Job summary
We are recruiting an enthusiastic and compassionate Assistant Psychologist to join us at Walkerwood Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. The post will suit a motivated candidate who wishes to gain experience of promoting psychological perspectives within inpatient services.
Walkerwood is a 10 bed unit that provides support and therapy to men aged 18+ who are experiencing difficulties such as hearing voices, unusual beliefs, mood changes, and emotion dysregulation. Many of the men also have significant trauma histories and have been in contact with forensic services.
Walkerwood aims to provide short-term, intensive support that promotes independence and recovery, and works towards discharge to less restrictive environments. The psychology team provide a range of evidence-based interventions, which are delivered on both an individual and group basis. They also offer support to the team in the form of weekly Reflective Practice and Team Formulation meetings. We are currently trying to implement a trauma-informed approach on the ward.
For more information about our services please visit:
Walkerwood unit - psychiatric intensive care unit (Tameside) :: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Main duties of the job
Clinical
You will support the lead psychologist to promote psychological perspectives on the ward. You will be expected to offer assessment, formulation and interventions to the men. You will also facilitate skills-based groups, such as mindfulness. You will also support the wider MDT to develop individual positive support plans with service users.
You will support the implementation of a trauma-informed approach on the ward by co-facilitating Team Formulation meetings and Reflective Practice sessions. You will also be responsible for administrative tasks such as preparing notes on individuals backgrounds, data input and spreadsheet management.
You will receive clinical and line management supervision from a Clinical Psychologist and join peer supervision with other Assistant Psychologists.
About us
We would welcome applications for flexible working patterns / compressed hours; however we do not offer an option to work from home.
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 at Walkerwood 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 clinically in mental health 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
- Experience of working with behaviour that challenges
- Experience using word processing tools, spread sheets and statistical packages for data analysis.
- Experience of service evaluation.
Knowledge
Essential
- Have an understanding of psychological approaches to understanding complex mental health difficulties
- Have an understanding of the principles of a trauma-informed approach
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 clinically in mental health 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
- Experience of working with behaviour that challenges
- Experience using word processing tools, spread sheets and statistical packages for data analysis.
- Experience of service evaluation.
Knowledge
Essential
- Have an understanding of psychological approaches to understanding complex mental health difficulties
- Have an understanding of the principles of a trauma-informed approach
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).
