Job summary
We have an exciting vacancy for an Assistant Psychologist Band 4 to join our Step Forward Sefton & Kirkby Service. You will be joining a dedicated team and you will provide care for people with complex mental health difficulties and experiences of trauma. You will be supported by an experienced MDT.
For further information on the role please contact Dr Nazik Nemat - Consultant Clinical Psychologist or Dr Karen Poole, Principal Clinical Psychologist
nazik.nemat@merseycare.nhs.uk
Karen.poole@merseycare.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
The role of the Assistant Psychologist is to support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the Step Forward Sefton & Kirkby team by delivering effective and evidence-based psychological therapies. Under supervision and with access to relevant CPD opportunities the Assistant Psychologist will also undertake direct work with clients individually and in group settings. The Assistant Psychologist will work closely with qualified Clinical Psychology colleagues on research and audit projects and will be expected to be an active member of the MDT.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support Clinical Psychologists undertaking psychological assessments of clients applying psychologically based psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales,direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
To assist in the formulation and delivery of interventions involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, in a community setting, as appropriate.
Having received instruction through supervision, to provide one-to-one consultations with service users, working autonomously within the limits of this instruction and within personal competence.
To use a degree of initiative and work independently with clients on planned work, and to exercise judgement based on good practice (NICE) and local operating procedures.
To work with potentially distressing material in relation to service users personal histories and presentation, including risk to self and others.
Preparing agreed assessment reports accurately in the accepted format.
Where required, to assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
In common with all professional psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties through management with CPD opportunities and self-guided learning.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support Clinical Psychologists undertaking psychological assessments of clients applying psychologically based psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales,direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
To assist in the formulation and delivery of interventions involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, in a community setting, as appropriate.
Having received instruction through supervision, to provide one-to-one consultations with service users, working autonomously within the limits of this instruction and within personal competence.
To use a degree of initiative and work independently with clients on planned work, and to exercise judgement based on good practice (NICE) and local operating procedures.
To work with potentially distressing material in relation to service users personal histories and presentation, including risk to self and others.
Preparing agreed assessment reports accurately in the accepted format.
Where required, to assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
In common with all professional psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties through management with CPD opportunities and self-guided learning.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- An honours degree in a subject that satisfies the British Psychological Society criteria for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership
Desirable
- Post graduate training in areas relevant to psychological practice, mental health and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Work experience in any organisation.
- Experience of research methodology, data collection, analysis and report writing
- Knowledge of a broad range of psychological theories and the application of these to mental health self-harming behaviours
Desirable
- Experience designing and conducting large scale research, audit or service evaluations.
- Previous experience working within an occupational health & wellbeing setting and of supporting staff to remain in / return to work.
- Knowledge of Psychological Therapies
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines
- Knowledge of policies and legislation relevant to recovery-based services
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- High level communication skills - verbal and written - with professionals, children, young people and families.
- Good time management skills
Desirable
- Proficient IT skills
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to children, young people and families
- Demonstrable evidence of working within an electronic software system to perform role/activities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- An honours degree in a subject that satisfies the British Psychological Society criteria for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership
Desirable
- Post graduate training in areas relevant to psychological practice, mental health and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Work experience in any organisation.
- Experience of research methodology, data collection, analysis and report writing
- Knowledge of a broad range of psychological theories and the application of these to mental health self-harming behaviours
Desirable
- Experience designing and conducting large scale research, audit or service evaluations.
- Previous experience working within an occupational health & wellbeing setting and of supporting staff to remain in / return to work.
- Knowledge of Psychological Therapies
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines
- Knowledge of policies and legislation relevant to recovery-based services
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- High level communication skills - verbal and written - with professionals, children, young people and families.
- Good time management skills
Desirable
- Proficient IT skills
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to children, young people and families
- Demonstrable evidence of working within an electronic software system to perform role/activities.
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.
