Assistant Psychologist

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 November 2024

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Job summary

An opportunity has arisen to recruit an Assistant Psychologist within the Older Persons Mental Health Service (OPMH) of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The post will be based in the Sedgemoor Neighbourhood at Glanville House in Bridgwater or the Mulberry Centre at Berrow.

Somerset Foundation NHS Trust seeks to find innovative solutions to meeting the mental health needs of the Somerset community. This Assistant Psychology post will provide you with excellent opportunities to develop a wide range of clinical skills and experience. We recognise that Assistants are looking to further their career in the Psychology professions and we seek to promote opportunities for development whenever possible.

This post will be attractive to applicants who would like to develop professionally across a broad range of psychological competencies. We are recruiting an Assistant Psychologist at band 5 to reflect the applicants' skills in undertaking planned brief interventions in different modalities. There will be opportunities once appointed to receive training.

Main duties of the job

This post holder will, with the support and under the supervision of Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists, be involved in working psychologically within the OPMH team and Memory Assessment Service undertaking a broad range of activities including assessment, formulation, intervention, and evaluation. Additionally, they will be responsible for supporting Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists, who are providing consultation to other professionals, including providing case note reviews.

The post-holder will contribute to service evaluations, audits and service development as directed by their Team Manager and Clinical Supervisor to ensure effective implementation of best practice

About us

As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career development.You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts.We are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer we welcome applications from all backgrounds.Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone!

Date posted

13 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-BL-1310

Job locations

Glanville House

Church Street

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5AT


Mulberry Centre

Brent Road

Berrow

Somerset

TA8 2JU


Job description

Job responsibilities

*Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required

*Undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

*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.

*To support Clinical Psychologists in undertaking assessments of service users. This may include practicing and administering neuropsychological measures, risk assessments, self-report measures, rating scales and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the service user's care.

*To access electronic patient record systems and extract pertinent information to assist psychological assessment and formulation.

*To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving planned psychological interventions to address issues under the supervision of a qualified Psychologist.

*To co-facilitate therapeutic groups e.g., Emotional Skills, wellbeing, memory strategies and cognitive stimulation.

*To assist Clinical Psychologists in the delivery of staff training and support, facilitating the acquisition of psychological skills.

*To effectively communicate psychological information with other professions and agencies

*To effectively use clinical supervision to reflect on, plan and evaluate clinical work.

*To prioritise own workload to achieve goals agreed and review at intervals with the Clinical Psychologist

*The applicant will need the ability to travel by car to different locations across Somerset.

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required

*Undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

*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.

*To support Clinical Psychologists in undertaking assessments of service users. This may include practicing and administering neuropsychological measures, risk assessments, self-report measures, rating scales and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the service user's care.

*To access electronic patient record systems and extract pertinent information to assist psychological assessment and formulation.

*To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving planned psychological interventions to address issues under the supervision of a qualified Psychologist.

*To co-facilitate therapeutic groups e.g., Emotional Skills, wellbeing, memory strategies and cognitive stimulation.

*To assist Clinical Psychologists in the delivery of staff training and support, facilitating the acquisition of psychological skills.

*To effectively communicate psychological information with other professions and agencies

*To effectively use clinical supervision to reflect on, plan and evaluate clinical work.

*To prioritise own workload to achieve goals agreed and review at intervals with the Clinical Psychologist

*The applicant will need the ability to travel by car to different locations across Somerset.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • *First degree in psychology (first or upper second).
  • *Eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS

Desirable

  • *A further qualification in therapy/ neuropsychology

Experience

Essential

  • *Experience of working in community settings.
  • *Demonstrable experience of working directly with a vulnerable client group including experience of working psychologically with people with mental health problems.
  • *Experience of undertaking planned psychological interventions with adults who are experiencing mental health problems

Desirable

  • *Experience of working with people with mild to moderate mental health problems
  • *Experience of developing therapeutic relationships with people who can be hard to engage.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • An understanding of the psychological assessment process to develop formulations and risk assessments
  • *Evidence of ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
  • *Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
  • *Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
  • *Personal resilience to frequently work with distress of others and potentially upsetting subject matter.
  • *Act in ways that support equality and diversity.
  • *To be able to recognise the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
  • *Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the patients. Able to use initiative and work independently.
  • *Ability to recognise limits of competence and seek support when needed.
  • *Evidence of reflective approach and use of supervision to support this.
  • *Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service and willingness to drive to different locations across the county
  • *Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • *First degree in psychology (first or upper second).
  • *Eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS

Desirable

  • *A further qualification in therapy/ neuropsychology

Experience

Essential

  • *Experience of working in community settings.
  • *Demonstrable experience of working directly with a vulnerable client group including experience of working psychologically with people with mental health problems.
  • *Experience of undertaking planned psychological interventions with adults who are experiencing mental health problems

Desirable

  • *Experience of working with people with mild to moderate mental health problems
  • *Experience of developing therapeutic relationships with people who can be hard to engage.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • An understanding of the psychological assessment process to develop formulations and risk assessments
  • *Evidence of ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
  • *Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
  • *Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
  • *Personal resilience to frequently work with distress of others and potentially upsetting subject matter.
  • *Act in ways that support equality and diversity.
  • *To be able to recognise the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
  • *Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the patients. Able to use initiative and work independently.
  • *Ability to recognise limits of competence and seek support when needed.
  • *Evidence of reflective approach and use of supervision to support this.
  • *Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service and willingness to drive to different locations across the county
  • *Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients

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

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Glanville House

Church Street

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5AT


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Glanville House

Church Street

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5AT


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Jeanette Hunt

jeanette.hunt@somersetft.nhs.uk

07920807800

Date posted

13 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-BL-1310

Job locations

Glanville House

Church Street

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5AT


Mulberry Centre

Brent Road

Berrow

Somerset

TA8 2JU


Supporting documents

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