Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate Assistant Psychologist to join our team within the Cambridge Adult Locality Team. The post-holder will be responsible for supporting the delivery and evaluation of Brief Psychological Interventions (BPIs) which are offered to service users with complex and severe mental health problems.
There are currently four BPIs: Anxiety Management and Behavioural Activation, which are based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Distress Tolerance which is based on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Ground and Stabilisation for those who have PTSD. As our service supports individuals in a community setting, the role will involve some lone working.
We are a large and supportive psychology team, consisting of qualified psychologists, trainee clinical psychologists, trainee clinical associate psychologists, and other assistant psychologists, who regularly meet to discuss referrals, assessments, formulation and case discussions.
Interviews are planned to be held on Tuesday 4th July.
Main duties of the job
The role includes undertaking direct clinical work with service users with affective disorders, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist through delivering BPIs, and there may be further opportunities to deliver components of CBT and to co-deliver group interventions. There are regular formulation meetings to encourage psychological thinking within the multidisciplinary team, which provide a great opportunity to develop case formulation skills.
The role also has a research component which involves working on the large scale service evaluation of BPIs. Where opportunities arise, a duty may be to assist in the design and implementation of audit and service evaluation projects. The successful candidate should be prepared to undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes, and to undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists.
Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot usepublic transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.
*DVLA have a number ofreciprocalarrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website
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 support the psychology assessment process by conducting file reviews, and there may be opportunities to shadow assessments and to offer support in writing up assessments and completing relevant clinical documents.
- To support care provision to clients, through the provision of Brief Psychological Interventions (BPIs) and parts of CBT under the supervision of qualified Clinical Psychology colleagues.
- To monitor and evaluate outcomes of interventions, refining these as necessary under supervision.
- Under supervision, to assess and manage risk within an appropriate psychological framework.
- Where opportunities are available, to assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
- To work with other staff to assess and review service users care in preparation for multi-disciplinary treatment reviews.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary and psychology meetings.
- To ensure that patients are appropriately consulted about relevant aspects of their care and are empowered to express their views in a responsive environment.
- To communicate skilfully, tactfully and sensitively highly complex and highly sensitive information with patients, families and colleagues.
- To ensure the confidentiality of the information and comply with the Data Protection Act.
- To work with the appropriate degree of autonomy and report appropriately to the designated line manager according to Trust occupational guidelines.
- To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
- To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
- To work with clients at the team base, and within their own homes. At times there will be lone working in these environments, where there is an expectation to follow the relevant safety protocols.
- To work with clients and carers who at times are experiencing high levels of distress and some of whom may become challenging.
Please note that as this is a Band 5 post, previous experience of working for a minimum of one year as an assistant psychologist or equivalent within a multidisciplinary team is an essential requirement for this post.We have previously had a high number of applications from people without this minimum experience. If you apply without this experience, your application will not be considered, and it will deny others with the required experience the opportunity to be considered for interview.
****We are likely to have to close the advert early due to a large number of applications, so it's recommended that you apply as soon as possible. Thank you.****
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
- To support the psychology assessment process by conducting file reviews, and there may be opportunities to shadow assessments and to offer support in writing up assessments and completing relevant clinical documents.
- To support care provision to clients, through the provision of Brief Psychological Interventions (BPIs) and parts of CBT under the supervision of qualified Clinical Psychology colleagues.
- To monitor and evaluate outcomes of interventions, refining these as necessary under supervision.
- Under supervision, to assess and manage risk within an appropriate psychological framework.
- Where opportunities are available, to assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
- To work with other staff to assess and review service users care in preparation for multi-disciplinary treatment reviews.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary and psychology meetings.
- To ensure that patients are appropriately consulted about relevant aspects of their care and are empowered to express their views in a responsive environment.
- To communicate skilfully, tactfully and sensitively highly complex and highly sensitive information with patients, families and colleagues.
- To ensure the confidentiality of the information and comply with the Data Protection Act.
- To work with the appropriate degree of autonomy and report appropriately to the designated line manager according to Trust occupational guidelines.
- To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
- To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
- To work with clients at the team base, and within their own homes. At times there will be lone working in these environments, where there is an expectation to follow the relevant safety protocols.
- To work with clients and carers who at times are experiencing high levels of distress and some of whom may become challenging.
Please note that as this is a Band 5 post, previous experience of working for a minimum of one year as an assistant psychologist or equivalent within a multidisciplinary team is an essential requirement for this post.We have previously had a high number of applications from people without this minimum experience. If you apply without this experience, your application will not be considered, and it will deny others with the required experience the opportunity to be considered for interview.
****We are likely to have to close the advert early due to a large number of applications, so it's recommended that you apply as soon as possible. Thank you.****
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Upper Second Class degree 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
Experience
Essential
- At least one year's experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist or equivalent within a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of working therapeutically in a clinical setting
- Experience of producing written reports/projects/papers
- Experience of delivering structured therapy programmes (practical working knowledge of at least one relevant psychological approach e.g. CBT)
- Experience of working with people with complex and severe mental health problems
- Post graduate experience of research, audit and service evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of assisting in the delivery of therapeutic groups
- Experience of completing risk assessments
- Experience of working with clients with cognitive difficulties
- Experience of psychometric testing, scoring and report writing
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- High level of written communication skills, including maintaining accurate records, collecting clinical data and producing reports
- Ability to use information technology, including Excel and Powerpoint
- Experience of using sofware systems for databases and data analysis
Desirable
- Advanced computer skills including SPSS
- Teaching and training skills
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental distress and an ability to think compassionately about the lived experience of mental illness
- An understanding of issues relating to confidentiality
- Ability to work with an appropriate degree of autonomy but knowing when to ask for supervision
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Capacity for prolonged concentration in the context of therapeutic settings and team meetings
Other
Essential
- Must be able to travel to a range of locations
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Upper Second Class degree 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
Experience
Essential
- At least one year's experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist or equivalent within a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of working therapeutically in a clinical setting
- Experience of producing written reports/projects/papers
- Experience of delivering structured therapy programmes (practical working knowledge of at least one relevant psychological approach e.g. CBT)
- Experience of working with people with complex and severe mental health problems
- Post graduate experience of research, audit and service evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of assisting in the delivery of therapeutic groups
- Experience of completing risk assessments
- Experience of working with clients with cognitive difficulties
- Experience of psychometric testing, scoring and report writing
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- High level of written communication skills, including maintaining accurate records, collecting clinical data and producing reports
- Ability to use information technology, including Excel and Powerpoint
- Experience of using sofware systems for databases and data analysis
Desirable
- Advanced computer skills including SPSS
- Teaching and training skills
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental distress and an ability to think compassionately about the lived experience of mental illness
- An understanding of issues relating to confidentiality
- Ability to work with an appropriate degree of autonomy but knowing when to ask for supervision
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Capacity for prolonged concentration in the context of therapeutic settings and team meetings
Other
Essential
- Must be able to travel to a range of locations
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).
