Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist Crisis Care Service

This job is now closed

Job summary

The post holder will support and enhance the professional psychological care of children, young people and families within a busy CAMHS Crisis Care team under the direction and supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist.

AGENDA FOR CHANGE BAND - band 4

The team work across a 24/7 shift pattern and there is a requirement for days, weekdays and nights.

Working as part of the Community and Mental Health Division you will collaborate with other Clinical Psychology and multi-disciplinary team members. Other professionals in health, education and the voluntary sector involved in the emotional wellbeing of children and families.

Main duties of the job

Following appropriate induction and under direction and supervision, to undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients including standard psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client's care.

To assist in the delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a client's problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist. The post holder can be required to work in highly emotive atmosphere and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.

To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups.

To work with other staff to assess outpatients, inpatients and residents and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.

To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all care settings.

To attend and contribute to clinical psychology meetings and appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, as directed by the qualified clinical psychologists.

To prepare test materials and visual aids as required and to maintain stock of same where necessary.

About us

This post is attached to the crisis care team at Alder Hey. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team provided support to children and young people who are in need of crisis intervention/support. The team staff the crisis line and provide assessments and consultation to other professionals. 1:1 support to CYP providing evidenced based interventions depending on needs of the individual. There is collaboration with other professionals across Liverpool and Sefton CAMHs the Emergency department at Alder Hey hospital and Southport hospital, as well as other services as required as part of the care plan for CYP.

Date posted

24 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

411-COM-25-7136004

Job locations

Catkin Building Alder Hey Hospital

Eaton Road

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Job description

Job responsibilities

In common with all members of the clinical psychology service, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and Trust policy. The post holders work is directed, managed and supervised with goals agreed and reviewed at intervals.
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
Where appropriate, and under the supervision of qualified staff, to contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
To develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as required.
To maintain comprehensive clinical notes and consultation records as defined in the operational policy and countersigned by the Clinical Psychologist supervisor. This includes case files and the services electronic record system.
To be responsible for the prudent use of equipment and resources.
To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
To attend meetings as required in which service developments are planned and discussed.
To be competent in the use of basic IT packages, such as Microsoft Word, and utilize electronic patient record date for implementation of audit and service delivery purposes (to inform service developments)To develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as required.

Job description

Job responsibilities

In common with all members of the clinical psychology service, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and Trust policy. The post holders work is directed, managed and supervised with goals agreed and reviewed at intervals.
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
Where appropriate, and under the supervision of qualified staff, to contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
To develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as required.
To maintain comprehensive clinical notes and consultation records as defined in the operational policy and countersigned by the Clinical Psychologist supervisor. This includes case files and the services electronic record system.
To be responsible for the prudent use of equipment and resources.
To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
To attend meetings as required in which service developments are planned and discussed.
To be competent in the use of basic IT packages, such as Microsoft Word, and utilize electronic patient record date for implementation of audit and service delivery purposes (to inform service developments)To develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as required.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Essential

an upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. A lower second class honours degree supplemented by post graduate qualification may be considered.
work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities on a paid or voluntary basis
Research and Audit Experience
High level communication skills (written and verbal)
understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
an ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
an ability to interact with people with mental health problems or other disabilities and their families
Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist in an NHS setting.
Experience of working on a mental health telephone line
Experience using microcomputers for databases or data- analysis, especially SPSS for Windows
high standard of report writing

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Essential

an upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. A lower second class honours degree supplemented by post graduate qualification may be considered.
work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities on a paid or voluntary basis
Research and Audit Experience
High level communication skills (written and verbal)
understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
an ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
an ability to interact with people with mental health problems or other disabilities and their families
Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist in an NHS setting.
Experience of working on a mental health telephone line
Experience using microcomputers for databases or data- analysis, especially SPSS for Windows
high standard of report writing

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Catkin Building Alder Hey Hospital

Eaton Road

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Catkin Building Alder Hey Hospital

Eaton Road

Liverpool

L12 2AP

Employer's website

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