Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Psychologist, who is keen to move on to the next stage of their career journey, to join our team as a Higher Assistant Psychologist for 18.75 hours per week. The team provides specialist psychological input to our Adult Acute Inpatient Service based at Hopewood Park Hospital, Sunderland.
This role provides an exciting and challenging opportunity to support the delivery of a timely and quality inpatient psychology service within a complex and challenging but rewarding multi-disciplinary setting.
Adult Acute Mental Health Inpatient Services provide multi-disciplinary care using a biopsychosocial model for service users over the age of 18 who require assessment and treatment in hospital. The service has three acute adult inpatient wards along with the Trustwide Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The post holder will work into Shoredrift Ward which is one of our 18 bedded male wards. Service users have often experienced trauma in their lives, and have a range of difficulties including psychosis, personality difficulties, neurodiversity andlearning disabilities, risk to self and others, forensic issues and behaviours that can be challenging for teams.
The post holder will be part of a strong inpatient team in our Adult Acute Inpatient Services as well as the wider team within the South Inpatients Clinical Business Unit.
Main duties of the job
There will be opportunities to develop skills in formulation and to contribute MDT formulation meetings and collaborative development of formulations with service users, families and carers as well as opportunities to support with training. Experience of Positive Behaviour Support would also be advantageous. The successful candidate will be supervised and supported by a Clinical Psychologist who also works into the ward.
We believe in the development of all our staff and the post holder will be encouraged to engage in continued professional development through training and studying.
Additional skills and competencies and duties required to fulfil the role.
It is essential that applicants have previous experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist, of administering psychometric and cognitive assessment and of communicating assessment results and formulations to service users and the MDT in an understandable and accessible way. In addition, applicants should have experience of working in a highly emotive environment and of direct working with individuals who may be in distress. The post requires significant MDT working and so we are looking for applicants who have an interest and enthusiasm for this way of working. Furthermore, we are looking for applicants with the ability to effectively review and summarise large amounts of information to help to inform assessment and formulation.Previous experience of working in an inpatient setting is desirable but not essential.
About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 19th March 2024
Closing date : 2nd April 2024
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 19th March 2024
Closing date : 2nd April 2024
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology
- Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Experience as an assistant/research psychologist.
- Knowledge of evidence based practice
- Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation.
- Experience of direct work with service users
- Interest, enthusiasm and skills in working as part of an MDT
Desirable
- Experience within an inpatient setting
- Experience with client group relevant to the post
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities.
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context.
- Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows.
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in applied Psychology.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology
- Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Experience as an assistant/research psychologist.
- Knowledge of evidence based practice
- Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation.
- Experience of direct work with service users
- Interest, enthusiasm and skills in working as part of an MDT
Desirable
- Experience within an inpatient setting
- Experience with client group relevant to the post
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities.
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context.
- Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows.
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in applied Psychology.
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).
