Hallas, Chair of the Workforce Planning Committee, email C.Hallas@rbh.nthames.nhs.uk