Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Leeds Autism Diagnostic Service (LADS), for a part time band 4 assistant psychologist. We are looking for a dynamic clinician with enthusiasm and passion to join our innovative and highly regarded specialist autism team, accredited by the National Autistic Society. LADS is an adult, all-intellectual ability, service. We have clinicians on our team from both a learning disability and mental health background.
You will primarily be involved with the autism assessment arm of the service. There will also be opportunities to get involved in the other arms of the service - consultancy (for autistic service users with significant mental health needs) and staff training. LADS also has an active program of research, audit, and service development, and you would be expected to take part in these activities.
All work will be under the clinical and professional supervision of our clinical psychologist. We operate a mixture of face-to-face and videocall clinics, and it will be possible for you to split your time between home working and office working.
We are committed to robust professional leadership, equality, diversity, and inclusion and supporting staff wellbeing and CPD. Our Psychological Professions Strategy outlines our vision.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will primarily work in the diagnostic assessment process. This could include triaging referrals, reviewing, and summarising developmental information, and when relevant experienced gained, it could involve joint or independent interview clinical assessments. The assistant psychologist will be expected to work independently in accordance with their competencies and under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. They will be a keen team player and work collaboratively with colleagues, either through shadowing opportunities or joint team working.
They will also have opportunity to contribute to service development, including through audit, service evaluation, and associated data monitoring, analysis. Such audit and evaluation work could be associated with the assessment, consultancy, or training pathway, or indeed with a range of projects which aim to enhance the quality, efficiency, and inclusivity of our service
About us
The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching,research and development.
There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme (LYPFT pays 20.6% into your scheme each year), coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more organisations such as Blue Light Card, Health Service Discounts and NHS Discount Offers.
We also have an incredible bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank. Bank-only workers can choose the hours they want to work and will have the opportunity to gain additional experience, keep skills up to date, develop new ones and earn extra money without having to commit to a permanent role. For an informal discussion or more information please contact the team bankstaffingdepartment.lypft@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The opportunity to review and triage referrals for autism assessments.
- Reviewing developmental and collateral information as part of the autism assessment process.
- If and when relevant experienced gained, there may be opportunity to conduct developmental assessments with parents/relatives of people with suspected autism, including use of specialist developmental assessment tools.
- If and when relevant experienced gained there could be opportunity to conduct structured, initial assessments with service users with suspected autism, under supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.
- Participating in joint assessment of service users, with other LADS clinicians, which could include gaining experience of the Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS).
- If and when relevant experienced gained supporting post diagnostic appointments where appropriate
Formulation:
There will be opportunity to formulate service users needs considering any societal and psychological influences (e.g., co-occurring mental health difficulties) in supervision with a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
Audit, service evaluation and research:
The post holder will contribute to the development of, and conduct, audits, service evaluations as and when needed, to help to inform and promote high quality clinical practice.
Research:
To contribute to service development by researching and summarising relevant research findings and where appropriate, supporting research projects within the service.
Service development:
Contributing to service websites and resources, including supporting the accessibility of the service and raising awareness of autism in the local community.
Training and consultation:
To observe training and consultation opportunities with colleagues in the NHS and partner organisations.
Supervision:
Engage in supervision (1 hr weekly with Clinical Psychologist)
Meetings:
Attend meetings (daily huddle, weekly MDT meeting and monthly Clinical Governance meeting)
Continual Professional Development:
Attend relevant training/courses/conferences and conduct literature reviews to enhance professional/personal development and benefit your practice. Additionally, presenting learning to the team to inform and benefit all.
Administration
Administrative duties will include writing clinical notes from structured assessments, updating clinical records, and data collection.
To work independently and manage own caseload according to a plan agreed with a qualified Clinical Psychologist and within the overall framework of the Service Procedures.
