Job summary
We are delighted to be recruiting a Clinical Associate in Psychology Apprentice (CAP trainee) based in the Cambridge Psychological Skills Service (PSS). The post will be Band 5 for the 18 month duration of the course and will move to a Band 6 upon successful completion of the apprenticeship. This new work-based training role will provide an opportunity for psychology graduates to deliver patient facing care and develop their career in the NHS.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate psychology graduate to join our team and the second cohort in our Trust to train as a Clinical Associate in Psychology. This is an exciting new psychology profession that has been approved as a Degree Apprenticeship. During your training phase of around 18 months, you will be undertaking the Masters Programme in Clinical Associate Psychology with the University of East Anglia while working as part of the PSS to develop the clinical skills and competencies essential to the role. As an apprentice you will be working and being paid full time and the course fees are fully funded. Please note, that in line with other psychological professions' training programmes, anyone who enters CAP training will only become eligible for further Health Education England (HEE) training funding (including clinical psychology training) two years after the qualifying exam board for this course. Funding for psychological professions training programmes | Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk)
Main duties of the job
The PSS was developed as part of the Exemplar project in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS trust (CPFT). CPFT were chosen by NHS England as a national exemplar pilot site for the redesign and transformation of primary and community mental health care to address gaps in service provision, between primary and secondary care.
You will be part of a team consisting of 4 other CAP trainees, an Assistant Psychologist, 4 support workers, a team manager and an 8a and 8b psychologist. Your role will include carrying out trauma informed formulations and individual and group programmes targeting difficulties that are manifestations of trauma (hearing voices, anxiety, low mood, PTSD symptoms, persistent physical symptoms). The group programmes draw on principles from CBT, DBT, ACT, CFT, and schema therapy.
Within the role you will also be part of the ongoing development and evaluation of this service. Your data analysis will be a key part of how we decide if the project is effective, deciding whether we need to make changes and how we continue to secure funding.
It is recommended that you apply for the post as soon as possible as we may close the advert early if there is a high response.
About us
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
To provide brief psychological interventions and maintain a clinical caseload, under supervision.
To support the psychology team and wider team in psychological assessment, care provision, planning and delivery of evidence-based interventions.
To assist the psychology team in the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials, such as the development of treatment manuals and group interventions.
To lead the collection, analyses and presentation of outcome measures to support the case for proving the clinical and cost effectiveness of psychological therapies in the team using psychological measurement tools and other data.
To support the team in delivering, managing and evaluating other psychological interventions, such as psychology groups.
To act in a manner that supports a psychologically informed framework for the service.
Develop the ability to professionally deliver psychological assessments, formulations, interventions and research within defined scope of practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
To provide brief psychological interventions and maintain a clinical caseload, under supervision.
To support the psychology team and wider team in psychological assessment, care provision, planning and delivery of evidence-based interventions.
To assist the psychology team in the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials, such as the development of treatment manuals and group interventions.
To lead the collection, analyses and presentation of outcome measures to support the case for proving the clinical and cost effectiveness of psychological therapies in the team using psychological measurement tools and other data.
To support the team in delivering, managing and evaluating other psychological interventions, such as psychology groups.
To act in a manner that supports a psychologically informed framework for the service.
Develop the ability to professionally deliver psychological assessments, formulations, interventions and research within defined scope of practice.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelors degree in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBS), or Bachelors degree plus master degree, or PGDip in Psychology accredited by the BPS as conferring GBC (minimum 2:2
- GCSE pass in maths and English
- Understand British Psychological Society (BPS) Professional Code of Conduct
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate experience of delivering individual therapy based on CBT/DBT principles
- Demonstrate experience of effective working with other professionals
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of evaluation or audit in a healthcare setting; demonstrate how new ways of working can be communicated in a healthcare setting
- Demonstrate experience of running groups
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of CBT
- Communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding
- Able assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity and understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to ensure best care
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work
- Able to correctly handle confidential information; know how and when to share this information for appropriate professional purposes and only with appropriate individuals, with appropriately gained consent
- Understand and recognise professional duty to challenge and report discriminatory behaviour
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of patient care across a broad range of patient needs
- Demonstrate knowledge of CBT for anxiety and depression
- Recognise and accommodate sensory impairments during all communications and the use of personal communication aids
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Skilled in continuous selfreflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills
- Dedicated in treating patients with dignity, respecting individuals' diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences
- Able to show respect and empathy for patients and colleagues and have the courage to challenge concerns, working to evidence-based best practice
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently where required
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelors degree in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBS), or Bachelors degree plus master degree, or PGDip in Psychology accredited by the BPS as conferring GBC (minimum 2:2
- GCSE pass in maths and English
- Understand British Psychological Society (BPS) Professional Code of Conduct
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate experience of delivering individual therapy based on CBT/DBT principles
- Demonstrate experience of effective working with other professionals
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of evaluation or audit in a healthcare setting; demonstrate how new ways of working can be communicated in a healthcare setting
- Demonstrate experience of running groups
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of CBT
- Communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding
- Able assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity and understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to ensure best care
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work
- Able to correctly handle confidential information; know how and when to share this information for appropriate professional purposes and only with appropriate individuals, with appropriately gained consent
- Understand and recognise professional duty to challenge and report discriminatory behaviour
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of patient care across a broad range of patient needs
- Demonstrate knowledge of CBT for anxiety and depression
- Recognise and accommodate sensory impairments during all communications and the use of personal communication aids
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Skilled in continuous selfreflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills
- Dedicated in treating patients with dignity, respecting individuals' diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences
- Able to show respect and empathy for patients and colleagues and have the courage to challenge concerns, working to evidence-based best practice
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently where required
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).
