Assistant Psychologist

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

The closing date is 02 October 2024

Job summary

Would you like to be part of a dedicated team committed to those with mental health problems enjoy a better future?

We are looking for an Assistant Psychologist to join the Inpatient Psychology Team based at Dewnans Centre, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish.

This role represents an exciting opportunity to join our innovative psychology department at one of the country's most respected providers of secure Mental Health Services.

At Langdon Hospital, Psychology is a core and valued profession within our multidisciplinary teams. The Psychology Department is at the heart of developing an innovative multidisciplinary care pathway and therapeutic learning culture for people who work or live here.

The Psychology Team at Langdon includes experienced and enthusiastic Clinical, Forensic, Counselling Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Arts Therapists, Trainee Psychologists and a team of Assistant Psychologists, one each for our 5 wards across the Medium Secure estate. Forensic mental health settings provide an enviable clinical environment in which to pursue clinical interests and develop specialism in areas such as risk assessment, offence focused work, individual or group work, trauma, psychosis, personality and relational difficulties, as well as cognitive and developmental difficulties. The work can involve a range of assessment and therapeutic approaches, modalities and timeframes.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist for the Secure Services Directorate you will working as part of a Psychology Team who provide specialist Psychological work to people who work or live at Langdon Hospital and developing your clinical and forensic assessment and therapy skills.

The post holder will use their experience of forensic mental health settings to support their development and work alongside the Assistant and Psychologists in the team. The Assistant Psychologist role at Langdon involves a significant amount of risk assessment work alongside other opportunities, such as embedding ward mindfulness across site for staff and patients, 1:1 and group work, audit and involvement in service development.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

17 September 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-24-0733

Job locations

Langdon Hospital

Devon Partnership Trust

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more information about this role, please refer to the supporting documents, the Job description and the person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more information about this role, please refer to the supporting documents, the Job description and the person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

BA or BSc in Psychology eligible recognised by the British Psychological Society.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Clinical placement and/or supervised practice with a psychologist or psychotherapist in a mental health, neuropsychology and or forensic setting.
Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills
Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations formulations and decisions
Ability and motivation to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative within a forensic mental health service.
Ability to work as a member of a clinical team and to work collaboratively, flexibly and supportively.
Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
Ability and experience of reflecting on practice and to understand, to respond and to be receptive to the process of professional development.
Understanding that clinical supervisors and line management may change and that this role is not restricted to one ward area within the Forensic Service at Langdon Hospital.
A willingness to receive training in patient restraint if required, and to support the clinical team in a manner appropriate to the role of assistant psychologist

Experience

Essential

Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality
Experience gained during supervised training of working in applied psychology
Experience that can enrich the role and delivery of a psychological service
Organisation and time management skills
Small -scale project management

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

BA or BSc in Psychology eligible recognised by the British Psychological Society.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Clinical placement and/or supervised practice with a psychologist or psychotherapist in a mental health, neuropsychology and or forensic setting.
Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills
Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations formulations and decisions
Ability and motivation to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative within a forensic mental health service.
Ability to work as a member of a clinical team and to work collaboratively, flexibly and supportively.
Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
Ability and experience of reflecting on practice and to understand, to respond and to be receptive to the process of professional development.
Understanding that clinical supervisors and line management may change and that this role is not restricted to one ward area within the Forensic Service at Langdon Hospital.
A willingness to receive training in patient restraint if required, and to support the clinical team in a manner appropriate to the role of assistant psychologist

Experience

Essential

Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality
Experience gained during supervised training of working in applied psychology
Experience that can enrich the role and delivery of a psychological service
Organisation and time management skills
Small -scale project management

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.