Job summary
We are recruiting an enthusiastic and compassionate Assistant Psychologist to join us within the Rehabilitation and High Support (RHS) Care hub in Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. The post will suit a motivated candidate who wishes to gain experience within inpatient settings and promote recovery-based approaches.
The post holder will work within our male rehabilitation services across Heathfield House (Stockport), Hurst Place (Tameside Hospital, Ashton-Under-Lyne), and Bevan Place (Stepping Hill, Stockport). Heathfield House and Hurst Place are for men aged 18-65 years, and Bevan Place is for men aged over 50 years.
The services support men with severe and enduring mental health needs, with the aim of moving towards more independent living. Men have a primary diagnosis of a psychotic illness, but may have additional difficulties with trauma, emotional regulation, substance use, forensic history, or cognitive skills. Ours services aim to support discharge to less restrictive environments, and re-integration into the community, and work closely with the newly established Community Rehabilitation Team.
For more information about our services please visit: https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/rhsd
Main duties of the job
The post will require you to assist with psychological assessment, formulation and individual and group intervention to service users who present with complex mental health problems, including psychosis, self-harm and other behavioural and emotional difficulties. You will be expected to attend multi-disciplinary meetings including handovers, clinical team meetings and clinical discussion groups. You may also be required to assist with service developments as required.
You will receive clinical and line management supervision from a Practitioner Psychologist and join peer supervision with other Assistant Psychologists in the care hub.
About us
We would welcome applications for flexible working patterns, including some hybrid working, compressed hours or a job share. We support staff to work flexibly and recognise and respect the roles our colleagues hold outside of their working hours.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We believe that a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone's value should be recognised and respected.
We proactively challenge injustices, and are the only Trust in the North West to publicly recognise our commitment to becoming anti-racist and supporting our transgender and non-binary colleagues. We also have thriving staff networks to make sure everyone has a voice.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our#PennineCarePeopleand do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.
We are committed to staff development through shared learning, training and peer supervision. We are working hard in the Rehabilitation and High Support Care Hub to reduce restrictive practices, and to provide trauma-informed care.
Our trust values are:
Kindness
Fairness
Ingenuity
Determination
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- A first or upper second class honours 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
- Experience of working with people within an inpatient setting and / or mental health rehabilitation settings
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Previous experience working as an Assistant Psychologist.
- Experience of working with complex mental health difficulties including psychosis
- Experience of adapting materials to make them accessible for people with cognitive difficulties.
- Experience of using neuropsychological and psychometric assessments.
- Experience of service evaluation.
- Experience using word processing tools, spread sheets and statistical packages for data analysis.
Knowledge
Essential
- Have an understanding of complex mental health difficulties.
- Have a good knowledge of psychological theories.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and challenging.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in way that enhances psychological mindedness.
Desirable
- Ability to design and evaluate research projects relevant to Applied Psychology.
Work Related Circumstances
Essential
- Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
- Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
- Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- A first or upper second class honours 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
- Experience of working with people within an inpatient setting and / or mental health rehabilitation settings
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Previous experience working as an Assistant Psychologist.
- Experience of working with complex mental health difficulties including psychosis
- Experience of adapting materials to make them accessible for people with cognitive difficulties.
- Experience of using neuropsychological and psychometric assessments.
- Experience of service evaluation.
- Experience using word processing tools, spread sheets and statistical packages for data analysis.
Knowledge
Essential
- Have an understanding of complex mental health difficulties.
- Have a good knowledge of psychological theories.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and challenging.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in way that enhances psychological mindedness.
Desirable
- Ability to design and evaluate research projects relevant to Applied Psychology.
Work Related Circumstances
Essential
- Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
- Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
- Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
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).
