Job summary
We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist to support the work of our Psychologists and our multi-disciplinary teams on our adult inpatient psychiatric wards. The wards are based in the Luton area and are on several separate sites so ability to travel between wards is required. The post is over a fixed term contract of 12 months.
The successful applicants will have completed and been awarded a first or upper second class (2:1) honours degree in Psychology which confers eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society. They should have experience of supporting and facilitating groups under supervision of a psychologist. They will also have a strong academic record with excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent IT literacy skills and skills in data collection and evaluation.
We are also looking for people who have experience of working with and engaging positively and sensitively with people with serious mental health difficulties and their support networks. The ability to work collaboratively with other professions is a central part of the post in order to provide holistic care within a biopsychosocial model and a culture of trauma-informed care.
Please note that interviews will be in person on 1st April 2025 and the successful candidate should be able to start the full time post by June 2025.
Main duties of the job
They will support the work of the qualified Psychologists which will include carrying out or assisting in assessments, functional analysis and positive behavior support planning, and facilitating psychological skills groups running on the wards under supervision. The Assistant Psychologist will also support the Quality Improvement projects running on the wards. The Assistant Psychologist will work under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
In addition, they will be expected to assist in clinically related administration, collection of statistics, and carrying out audit and/or research projects. 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.
About us
Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy for more information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please kindly refer to the job description attached to this vacancy for more information.
The Assistant Psychologist will support and enhance the professional psychological care of clientsadmitted across the Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health Inpatient Units. They will support thework of the qualified Psychologists which will include carrying out or assisting in assessments andsupporting groups running on the wards. The Assistant Psychologist will also support the QualityImprovement projects running on the wards. The Assistant Psychologist will work under thesupervision of a qualified psychologist.In addition, they will be expected to assist in clinically related administration, collection of statistics,and carrying out audit and/or research projects. Further specific duties will be determined on thebasis of skills and experience and operational service requirements, and may vary occasionally asservice needs/priorities change.The work is undertaken with the inpatient facilities in the Trust and occasionally across a range ofcommunity resources. The post also involves working alone, in accordance with Trusts policies andprocedures. There is a risk of exposure to verbal and physical aggression. Training in BreakawayTechniques is required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please kindly refer to the job description attached to this vacancy for more information.
The Assistant Psychologist will support and enhance the professional psychological care of clientsadmitted across the Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health Inpatient Units. They will support thework of the qualified Psychologists which will include carrying out or assisting in assessments andsupporting groups running on the wards. The Assistant Psychologist will also support the QualityImprovement projects running on the wards. The Assistant Psychologist will work under thesupervision of a qualified psychologist.In addition, they will be expected to assist in clinically related administration, collection of statistics,and carrying out audit and/or research projects. Further specific duties will be determined on thebasis of skills and experience and operational service requirements, and may vary occasionally asservice needs/priorities change.The work is undertaken with the inpatient facilities in the Trust and occasionally across a range ofcommunity resources. The post also involves working alone, in accordance with Trusts policies andprocedures. There is a risk of exposure to verbal and physical aggression. Training in BreakawayTechniques is required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A first or upper second class (2:1) honours degree in Psychology conferring eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Attendance at short courses relevant to the post (eg further training in working with people with Complex Emotional Needs or Psychosis/Bipolar Disorder)
Experience
Essential
- Work with client groups with severe mental health problems (eg Complex Emotional Needs, Psychosis, Bipolar Disorder)
- Experience in supporting psychological assessment and delivering individual and/or group interventions under supervision
- Completing and conducting service-related research or service evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of work in the NHS giving awareness of NHS values and structures.
- Experience working in a clinical multi-disciplinary team, as an Assistant Psychologist or direct care giver.
- Experience in communicating sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
- Experience of QI Framework and working on QI Projects
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- Aware of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health.
- Skills in engaging positively with a wide range of people with respect for diversity and encouraging inclusion.
- Able to draw upon a specific theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations, under clinical supervision.
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to work independently, prioritising workload, 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.
- IT literate including expertise in using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to a professional standard
Desirable
- Ability to use statistical packages for data collection, evaluation and research.
Other
Essential
- Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A first or upper second class (2:1) honours degree in Psychology conferring eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Attendance at short courses relevant to the post (eg further training in working with people with Complex Emotional Needs or Psychosis/Bipolar Disorder)
Experience
Essential
- Work with client groups with severe mental health problems (eg Complex Emotional Needs, Psychosis, Bipolar Disorder)
- Experience in supporting psychological assessment and delivering individual and/or group interventions under supervision
- Completing and conducting service-related research or service evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of work in the NHS giving awareness of NHS values and structures.
- Experience working in a clinical multi-disciplinary team, as an Assistant Psychologist or direct care giver.
- Experience in communicating sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
- Experience of QI Framework and working on QI Projects
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- Aware of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health.
- Skills in engaging positively with a wide range of people with respect for diversity and encouraging inclusion.
- Able to draw upon a specific theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations, under clinical supervision.
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to work independently, prioritising workload, 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.
- IT literate including expertise in using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to a professional standard
Desirable
- Ability to use statistical packages for data collection, evaluation and research.
Other
Essential
- Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
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).
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).
