Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be employed at a band 4 level, work in clinical settings, under the supervision of a qualified psychological professional and engage in University study 1 day a week, based at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Some University days will require attendance, whilst other days will be delivered remotely and study days may not require attendance at a specific site. You will be working towards completing a funded Postgraduate Certificate Associate Practitioner Psychology (PGCert APP). Upon completion of the clinical role and academic requirements (1 year), you will then qualify as a band 5 Associate Psychological Practitioner (APP).

You will be part of the third cohort of the TAPP programme. Our aim is to create a new career gateway for psychology graduates and to help tackle a shortage of psychological professionals in the NHS. We recognise there are many talented psychology graduates looking to work in the field of psychological healthcare, but very limited opportunities. We want to change that.

Whilst in training as a TAPP, you will be working towards meeting specific competencies, learning new skills and then applying them in clinical practice. Although the role will vary depending upon the service you are working within, the course will help you develop transferable skills and knowledge about how an Associate Psychological Practitioner will practice.

It is likely you will work with clients to complete psychological assessments, formulations and interventions to meet presenting need, under the supervision of a qualified psychological professional. You will work as part of a team and contribute to the psychological understanding of distress and behaviour.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates an understanding of lifespan psychology applied to health care.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with psychological/mental health difficulties or other disabilities.
• Good communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work across a number of different settings.
• Ability to work with people from different backgrounds and of different ages
• An ability and confidence to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact effectively with clients, family members/paid carers.
• Ability to undertake psychologically informed research projects under supervision.
• Experience using computers for databases or data- analysis.
• Ability to work reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• 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 service users, cares and colleagues.

Desirable

• Demonstrates an understanding of the clinical practice of psychological interventions.
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to others.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload and time.
• Received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.

Qualifications

Essential

• A minimum of a second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
• Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.

Other Essential Requirements

Essential

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Ability to undertake travel across a wide geographical area.
• Able to work in the UK.
• Ability and willingness to work outside office hours when required by the role.

Experience

Essential

• Some experience of working with people with who experience difficulties with mental health and/or physical health, either in a voluntary or paid capacity.

Desirable

• To have worked as part of a team within a statutory or voluntary care setting.
• Experience in conducting research projects or service related audit.
• Experience of delivering training.
• Experience of group work.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Six Degrees Social Enterprise

Address

Six Degrees Social Enterprise

Albert Street

Eccles

Manchester

M30 0BL

Employer's website

http://six-degrees.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)