New HSE managerial post for Cork and Kerry criticised

The creation of a new HSE managerial post has been criticised by psychologists and nurses, with the position being seen as a major extension of power.

A Director of Psychology for the HSE South West Health Region (Cork and Kerry) is being advertised, with a salary range of €120,401-€139,920.

The job specification says that the successful candidate will have: ‘Oversight of Psychological Service beyond psychology to include counsellors, behaviour therapists and psychotherapist, nurses with psychotherapy/counselling training as required to meet service needs in line with best practice.’

Clinical Psychologist and East Cork Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide said that the extension of the remit into oversight of therapists who have a background in nursing is unprecedented.

He told The Echo: “I know nurse therapists within the HSE were very much taken aback when I informed them and their unions at the weekend that this change of governance was being proposed.

“This is not something psychologists would accept from another discipline, and nurses are no different.”

Unions are seeking a meeting with HSE management regarding the post, with a spokesperson for the Psychiatric Nurses Association telling The Echo: “At present there has been no negotiations on any change of governance for nurse therapists/counsellors.

“PNA will be looking into the situation and if required will be seeking engagement with the HSE on the matter.”

A letter from the PNA to the HSE, seen by The Echo, reads: “Our office has been inundated with calls regarding this post, as it has been advertised with the inclusion of governance over nurses with ‘psychotherapy and counselling training’. This has been included without any discussion or agreement with the PNA and is unacceptable.

“The fact that this has been advertised, with an imminent closing date, without any notification or engagement is highly concerning and has caused a great deal of unease amongst our membership.

“It goes without saying that no PNA member will cooperate with such a fundamental shift in governance structure and we would ask that said job description is withdrawn immediately,” they wrote, adding that they had also raised this issue with senior management in Cork.

A spokesperson for Siptu, which also represents some psychiatric nurses, told The Echo: “SIPTU representatives are seeking a meeting with local HSE management in the south-west regarding the introduction of the new post of director of psychology.

“The meeting is requested to deal with concerns raised by Siptu nursing members around potential blurring of professional governance given the range of different grades encompassed under this new post. Siptu representatives have also raised issues around the lack of consultation regarding the introduction of the new post.

“Siptu states that the development and enhancing of the service should be seen as positive by all parties but it must be done through proper engagement so there is a clear understanding that any change to reporting arrangements will not affect existing service requirements and clinical governance.”

A HSE spokesperson said: “The advertising of the director of psychology post pertains to operational management, and we are committed to respecting the governance boundaries of other disciplines. Our primary objective with this new post is to enhance clinical governance, ensuring that our services are both safe and of the highest quality.

“The HSE will also engage with relevant representative bodies as needed, to maintain open communication and collaborative progress.”