Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for two Assistant Psychologist posts
within the Specialist Community Health Team for Learning Disabilities, Devon
Partnership NHS Trust. Both posts are full time and fixed term contracts for 9
months. One post based in Cluster 2 (North & Mid Devon) and the other post
based in Cluster 3 (South East & South West Devon).
The recruited Assistant Psychologists will support the work of a
passionate and experienced Clinical Psychology Team where a compassionate
approach to leadership is promoted. The
role is varied and may include complex assessments, consultation, interventions
and training. Opportunities are often present for Assistant Psychologists to be
involved with service development work such as service user engagement, evaluation,
audit and research. The Psychology role is well integrated within a rich
MDT. These posts provide an excellent opportunity for Psychology graduates
who are interested in pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology. The post-holder will receive training and regular
clinical supervision for the role. We have good links with the local Doctoral
training courses and regularly host trainees on placements throughout the
Trust.
Please note that this vacancy
may close early without notice due to the volume of applications we expect to
receive. please do not delay in submitting your application as no further
applications will be accepted once the vacancy has closed.
Main duties of the job
The principal purpose of the job is to improve the psychological health
& wellbeing of people with learning disabilities. This will be achieved by:
1. Implementing specific clinical assessments such as neuropsychological
tests, adjusted measures of mental health, outcome measures and assessment of
adaptive functioning.
2. Gathering information and undertaking clinical observations to
contribute to a holistic understanding of an individual and/or system need.
3. Contributing to the Psychology training offer, for instance Trauma
Informed Practice workshops, bereavement support for staff or dementia training
with caregivers.
4. Supporting qualified staff to undertake initial assessments for
individuals referred on to our Psychological Therapies waiting list.
5. Working therapeutically with people with learning disabilities, individually
or in groups, for example offering stabilisation or compassionate minds
training.
The post holder will work under the guidance of a qualified Psychologist
and supported by senior colleagues within the specialism. They will be expected to make good use of the expertise of others within the
service to further develop their clinical skills with people with learning
disabilities, whilst adhering to professional guidelines, and DPT procedures and protocols. The post
holder will receive regular clinical supervision in accordance
to Trust Policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British
Psychological Society.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, neurodiversity & learning disability 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.
Our values
We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values 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, neurodiversity & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and
Responsibilities
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
- Clients, family and carers: To communicate in a skilled and
sensitive manner with clients who may have specific difficulties in
understand and/or communicating and who may be distressed.
- Multidisciplinary team colleagues: To work closely with colleagues in
the multi-professional integrated learning disability services on a day to
day basis.
- Health & social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of
health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled
and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the
assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services
care. To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological
principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
- Senior managers & professional staff: To maintain and build good working
relationships with senior professional staff and managers in the Learning
Disability Services and in DPT, to foster a positive approach to the integrated
mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
- In a supervised context, to undertake clinical assessments and
observations within the IATT service and evaluate the findings. In addition, to
undertake audit and research activities within the Learning Disability service
and evaluate the findings.
Planning and Organisational Skills
- To plan and
prioritise own workload.
- To provide
psychology knowledge as a result of research and audit activity to the
multi-professional planning, development and marketing of learning disability
services within DPT.
Responsibility for
Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
- Assessment & intervention: To make assessments, and deliver
treatment interventions within a supervised context for individuals, carers,
families and groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- Consultation & guidance: In a supervised context, to provide
advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to
colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.
- Audit and Research: To carry out audits of service provision and research
within a supervised context involving individuals, carers, families and
groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
Responsibility for Policy and Service
Development Implementation
- Policy & service To follow policy guidance in own
role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and
Other Resources
Responsibility for
Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
- There is a
requirement to support learners on a regular basis which includes the
achievement and updating of profession specific training to the required
standard to fulfil this role
Responsibility for Information Resources and
Administrative Duties
- To maintain accurate records
- To be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and
respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its
internal communication.
Responsibility for Research and Development
- R & D: To undertake service-relevant research as indicated above
and development activity agreed within the learning disability service.
Freedom to Act
- The post holder is accountable for their own professional actions,
acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice
Guidelines.
