Clinical Psychologist (Sakina)

Role Overview

Clinical Psychologist (Sakina) at SEHA, delivering psychological assessment and treatment services to individuals and families seeking mental health care.

Role Purpose

To provide comprehensive psychological assessment and treatment services to clients, support multidisciplinary treatment teams, and maintain a full clinical schedule while ensuring the highest standards of patient care, safety and ethical practice.

Key Responsibilities

Assessment & Diagnosis

• Conduct face-to-face initial screening interviews and reach initial diagnostic impressions.
• Provide both direct and observational psychological assessments to clients referred to the psychology service.
• Determine appropriate tests and assessment measures for further assessment based on initial screening interview data.
• Administer questionnaires and tests to various populations depending on setting and presenting problems.
• Gather information from families and relevant sources in the community.
• Integrate all information within a comprehensive framework for the evaluation and management of client problems.
• Utilize varied psychological data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client's care.
• Choose assessment tools and observational methods necessary to provide a comprehensive evaluation and treatment options.

Risk Management & Safety

• Conduct initial risk assessment for patients who are potentially violent or suicidal.
• Communicate with physicians or other senior staff for coordination of appropriate management.
• Comply with all safety, health and quality control programs and procedures as applicable.
• Comply with applicable precautions for environmental safety and infection control, using a series of interventions that minimize or prevent cross infection.

Treatment & Intervention

• Assist senior staff in the formulation and implementation of plans for formal psychological treatment and/or management of mental health problems of complex cases requiring more expert intervention.
• Base treatment plans on an appropriate conceptual framework of the client's problems.
• Conduct individual, group, couples and family sessions utilizing appropriate therapeutic techniques.
• Review treatment issues with other staff.
• Create or participate in goals setting, documenting progress and altering or modifying treatment plans as indicated.
• Exercise professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and/or referral of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based intervention plans.
• Score tests and write reports for use by patients, families or other organizations.
• Ensure the integration of test results with other information gathered directly or indirectly.
• Communicate results with patients, parents or other professionals.

Patient Care & Follow-up

• Maintain responsibility for a full clinical schedule for the provision of services to patients and their families.
• Provide follow-up care and outreach scheduling opportunities to patients and their families.
• Monitor patient progress and communicate changes in therapeutic techniques to multidisciplinary teams.
• Collaborate with other professionals for the provision of highest levels of patient care.

Quality, Compliance & Documentation

• Abide by and maintain quality levels in all services and ensure continuous quality improvement measures are in place.
• Conduct method evaluation and development as per standard policies and procedures.
• Maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality and other ethical principles in relation to patient information whether formally or informally recorded.
• Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Quality Assurance tests are maintained within all sections.
• Document all interventions, patient contacts and follow-up attempts in appropriate format.
• Comply with and support clinical audit processes within the service and report on these as agreed.
• Communicate in a professional and courteous manner with patients, families and other medical personnel as necessary to obtain information for records, explain procedures, clarify orders and communicate status.
• Interact courteously with doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers when answering questions or providing other information.

Team Collaboration & Support

• Provide input and support to treatment multidisciplinary teams.

Professional Development & Training

• Participate in training and education sessions offered for department staff.
• Participate in department programs, committees, various hospital committees and staff meetings.
• Participate in the orientation and training of new employees.
• Ensure appropriate internal and external sharing of information based on governing policies and procedures.
• Maintain professional knowledge by attending lectures, seminars or online education units.
• Complete and maintain all regulatory requirements including licensure, certification and other mandatory training within established time frames.

Qualifications & Experience

• Special Certificate: UAE National upon completion of 1 year training required.

Skills & Competencies

• Knowledge and utilization of psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, structured and semi-structured interviews.
• Proficiency in direct and indirect observational methods.
• Ability to conceptualize client problems using appropriate clinical frameworks.
• Group, couples and family therapy facilitation.
• Risk assessment and management.
• Clinical documentation and report writing.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration.

Additional Information

• Completing and maintaining all regulatory requirements including licensure and certification and other mandatory training within established time frames.