Assistant Psychologist

Job responsibilities

ROLE SUMMARY

You will support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients, supporting neuropsychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified/ senior professional psychologist according to a plan agreed with the qualified/ senior psychologist and within the overall framework of the Trust's policies and procedures. This will be through both direct and indirect work.

You will be expected to work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the multidisciplinary team in delivering services; providing a 7- day a week, 24- hours a day service for 365 days a year working shifts where appropriate, and as operationally required. You will also be expected to work in an increasingly shared and busy team environment, which includes hot desking, travelling across sites and working in the community; working in care home and inpatient settings will be also expected.

In delivering your duties you are expected to display behaviours that are aligned with the Trust values and in accordance with the NHS Constitution at all times

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES CLINICAL

Please note that this role outline serves to provide an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities you may be expected to undertake during the course of your normal duties. It is not an exhaustive list and you will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties that are considered to be commensurate with the band.

Core Clinical Function

• Support neuropsychological assessments and therapy interventions under close supervision

• Deliver group sessions for example psycho-education and therapeutic groups, including our signature Mild Cognitive Impairment group intervention, implementation of therapy or other aspects of care, under clinical supervision

• Attend MDT meetings to provide input, learn about patients, agree care plans

• Enable service user families and carers to address issues which affect their health and social wellbeing

• Provide psycho-social intervention, education and support to develop service users' understanding of dementia and other mental health difficulties

• Liaise with staff in a variety of settings, ensuring that teams are able to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of people with dementia and/or mental health difficulties in their care

• Ensure the maintenance of accurate and timely documentation / records on all service users in line with professional code and Trust policy

Application form task compliance

Essential

• Have the candidate answered the 1st specific question as part of their supporting statement?
• Have the candidate answered the 2nd specific question as part of their supporting statement?
• Have the candidate answered the 3rdspecific question as part of their supporting statement?

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in Psychology.
• Entitlement to graduate membership and the Graduate Basis for Registration ( GBR) of the British Psychological Society .
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable

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

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of range of ways of understanding the lives of older people with dementia and mental health problems.
• Experience of working reflectively with people of different backgrounds and knowledge of the impact of these considerations on service delivery in the NHS
• Good IT knowledge and skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Desirable

• Knowledge of working with external agencies to support this service user group.
• Knowledge of neuropsychology and its application in clinical settings.
• Experience or understanding of using an electronic information systems.

Skills/Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a team environment.
• Experience of dealing with confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience of and passion for working with people with mental health issues/ dementia and vulnerable service users.
• Good verbal communication skills based on fluency in the English language.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in the NHS or health care sector.
• Experience of working in Mental Health/ dementia environments.
• Therapeutic group facilitation skills (under supervision)

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to work with senior staff to undertake a range of clinical as well as administrative duties.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines where required.
• Ability to work effectively and flexibly without direct supervision, carrying out duties as requested.
• Self- motivated with a desire to contribute to the ongoing service development.
• Ability to demonstrate a level of innovation and creativity in the working environment, and to adapt to change when required.
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health setting.
• Shares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour.
• Ensures that the organisational values of open, compassionate and empowering 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.

Desirable

• Ability to critically analyse and review research findings and reports.

Additional Qualities

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, internally and externally.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, their families and members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to report back at professional meetings / reviews for an individual / group.
• Fitness Analysis as appropriate.
• Ability to travel across sites and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc.

Desirable

• Current driving licence.

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).