Apprentice Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To undertake specialised and protocol based psychological assessments - including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the service users care

To assist in the development of psychological formulations of complex clinical problems and the development and delivery of care plans, which include psychological treatment and/ or management of the service user problems including risk assessments.

To determine appropriate psychological intervention, considering a range of potentially conflicting clinical information and dynamics under the supervision of a clinical psychologist.

To design, implement and modify bespoke psychological interventions with service users and groups under the supervision of a clinical psychologist.

To communicate confidential and personal information concerning psychological needs, obtained through assessments and interventions, to colleagues within and outside of the Trust and to the service user and their family

To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

To work as a member of a multidisciplinary team and attend meetings as appropriate.

To follow a person-focused and evidence-based approach and work in partnership with service users and their families/carers.

To work in accordance with National NHS and GHC policies and regulations, as well as those of relevant professional bodies.

To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with programme requirements and good clinical practice.

To assist in the planning, coordination and running of staff support forums such as reflective practice, case discussion, formulation and CPD workshops

To maintain appropriate records in electronic or hard copy in line with Trust policies and Professional guidelines. Includes workload data and using word processing skills to produce service user related reports

Leadership / Management

To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required

Teaching, training and supervision

In conjunction with the clinical supervisor and University Tutor, to plan and prioritise own workload, research and individual and group sessions.

May assist with providing specialist training to other psychologists, trainees, assistants and other colleagues as appropriate.

To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

Research and service evaluation

To plan, monitor and evaluate own work, using clinical outcomes assessments, small-scale research methodology and statistical procedures.

To plan and undertake formal MSc research, as agreed with the University programme staff as required by the Programme, complying with the requirements of research governance, evidence-based practice and ethical considerations.

To assist in the design and implementation of service-based audit and research projects using appropriate methodology and statistical procedures, as agreed with the clinical supervisor.

To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

To enhance own knowledge of clinical psychology, specific client groups and types of psychological difficulty through reading, literature searches and personal study.

Professional

To manage work independently according to goals agreed at intervals with their manager, working independently on a day to day basis

To work within guidance and direction of qualified Psychologist and guided by the Professions standards including the British Psychological Society (BPS) Code of Conduct, Ethics Guidelines for Chartered Psychologists, and registration.

Assignment and Review of Work

Clinical work is assigned and reviewed by the clinical supervisor on a weekly basis. On a day-to-day basis, trainees work independently within set guidelines, referring as necessary to the clinical supervisor.

Academic, research and clinical learning outcomes are assigned as per the curriculum of the MSc Course and end point assessment with accountability to the Director of the University Programme.

Trainees are responsible for managing the competing requirements of both academic and clinical components of training.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Single or Joint Honours Degree in Psychology (2:1 or above or 2:2 with substantial relevant experience)
• Evidence of training / CPD to develop knowledge and theory relevant to work in the specialism
• Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society via qualification recognition or by alternative route.
• GCSE in Maths and English Level 4 / C above or Level 2 functional skills in Maths / English

Length and/or nature of expereince

Essential

• Willingness to work in the face of emotive and distressing problems, and possible verbal abuse / threat of physical abuse. Experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
• Prior experience with the service user group or experience in a clinical setting

Desirable

• Some experience of using /manipulating Psychological test equipment for use in formal testing situations
• Additional knowledge/ experience of research methodology

Professional/Managerial/Specialist knowledge

Essential

• Strong listening skills, empathic towards people in distress.

Desirable

• Practical working knowledge of at least one relevant psychological approach (e.g. CBT)
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary team

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Wotton Lawn Hospital

Horton Road

Gloucester

GL1 3WL

Employer's website

https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)