You must have a degree eligible to hold Graduate Basis Chartered Membership with the BPS to be offered this post. To maintain anonymity at shortlisting, proof of this will be requested as necessary after application and before interview. If you pass to the stage of shortlisting, you will be contacted by the recruitment team and asked to either forward a confirmation email from the BPS or a letter from your UK university confirming your degree meets the GBC requirements. Please ensure this proof is available as time scales will be short and interview will be withdrawn if proof is not available.
Informal Enquiries to :
Dr Laura Drage (clinical psychologist) between 5th-8th September: 07866 046544 /laura.drage2@nhs.net
or Hayley Greenwood (clinical team manager) between 11th-22nd September: 0113 8555000 / hayley.greenwood3@nhs.net
Please note that we are expecting a high volume of applications for this vacancy and it may be closed early should we reach the maximum number of applications.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The opportunity to review and triage referrals for autism assessments.
- Reviewing developmental and collateral information as part of the autism assessment process.
- If and when relevant experienced gained, there may be opportunity to conduct developmental assessments with parents/relatives of people with suspected autism, including use of specialist developmental assessment tools.
- If and when relevant experienced gained there could be opportunity to conduct structured, initial assessments with service users with suspected autism, under supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.
- Participating in joint assessment of service users, with other LADS clinicians, which could include gaining experience of the Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS).
- If and when relevant experienced gained supporting post diagnostic appointments where appropriate
Formulation:
There will be opportunity to formulate service users needs considering any societal and psychological influences (e.g., co-occurring mental health difficulties) in supervision with a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
Audit, service evaluation and research:
The post holder will contribute to the development of, and conduct, audits, service evaluations as and when needed, to help to inform and promote high quality clinical practice.
Research:
To contribute to service development by researching and summarising relevant research findings and where appropriate, supporting research projects within the service.
Service development:
Contributing to service websites and resources, including supporting the accessibility of the service and raising awareness of autism in the local community.
Training and consultation:
To observe training and consultation opportunities with colleagues in the NHS and partner organisations.
Supervision:
Engage in supervision (1 hr weekly with Clinical Psychologist)
Meetings:
Attend meetings (daily huddle, weekly MDT meeting and monthly Clinical Governance meeting)
Continual Professional Development:
Attend relevant training/courses/conferences and conduct literature reviews to enhance professional/personal development and benefit your practice. Additionally, presenting learning to the team to inform and benefit all.
Administration
Administrative duties will include writing clinical notes from structured assessments, updating clinical records, and data collection.
To work independently and manage own caseload according to a plan agreed with a qualified Clinical Psychologist and within the overall framework of the Service Procedures.
You must have a degree eligible to hold Graduate Basis Chartered Membership with the BPS to be offered this post. To maintain anonymity at shortlisting, proof of this will be requested as necessary after application and before interview. If you pass to the stage of shortlisting, you will be contacted by the recruitment team and asked to either forward a confirmation email from the BPS or a letter from your UK university confirming your degree meets the GBC requirements. Please ensure this proof is available as time scales will be short and interview will be withdrawn if proof is not available.
Informal Enquiries to :
Dr Laura Drage (clinical psychologist) between 5th-8th September: 07866 046544 /laura.drage2@nhs.net
or Hayley Greenwood (clinical team manager) between 11th-22nd September: 0113 8555000 / hayley.greenwood3@nhs.net
Please note that we are expecting a high volume of applications for this vacancy and it may be closed early should we reach the maximum number of applications.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 2:1 or above Honours degree in Psychology degree eligible to hold Graduate Basis Chartered Membership (GMC) with the BPS
Experience / Skills
Essential
- Experience of and interest in, working with autistic children or adults.
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact with people with mental health problems and disabilities.
- Experience and knowledge of research methodology
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 2:1 or above Honours degree in Psychology degree eligible to hold Graduate Basis Chartered Membership (GMC) with the BPS
Experience / Skills
Essential
- Experience of and interest in, working with autistic children or adults.
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact with people with mental health problems and disabilities.
- Experience and knowledge of research methodology
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
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.
