Job summary
This role involves supporting qualified clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists in providing clinical services for patients with a range of neurological and neurosurgical conditions.
The post provides an opportunity for a range of experiences working with patients and multi-disciplinary teams under the supervision of a qualified clinician. Other available experiences may include research and/or service development, data management and joint working.
This vacancy is advertised on a permanent contract basis.
Main duties of the job
The Assistant Psychologist (AP) plays a key role in the cognitive assessment of patients, mainly in an outpatient setting. You will have experience of detailed neuropsychology assessment with a broad range of patients including those with dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, functional cognitive impairment and various other neurological conditions. In addition to developing skills and expertise in delivering a wide range of cognitive tests you would also develop your skills in scoring, test interpretation, formulation and report writing. You will be a core member of the Neuropsychology team, supporting the work of the qualified staff and contributing to service developments.
The successful candidates will be highly motivated, have excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, the ability to organise themselves working both under their own initiative and the supervision of a qualified psychologist and an interest in working in a neuropsychology setting. Graduates with experience of neuropsychological assessment are particularly encouraged to apply.
About us
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its employees. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application form, please tailor your application to demonstrate how you meet the role criteria for this post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application form, please tailor your application to demonstrate how you meet the role criteria for this post.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Eligible for membership of the British Psychological Society
- Upper-second class honours degree or higher in Psychology
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision
- Experience of carrying out neuropsychological testing
- Experience working in a physical health hospital setting.
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of research methodology
- Ability to overcome psychological resistance to potentially threatening information.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, serious physical health problems or other disabilities.
Desirable
- Experience in the use of databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing
Personal Qualities
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate effectively and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems, serious physical health problems or other disabilities.
- Capacity to work with clients/service users in potentially abusive or hostile working conditions
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Capable of using initiative and working independently
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Positive attitude, sensitivity and commitment to working with this client group.
Desirable
- An interest in working in a hospital inpatient setting
- Interest in working with patients with neuropsychological difficulties
- Interest in working with physical health multi-disciplinary teams
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Eligible for membership of the British Psychological Society
- Upper-second class honours degree or higher in Psychology
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision
- Experience of carrying out neuropsychological testing
- Experience working in a physical health hospital setting.
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of research methodology
- Ability to overcome psychological resistance to potentially threatening information.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, serious physical health problems or other disabilities.
Desirable
- Experience in the use of databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing
Personal Qualities
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate effectively and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems, serious physical health problems or other disabilities.
- Capacity to work with clients/service users in potentially abusive or hostile working conditions
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Capable of using initiative and working independently
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Positive attitude, sensitivity and commitment to working with this client group.
Desirable
- An interest in working in a hospital inpatient setting
- Interest in working with patients with neuropsychological difficulties
- Interest in working with physical health multi-disciplinary teams
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
