East London NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist - Eating Disorders

This job is now closed

Job summary

The Assistant Psychologist will provide structured assessments and manualised treatments (individual and group) under the supervision of an experienced and qualified Psychologist. The post holder will also support the work of psychological therapies in the Adult Community Eating Disorder Service and VCSE partner Caraline by undertaking file/case review, audit, service evaluation and/or research. Further specific duties will be determined on the basis of skills and experience and operational service requirements, and may vary occasionally as service needs/priorities change.

This post will work across both the Adult Community Eating Disorders service and VCSE partner, Caraline. Some evening work will be required and TOIL will be given for this.

Main duties of the job

To work under the supervision of a qualified psychologist to undertake structured assessments and interventions

To support the work of psychological services through collection, collation and analysis of measures for evaluation and improvement of services

Undertake service audit and research as required
To work collaboratively in the spirit of co-production with service users, families/carers, colleagues and partners to develop and improve services in line with national policy andevidence-based care, meeting the needs of people with disordered eating in Bedfordshire and Luton.

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.

Date posted

30 August 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year Per Annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-BED6540367

Job locations

Mountbatten House

56 High Street South

Dunstable

LU6 3HD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient Care

To establish and maintain rapport with service users to enable the arrangement of meetings and engagement in the group activities of the service.
To be responsible for providing verbal and written feedback regarding assessments and psychological interventions to service users, multidisciplinary team members, families and carers of service users, some of which may be sensitive in nature.
To work collaboratively with other psychologists and multidisciplinary colleagues to contribute to the multidisciplinary care of services users.

Clinical

All clinical duties will be carried out under the supervision and direction of a qualified Psychologist. The Assistant Psychologist has a responsibility to perform all tasks within the spirit and the policies of the East London NHS Foundation Trust and Caraline. Under such direction and with these conditions the duties will be:

To carry out or assist in carrying out specified assessments, including standardised psychometric tests and the scoring, analysis and initial preparation of formal reports.

To deliver standardised individual and group psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.

To undertake file/case reviews to support clinical decision making of the psychology and multidisciplinary staff.

To attend psychology and multidisciplinary meetings about service users to share and obtain information, disseminate report findings and convey opinion and analyses.

To contribute to risk assessment and management of service users, and to immediately report any instances of harm or suspected harm/risk to a service user or others to qualified members of the team in line with safeguarding and risk management policies and protocols.

Administration

To maintain clear records of all client work carried out in Trust and / or Caraline client case note. To maintain high standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording and report writing and responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of conduct and practice of the BPS/HCPC and Trust policies and procedures.

To maintain a high level of written and verbal communication with multidisciplinary colleagues, GPs, service users, carers.

To use all Trust and Caraline information systems as required and in a timely manner to enter patient data, activity data, using email and diaries, and any other systems in compliance with NHS and Caraline information governance and local Trust and Caraline requirements

Human Resources

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 post-holders professional and team/operational manager(s).
To undertake mandatory training in line with Trust and Caraline requirements.

To undergo regular performance appraisal and review.

Performance and Quality

To contribute to team audits carried out as part of routine service review and evaluation, and specific audits as required, under supervision.

To participate in carrying out service orientated and clinically relevant research (as agreed by the Trust, Locality Director and Professional Psychology Lead).

To utilize theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

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

To develop knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to adult and older adult mental health.

To contribute to the development of colleagues understanding of psychological aspects of care through informal and formal discussion/presentation.

To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a qualified Psychologist in accordance with good practice guidance from the BPS. To participate in peer group support with other assistant psychologists within CEDS and Caraline and the wider Trust.

To keep abreast of developments in psychological assessment and treatment of people with eating disorders and other mental health difficulties through self-directed reading, attendance at CPD events, and through own supervision.

Financial and Physical Resources

Responsible for the safe and secure use and storage of all Trust-supplied equipment, in line with Trust policies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient Care

To establish and maintain rapport with service users to enable the arrangement of meetings and engagement in the group activities of the service.
To be responsible for providing verbal and written feedback regarding assessments and psychological interventions to service users, multidisciplinary team members, families and carers of service users, some of which may be sensitive in nature.
To work collaboratively with other psychologists and multidisciplinary colleagues to contribute to the multidisciplinary care of services users.

Clinical

To carry out or assist in carrying out specified assessments, including standardised psychometric tests and the scoring, analysis and initial preparation of formal reports.

