Senior Assistant Psychologist

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Clinical
• To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients including: 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.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client's problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in both NHS community and other settings.
• To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups
• To work with other staff to assess clients and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
• To communicate professionally and effectively and to use interpersonal skills effectively with clients.

Teaching, training and supervision
• To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS
• To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
• To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

Management, recruitment and service development
• To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required. To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

IT responsibilities
• Routine use of email, word processing and the Internet. Use computerised software to collate and analyse psychometric results, produce indicators of clinical outcome and to compile reports.
• To extensively engage with web-based information resources specific to the client group, and then facilitate access to these resources by staff and clients.

Research and service evaluation
• To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
• To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
• To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

General
• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holder's professional and team/operational manager(s).
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
• To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
• To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
• To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by their Psychology Manager.

Person specification

Behaviours and Values

Essential criteria

• Ability to manage your own time and responsibilities reliably and consistently, with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals.
• Ability to engage with diverse groups and engage individuals with little prior experience of psychology services

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology, with evidence of entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge/theory to a mental health context.
• Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of paid work directly providing care/support to people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
• Previous work providing psychological assessment, formulation and structured psychological interventions in a relevant setting
• IT literate: routine use of email, word processing and the Internet. Ability to use computerised software to collate and analyse psychometric results, produce indicators of clinical outcome and to compile reports
• Further postgraduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience of teaching or delivering training

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
• Ability to use clinical supervision appropriately, effectively and reflectively.
• A desire to explore a career in Clinical or Counselling Psychology.
• Full clean driving license and access to a vehicle for use at work.
• The ability to reflect on and learn from experiences in clinical work

Desirable criteria

• A high standard of report writing.

Important Information

Applications will be transferred to the TRAC system, by completing an application you are giving authorisation for the transfer of your data. In submitting an application form, you authorise us to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process. Including factual reference, occupational health clearance and statutory and mandatory training records

Correspondence regarding your application will be sent to you via a TRAC system account.

Please submit your application as soon as possible; due to the high volumes of applications we receive we reserve the right to close any adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications.

We are an equal opportunities employer, which aims to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

At NHFT we support many of our colleagues to work flexibly and we will consider requests for flexible working from day one. For this role, we are open to discussing a range of options including flexible hours, agile/home working, compressed hours and part time hours. Please have a conversation with the recruiting manager about the flexibility you need and we will promise to explore what is possible with you.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

All posts that are engaged in a regulated activity will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a DBS re-check on a three yearly basis whilst employed in such a role. Staff employed in these posts will therefore be asked to register with the DBS Automatic Update Service upon receipt of their DBS certificate and must update yearly , the annual fee will be reimbursed subject to Trust policy. For further information please visit: DBS Update Service: applicant guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please note if a DBS is applicable for the position then a charge will be deducted from your first salary or upfront cost if a staff bank position.

Please note that all new starters to the trust are subject to a probationary period.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 816.5KB)
• Benefits (PDF, 570.7KB)