- In a supervised
context, to work within clinical professional guidelines and exercise
responsibility for the governance of psychological practice within the
Health and Social Care Partnership for People with Learning
Disabilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and
Responsibilities
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
- Clients, family and carers: To communicate in a skilled and
sensitive manner with clients who may have specific difficulties in
understand and/or communicating and who may be distressed.
- Multidisciplinary team colleagues: To work closely with colleagues in
the multi-professional integrated learning disability services on a day to
day basis.
- Health & social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of
health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled
and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the
assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services
care. To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological
principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
- Senior managers & professional staff: To maintain and build good working
relationships with senior professional staff and managers in the Learning
Disability Services and in DPT, to foster a positive approach to the integrated
mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
- In a supervised context, to undertake clinical assessments and
observations within the IATT service and evaluate the findings. In addition, to
undertake audit and research activities within the Learning Disability service
and evaluate the findings.
Planning and Organisational Skills
- To plan and
prioritise own workload.
- To provide
psychology knowledge as a result of research and audit activity to the
multi-professional planning, development and marketing of learning disability
services within DPT.
Responsibility for
Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
- Assessment & intervention: To make assessments, and deliver
treatment interventions within a supervised context for individuals, carers,
families and groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- Consultation & guidance: In a supervised context, to provide
advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to
colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.
- Audit and Research: To carry out audits of service provision and research
within a supervised context involving individuals, carers, families and
groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
Responsibility for Policy and Service
Development Implementation
- Policy & service To follow policy guidance in own
role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and
Other Resources
Responsibility for
Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
- There is a
requirement to support learners on a regular basis which includes the
achievement and updating of profession specific training to the required
standard to fulfil this role
Responsibility for Information Resources and
Administrative Duties
- To maintain accurate records
- To be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and
respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much of its
internal communication.
Responsibility for Research and Development
- R & D: To undertake service-relevant research as indicated above
and development activity agreed within the learning disability service.
Freedom to Act
- The post holder is accountable for their own professional actions,
acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice
Guidelines.
- In a supervised
context, to work within clinical professional guidelines and exercise
responsibility for the governance of psychological practice within the
Health and Social Care Partnership for People with Learning
Disabilities.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality.
Desirable
- Experience of specialist psychological research and audit of services and people who use services across a wide range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
- Experience gained during supervised training of working in applied psychology.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
Physical Skills
Essential
- Ability to be meet the clinical and operational demands of the role across an large geographical area, where public transport is limited.
Qualifications
Essential
- BA or BSc in either Psychology, or modular studies or related fields
- Some experience, either through employment or voluntary work, with vulnerable people with complex needs and/or who are socially disadvantaged.
Desirable
- BA or BSc in Psychology eligible for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills.
- Able to produce well written reports.
- Excellent IT skills.
- Ability to integrate complex data; make highly skilled evaluations and decisions under supervision of qualified staff.
- Organisation and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently within a supervised context and defined occupational procedures and use initiative within a community based service
- Ability to work as a member of a management team.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts
Desirable
- Clinical placement and/or supervised practise in Learning Disability services.
- Further training in applied / clinical psychology interventions.
- Project management.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality.
Desirable
- Experience of specialist psychological research and audit of services and people who use services across a wide range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
- Experience gained during supervised training of working in applied psychology.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
Physical Skills
Essential
- Ability to be meet the clinical and operational demands of the role across an large geographical area, where public transport is limited.
Qualifications
Essential
- BA or BSc in either Psychology, or modular studies or related fields
- Some experience, either through employment or voluntary work, with vulnerable people with complex needs and/or who are socially disadvantaged.
Desirable
- BA or BSc in Psychology eligible for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills.
- Able to produce well written reports.
- Excellent IT skills.
- Ability to integrate complex data; make highly skilled evaluations and decisions under supervision of qualified staff.
- Organisation and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently within a supervised context and defined occupational procedures and use initiative within a community based service
- Ability to work as a member of a management team.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts
Desirable
- Clinical placement and/or supervised practise in Learning Disability services.
- Further training in applied / clinical psychology interventions.
- Project management.
