Clinical Psychologist at Synapse Services

Synapse Services is the largest provider of Mental Healthcare Service in West Africa. We provide patient-centred care in a calm and serene environment with a robust mixture of Local and Internationally trained professionals.

When life is more than you can bear mentally, be rest assured you will find hope, support, and treatment at Synapse Services.

We believe recovery is a journey not a destination and our multidisciplinary team is committed to supporting our clients in taking the first, usually most difficult, step and providing continuous support on the road to recovery.

With a team of compassionate and highly skilled Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Addiction Specialists, Occupational & Speech Therapists, and Psychiatric Nurses, we provide a range of therapeutic programs designed to suit individual needs.

Founded in Abuja in 2009, we are a rapidly expanding private service with 2 centres in Abuja and one in Lagos and Anambra. 

Only individuals who have a high expectation of themselves and are driven to work above and beyond are welcome to apply. Delivery of professional and excellent services must be at your core. We provide services for ex-pat community as well.

We are about starting a New Service in Port Harcourt called The Synapse Japonica and seek suitable candidates to join the team in the position below:

Job Title: Clinical Psychologist

Location: Port-Harcourt, Rivers
Reports to: Clinical Lead

Job Purpose

• A clinical psychologist identifies and diagnoses psychological, emotional and behavioural issues in client, develops and implements treatment plans.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Counsel individuals and groups regarding problems such as stress, substance abuse, and family situations, in order to modify behaviour.
• Offer therapy and treatments for difficulties relating to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and addiction.
• Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioural issues, and diagnose disorders, using diagnostic criteria and develop treatment plan accordingly.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside doctors, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists and occupational therapists;
• Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, Intensity, and duration of therapy.
• Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients’ status
• Guide clients in the development of their skills or strategies for dealing with their problems
• Have an understanding of bio-psychosocial assessment, psychological case formulation and develop an individualized treatment plan for every patient in therapy.
• Facilitate Diverse Group therapeutic sessions and ensure proper engagement.
• Select, administer, score, and interpret psychological tests in order to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, and personalities.
• Be conversant with different treatment methods like cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectic behavioural therapy, talk therapy person-centred therapy etc.
• Collect information about clients through initial assessment and other related sources that can help to make treatment effective.
• Be conversant with the electronic medical record system for proper documentation of progress notes and treatment plan.
• Evaluate clients’ physical or mental condition based on review of client information
• Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans
• Refer patients, clients or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary
• Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations
• Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with or supporting clients or patients
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs on clients’ progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives
• Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy
• Meet with families, probation officers, police or other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process
• Plan, organise or lead structured programs of counselling, work, study, recreation or social activities for clients
• Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse or improve community health or counselling services
• Psycho educate client on the importance of medication compliance.
• Learn about new developments in counselling by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars or establishing and maintain contact with other social services agencies
• Gather information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy
• Develop an individual treatment plan for children.
• Educate family members on what they can do for their child or how to respond to certain behaviours.
• Have an understanding of neuro-developmental pathways, how to diagnose, carry out assessments and draw up an appropriate treatment plan to meet specific needs.
• Ensure that after discharge client is transferred to a robust aftercare plan for proper follow-up and management.

Person Specification

• A minimum of a Master degree in Clinical Psychology
• Must have completed NYSC
• Minimum of 3 years’ internship/paid Clinical experience
• Strong communication.
• Excellent relationship management and business development skills
• Proactive problem-solving approach
• Stress tolerance.
• High level of professionalism.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Have an understanding of data protection and confidentiality
• Ability to observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress.
• Ability to effectively communicate medical information, test results, diagnoses and/or proposed treatment in a manner easily understood by the client.
• Interviewing and psychological/developmental evaluation skills.
• Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic programs and to make individual modifications.
• Ability to assess mental status in clients and to develop individual treatment goals and plans.
• Knowledge of psychological test administration, scoring, and interpretation.
• Ability to maintain emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.
• Skill in preparing and maintaining patient records.

Application Closing Date
20th August, 2020.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Applications to: [email protected]  using the "Job Title" as the subject of the email.

Note: The subject of the email should be the job title - location e.g “Clinical Psychologist- Port Harcourt” failure to abide by this would lead to automatic disqualification.