Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Assistant Psychologist to join the Northampton Memory Assessment Services (MAS) within Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT). The post will provide the successful candidate with a balance of experience within assessment of dementia and post diagnostic support for people with dementia. Our services have regularly been successful in aiding our Assistant Psychologists to gain a place on the Clinical Doctorate and this is the reason that this post has become available.
We request that applicants write a short piece (no more than 500 words) entitled:
"What are the psychological needs of people going through the process of dementia assessment?" and include this in their supporting information
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work within an enthusiastic multidisciplinary team to:
- Offer enhanced neuropsychological assessment for more complex presentations within the MAS
- Co-facilitate supportive and psycho-educational groups and workshops to help people who have received a dementia diagnosis, and their carers
- Offer cognitive-behavioural therapy-based guided self-help on an individual basis to help address symptoms of depression and anxiety with people who are going through the process of dementia assessment
- Collaborate in using outcome information to inform and develop good practice
- Help develop systems and audit projects to allow any data collected to inform Trust management, commissioners, users and other relevant stakeholders of the needs of this population
We would like to recruit staff who are committed and dedicated to working with Older People.
About us
NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Regular clinical supervision will be provided as are many opportunities to learn about a wide range of presentations and services due to the integrated nature of the Psychology Services within NHFT. It is essential that applicants have a recognised undergraduate degree in Psychology and have the Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society. Experience of working with similar clinical populations would be beneficial. The ability to provide group-based interventions and/or experience of neuropsychological assessment would be an advantage.
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Regular clinical supervision will be provided as are many opportunities to learn about a wide range of presentations and services due to the integrated nature of the Psychology Services within NHFT. It is essential that applicants have a recognised undergraduate degree in Psychology and have the Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society. Experience of working with similar clinical populations would be beneficial. The ability to provide group-based interventions and/or experience of neuropsychological assessment would be an advantage.
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.
Person Specification
Training & qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Previous experience
Essential
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
Desirable
- Experience of working with individuals with neurological impairment.
- Experience in leading or co-facilitating groups.
Knowledge & skills
Essential
- 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 patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
- Ability to complete cognitive and neuropsychological assessments.
- Ability to score cognitive assessments and write reports under the supervision of a suitably qualified Psychologist
Personal
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Ability to manage physical demands of extended psychometric and other psychological assessments.
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
Short statement completed
Essential
- Shows a good level of understanding of the psychological needs of someone going through assessment
Personal
Essential
- Be able to drive and have access to a car
Person Specification
Training & qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Previous experience
Essential
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
Desirable
- Experience of working with individuals with neurological impairment.
- Experience in leading or co-facilitating groups.
Knowledge & skills
Essential
- 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 patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
- Ability to complete cognitive and neuropsychological assessments.
- Ability to score cognitive assessments and write reports under the supervision of a suitably qualified Psychologist
Personal
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Ability to manage physical demands of extended psychometric and other psychological assessments.
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
Short statement completed
Essential
- Shows a good level of understanding of the psychological needs of someone going through assessment
Personal
Essential
- Be able to drive and have access to a car
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.
