Job summary
Do you have a psychology degree and an interest in the psychology professions? Have you wondered what it would be like to put your degree and interest to use, and find out if a career in the psychology professions is for you? We are interested in widening the access to psychology so that we can become a more diverse and inclusive profession, reflective of our communities and wider workforce.
We are looking to recruit 4 people to work alongside our qualified psychologists in the Clinical Health Psychology Department at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. The department covers the specialities of obesity, pain management, limb reconstruction, general medicine and HIV. Successful candidates will be enrolled in the Masters of Clinical Associates in Psychology at University of Essex. Upon completion of the Masters degree success candidates will become a qualified Clinical Associate in Psychology.
We want the Clinical Associates in Psychology post to be an inspiring and informative experience for you. These posts offer the opportunity to learn about and apply psychological knowledge and know-how under the supervision of a psychologist; to be part of our workforce, to gain familiarity with the systems that governance our work and our priorities for continued development and growth.
Main duties of the job
The Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) is a new role within our organisation. CAPs are a new addition to the Psychological workforce and support the wider NHS agenda to develop and expand the psychological provision.
A CAP is a semi-autonomous psychological practitioner working under the direct supervision of an experienced and HCPC registered clinical psychologist, within their scope of practice. CAPs are scientist practitioners who utilise psychological knowledge, research and theory to reduce psychological distress and to enhance psychological wellbeing in the clients they work with. They work with specific client groups in a range of services, acting as a resource of psychological skill and competence to a team of healthcare practitioners. They are trained to provide effective evidence based care to National and local guidelines and will manage a caseload and take responsibility for proactive care delivery decisions, within their scope of practice and under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. They will be trained to plan, assess, implement and evaluate programmes of care. CAPs are expected to maintain a compassionate, caring and safe care environment
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations
Job description
Job responsibilities
The CAP Apprenticeship is currently an eighteen month full-time training divided between work-based practice and learning (up to 4 days per week) and academic teaching and study, leading to a Masters-level qualification. CAPs are trained to work with a particular service user group and in this case with adults with mental health problems with comorbid physical health difficulties. If successful in their training, on qualification, CAPs can apply for a band 6 role.
Anyone with a psychology degree and interest in the psychology professions is invited to apply. We welcome people who identify with lived experienced associated with health, social, economic inequalities, diverse ethnic backgrounds and/or identify as a carer.
Please note, that these are clinical posts and will require that you attend the work base in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and surrounding area.
Purpose of the job
- To undertake the range of clinical activities including psychological assessments, treatments and other types of clinical intervention with individual service users, carers, families, groups etc; along with other activities such as staff training; research and development activity.
- To work semi-autonomously on a day-to-day basis within their scope of practice under supervision of and subject to review at regular intervals by a registered practitioner psychologist in accordance with British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines.
- To undertake and meet the requirements of a degree apprenticeship including personal study, academic work, research, clinical experience and assessment leading to the award of a Masters Clinical Associate in Psychology.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The CAP Apprenticeship is currently an eighteen month full-time training divided between work-based practice and learning (up to 4 days per week) and academic teaching and study, leading to a Masters-level qualification. CAPs are trained to work with a particular service user group and in this case with adults with mental health problems with comorbid physical health difficulties. If successful in their training, on qualification, CAPs can apply for a band 6 role.
Anyone with a psychology degree and interest in the psychology professions is invited to apply. We welcome people who identify with lived experienced associated with health, social, economic inequalities, diverse ethnic backgrounds and/or identify as a carer.
Please note, that these are clinical posts and will require that you attend the work base in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and surrounding area.
Purpose of the job
- To undertake the range of clinical activities including psychological assessments, treatments and other types of clinical intervention with individual service users, carers, families, groups etc; along with other activities such as staff training; research and development activity.
- To work semi-autonomously on a day-to-day basis within their scope of practice under supervision of and subject to review at regular intervals by a registered practitioner psychologist in accordance with British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines.
- To undertake and meet the requirements of a degree apprenticeship including personal study, academic work, research, clinical experience and assessment leading to the award of a Masters Clinical Associate in Psychology.
Person Specification
Education/ qualifications
Essential
- An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better
- Successful completion of a BPS accredited post-graduate Psychology conversion programme with 2.1 equivalent or above.
- A 2.2 honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology with appropriate additional experience (or contextual information) demonstrating academic potential
- Eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further continuing professional development relevant to work in mental health and/or psychological interventions
Experience
Essential
- Paid or voluntary experience relevant to working in health, mental health and/or psychological service settings, including work in community groups.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a setting with service users presenting with severe and enduring mental health difficulties
- Experience of working with groups and/or delivering group interventions. Experience of audit and/or service evaluation
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge/ Skills
Essential
- Graduate level knowledge of psychological theory and research
- An awareness of wider healthcare systems, NHS services and the role of psychological services within the NHS
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to build rapport, communicate empathically and sensitively in a manner appropriate to the context and recipient
- Skills in managing time and workload in the context of multiple competing demands.
- Evidence of good oral and written communication skills based on fluency on the English language.
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of the needs and profile of the local community
- Skills in conceptualising, analysing and communicating complex information
Personal qualities
Essential
- Awareness of their own competence and expertise, and ability to work within those boundaries.
- Aware of the expectations of professional and ethical behaviour and act in accordance with these.
- Aligned with Trust values and able to model this in their attitude and behaviour: ensuring that the organisational values of [ we care, we respect, we are inclusive ] are demonstrated by self and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate
Additional
Essential
- Not currently enrolled on another publicly funded training that will not be complete by the time of commencement in post
- Have the right to work in England and have valid and eligible residency status to meet the criteria for apprenticeship funding.
- Satisfactory Enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service
- Evidence of passing English and Maths at Level 2.
Person Specification
Education/ qualifications
Essential
- An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better
- Successful completion of a BPS accredited post-graduate Psychology conversion programme with 2.1 equivalent or above.
- A 2.2 honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology with appropriate additional experience (or contextual information) demonstrating academic potential
- Eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further continuing professional development relevant to work in mental health and/or psychological interventions
Experience
Essential
- Paid or voluntary experience relevant to working in health, mental health and/or psychological service settings, including work in community groups.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a setting with service users presenting with severe and enduring mental health difficulties
- Experience of working with groups and/or delivering group interventions. Experience of audit and/or service evaluation
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge/ Skills
Essential
- Graduate level knowledge of psychological theory and research
- An awareness of wider healthcare systems, NHS services and the role of psychological services within the NHS
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to build rapport, communicate empathically and sensitively in a manner appropriate to the context and recipient
- Skills in managing time and workload in the context of multiple competing demands.
- Evidence of good oral and written communication skills based on fluency on the English language.
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of the needs and profile of the local community
- Skills in conceptualising, analysing and communicating complex information
Personal qualities
Essential
- Awareness of their own competence and expertise, and ability to work within those boundaries.
- Aware of the expectations of professional and ethical behaviour and act in accordance with these.
- Aligned with Trust values and able to model this in their attitude and behaviour: ensuring that the organisational values of [ we care, we respect, we are inclusive ] are demonstrated by self and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate
Additional
Essential
- Not currently enrolled on another publicly funded training that will not be complete by the time of commencement in post
- Have the right to work in England and have valid and eligible residency status to meet the criteria for apprenticeship funding.
- Satisfactory Enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service
- Evidence of passing English and Maths at Level 2.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