To deliver standardised individual and group psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.

To undertake file/case reviews to support clinical decision making of the psychology and multidisciplinary staff.

To attend psychology and multidisciplinary meetings about service users to share and obtain information, disseminate report findings and convey opinion and analyses.

To contribute to risk assessment and management of service users, and to immediately report any instances of harm or suspected harm/risk to a service user or others to qualified members of the team in line with safeguarding and risk management policies and protocols.

Administration

To maintain clear records of all client work carried out in Trust and / or Caraline client case note. To maintain high standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording and report writing and responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of conduct and practice of the BPS/HCPC and Trust policies and procedures.

To maintain a high level of written and verbal communication with multidisciplinary colleagues, GPs, service users, carers.

To use all Trust and Caraline information systems as required and in a timely manner to enter patient data, activity data, using email and diaries, and any other systems in compliance with NHS and Caraline information governance and local Trust and Caraline requirements

Human Resources

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 post-holders professional and team/operational manager(s).
To undertake mandatory training in line with Trust and Caraline requirements.

To undergo regular performance appraisal and review.

Performance and Quality

To contribute to team audits carried out as part of routine service review and evaluation, and specific audits as required, under supervision.

To participate in carrying out service orientated and clinically relevant research (as agreed by the Trust, Locality Director and Professional Psychology Lead).

To utilize theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

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

To develop knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to adult and older adult mental health.

To contribute to the development of colleagues understanding of psychological aspects of care through informal and formal discussion/presentation.

To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a qualified Psychologist in accordance with good practice guidance from the BPS. To participate in peer group support with other assistant psychologists within CEDS and Caraline and the wider Trust.

To keep abreast of developments in psychological assessment and treatment of people with eating disorders and other mental health difficulties through self-directed reading, attendance at CPD events, and through own supervision.

Financial and Physical Resources

Responsible for the safe and secure use and storage of all Trust-supplied equipment, in line with Trust policies.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

A first or upper second class honours degree in Psychology

Desirable

Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

Essential

Previous work with people with mental health or social care needs.

Desirable

Experience of working with people with eating disorders
Experience working in a clinical team, especially as an Assistant Psychologist or direct care giver.
Experience in communicating sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues.
Experience of service evaluation.
Experience in delivering individual and group psychological interventions.
Understanding of current NHS/Social Care policies/practices relating to mental health.
Experience of delivering psychological interventions or other contact with services users and carers online

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
An understanding of research in health care settings
High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
Skills in engaging positively with a wide range of people with respect for diversity and encouraging inclusion.
Ability to work independently, within agreed time frames, and using supervision appropriately within limits of competence.
Ability to create and maintain effective relationships within the Clinical team and with a range of professionals.
Ability to be open and reflective
IT literate (including expertise in using Microsoft Office applications) to a professional standard and using statistical packages for evaluation and research.

Other

Essential

Ability to travel between sites in order to deliver services from various community bases across the county
Demonstrate a keen interest in working in the field of Eating Disorders
Ability to work flexibly to cover evening groups / service need. TOIL will be given for any evening work.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

A first or upper second class honours degree in Psychology

Desirable

Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

Essential

Previous work with people with mental health or social care needs.

Desirable

Experience of working with people with eating disorders
Experience working in a clinical team, especially as an Assistant Psychologist or direct care giver.
Experience in communicating sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues.
Experience of service evaluation.
Experience in delivering individual and group psychological interventions.
Understanding of current NHS/Social Care policies/practices relating to mental health.
Experience of delivering psychological interventions or other contact with services users and carers online

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
An understanding of research in health care settings
High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
Skills in engaging positively with a wide range of people with respect for diversity and encouraging inclusion.
Ability to work independently, within agreed time frames, and using supervision appropriately within limits of competence.
Ability to create and maintain effective relationships within the Clinical team and with a range of professionals.
Ability to be open and reflective
IT literate (including expertise in using Microsoft Office applications) to a professional standard and using statistical packages for evaluation and research.

Other

Essential

Ability to travel between sites in order to deliver services from various community bases across the county
Demonstrate a keen interest in working in the field of Eating Disorders
Ability to work flexibly to cover evening groups / service need. TOIL will be given for any evening work.

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).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Mountbatten House

56 High Street South

Dunstable

LU6 3HD

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Mountbatten House

56 High Street South

Dunstable

LU6 3HD

Employer's website

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