Clinical Psychology Services
1.1 Adult Mental Health - General
General: Psychologists in this specialty provide services
to clients and staff working with adult clients across
a broad spectrum. The precise boundary of the specialty
in any one locality will be defined by other available
specialties. Presenting difficulties include the consequences
of problems in living such as anxiety, depression, phobias,
obsessions, ruminations, anger control, alcohol-related
problems, eating disorders and sexual and marital problems.
Clinical psychologists working in Adult Mental Health
may also deal with more enduring personality or skill
problems, and the psychological elements of psychotic
illnesses. The specialty may be designed as a primary
care service and/or secondary referral service.
1.2 Adult Mental Health - Rehabilitation
Severe mental illness and the psychological and social
consequences of long-term illness are the key concerns
of this specialty. Clients are most usually suffering
from schizophrenia or severe affective disorder. Psychological
assistance is offered with goal planning and skill training.
Support is provided for clients and carers. Staff training
and consultation with respect to resettlement and development
of community services are available. Psychologists will
usually be making a major contribution to the Care Programme
Approach.
1.3 Child Clinical Psychology
In response to comments on the first three editions
of the Directory this section has been expanded into
15 separate sub-sections, therefore please see Section
1C immediately following Section 1
1.4 Learning Disabilities
Clinical psychologists working with people with learning
difficulties can help clients and carers to identify
strengths and needs, and to incorporate appropriate
goals into individual programme plans. They will also
be able to plan, implement and evaluate training programmes
to develop skills and to reduce behaviour problems.
Clinical psychologists in this specialty can help alleviate
difficulties in social skills, communication, developmental
delay, anxiety and sensory impairments, and will be
able to deal with issues around resettlement from hospital
and the development of community services. They offer
support to carers, including families and staff in the
NHS, Social Services and voluntary agencies. They will
also be involved in staff training and consultancy work.
The Community Care Act has increased the role of psychologists
in the assessment of needs.
1.5 Services for Older People
Clinical Psychologists aim to provide services that alleviate psychological distress and promote the psychological well-being and health of older people by providing a range of psychological interventions for which there is an evidence base. Clinical Psychologist's knowledge and understanding of psychological development enables them to provide services that optimise successful ageing for clients and their carers and adjustment to later life events. Clinical Psychologists can make a valuable contribution to services for older people (Mental/ Physical Health, Intermediate care, Primary Care and Social Care) through direct work with clients, indirect work with formal and informal carers and care agencies, teaching and training, service development and research and evaluation.
Clinical Psychologists can play a key role in meeting all the standards of the National Service Framework for Older People in England and Wales to ensure that:
Older people get appropriate access to psychological services.
Age related eligibility criteria are removed from specialist services in which Psychologists work.
Indirect discrimination (such as referral patterns and accessibility of services) is removed.
Psychologists in this specialty will be involved in assessing the type and severity of problems and the psychological implications of these. They will be able to plan, implement and assess training and rehabilitation programmes with family, carers and other staff. They can also be involved in providing counselling support to individuals and their carers, and consultancy services to other staff.
One of the major strengths of the science of psychology is that there are a large number of theoretical frameworks which can be brought to bear on a range of problems or situations. Clinical psychologists are uniquely equipped to teach psychological principles and practice to carers, members of other caring professions, and staff involved in planning and providing a service to any of the client groups mentioned above.
Clinical psychologists can make useful contributions to all aspects of service planning in which psychological processes are a factor. This can mean the drawing up of community care programmes for any of the client groups mentioned above; devising, implementing and evaluating the effects of transfer of resources; researching and reporting on the most appropriate forms of need assessment and audit; or creating effective and efficient business plans.