Assistant Psychologist/Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical:

1. To undertake psychological assessments of clients applying psychological tests, including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, and others involved in the clients care, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
2. To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
3. To collate and report audit data in order to meet the audit requirements of the service.
4. To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
5. To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

Teaching, Training and Supervision:

1. In common with all psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
2. To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.
3. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
4. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
5. To provide training as required to managers and other staff as appropriate.

Management, Recruitment and Service Development:

(As agreed by professional leads and managers)

1. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
2. To assist with the analysis, development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through service evaluation and audit.
3. To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

IT Responsibilities:

1. To assist in the design of computerised databases and to be responsible for their continual updating and on-going statistical analysis.
2. To be aware of, and comply with, National Regulations and local Trust Policies concerned with Data Protection and Information Governance.

Research and Service Evaluation:

1. To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
2. To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
3. 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.

General:

1. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holders professional and team/operational manager(s).
2. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust and HCPC policies and procedures.
3. To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
4. To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
5. To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, this may be required from time to time by their Manager.

Professional:

1. Provide & receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines and Trust policy.
2. To train and develop staff and to carry out at least annually an appraisal, objective setting and personal development planning meeting.

Training and Development:

1. To participate in the Trusts annual Appraisal process.
2. To attend all relevant mandatory training as and when required to do so.

Quality and Patient Safety:

1. Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
2. Implementation of NICE guidance and other statutory / best practice guidelines. (if appropriate).
3. Infection Control - To be responsible for the prevention and control of infection.
4. Incident reporting - To report any incidents of harm or near miss in line with the Trusts incident reporting policy ensuring appropriate actions are taken to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
5. To contribute to the identification, management and reduction of risk in the area of responsibility.
6. To ensure day-to-day practice reflects the highest standards of governance, clinical effectiveness, safety and patient experience
7. To ensure monitoring of quality and compliance with standards is demonstrable within the service on an on-going basis
8. To be aware of the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients/ clients, visitors and staff.

Working Conditions:

1. The post holder will be expected to work in a range of settings. They will be primarily based within Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team in South Sefton Magistrates Court.
2. Some sessions may involve working in other geographical areas both within and external to the Trust.
3. The post holder will also be expected to provide domiciliary visits where required.
4. Post holders must have a capacity to provide services in constrained or adverse conditions and may be required to sit in constrained positions for clinical sessions
5. Travel is an integral part of the post.

General

1. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.
2. To comply with the Professional Codes of Conduct and to be aware of changes in these. To maintain an up to date knowledge of all relevant legislation and local policies and procedures implementing this.
3. To ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest standard, and in accordance with currently quality initiatives within the work area.
4. To comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and to be aware of any changes in these.
5. To comply at all times with the Trusts Information Governance related policies. All Staff are required to respect the confidentiality of information about staff, patients and Trust business and in particular the confidentiality and security of personal identifiable information in line with the Data Protection Act. All staff are responsible for ensuring that any data created by them is timely, comprehensive, accurate, and fit for the purposes for which it is intended.

Confidentiality

All staff are required to respect the confidentiality of all Trust business and the business of the Trusts staff, residents, patients and general public which they may learn in the execution of their duties.

Data Protection

All staff are expected to adhere to the regulations regarding the Data Protection Act 1984 as laid down by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Service User Records

Data quality of information within service user records remains the responsibility of each NHFT employee. Refer to the Data Quality Policy IGP014

The prevention and control of healthcare associated infections in service users, staff and visitors is taken seriously by the Trust. All staff employed by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust are required to adhere to the Trust infection control policies and procedures.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• A 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.

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Working in a healthcare setting
• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities as an assistant psychologist or PWP worker.
• Experience of using psychological assessments, formulations, interventions, risk assessments and care planning
• Experience of working with people who have to potential to become aggressive and being able to respond appropriately
• Experience of MDT working and the voluntary sector
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to this context
• An understanding of trauma
• An understanding of the Criminal Justice System

Desirable

• Experience of working with offenders

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Working across a couple of sites including Sefton CCC, Liverpool CC and MFPS.

Liverpool

L1 9AA

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)