Assistant Psychologist in Stroke

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a full time Band 4 Assistant Psychologist to join our Integrated Stroke Therapy Team working across the East Lancashire Hospital Trust.

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate, preferably with previous experience of working in a physical health setting, and a keen interest to work in the specialist area of stroke rehabilitation. Applicants must have an upper second-class honours degree or higher in Psychology & be competent in the use of all IT systems.

The role will require you to assist the Clinical Psychologist to provide high quality, effective clinical psychology by assisting in the professional and psychological care of patients across the stroke pathway. You will provide a range of psychological and psychometric assessments and interventions both directly, and indirectly with families, carers and the wider MDT.

You will work closely with the MDT treating patients on the acute stroke unit at Royal Blackburn Hospital, inpatient stroke rehab unit, and community stroke team based at Pendle Community Hospital. Access to a vehicle is essential to work flexibly across the pathway.

Main duties of the job

As the Assistant Psychologist you will be required to work on a flexible basis across Royal Blackburn Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital and within the Community delivering high standard clinical psychological care to patients on the stroke pathway under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.

You will work with patients, their families and carers on wards, and in their own homes and care homes. Under supervision, you will provide individual and group interventions to support people in reaching their rehabilitation goals, and understanding and managing the cognitive, emotional and behavioural impacts of stroke. You will be able to participate in delivery and evaluation of an innovative online neuro-rehabilitation group programme. You will work closely with other therapists in the MDT to support the team's patient-centred, holistic and goal-focused approach. You will also support delivery of training by the psychology team to stroke therapy team staff or wider care providers.

You will be able to assist in programme and project work. You will contribute to clinical evaluation and audit, through administering and interpreting outcome measures, collating and recording statistics, maintaining databases and producing reports. You will also carry out clinical administrative duties such as writing referrals, clinical letters and reports, while receiving regular clinical supervision with our qualified clinical psychologist.

About us

Established in 2003 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is a large integrated health care organisation providing high quality acute secondary healthcare for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.

The integrated stroke team provide rehabilitation to patients from the sudden onset of stroke right through community. We are a multidisciplinary team, were you will work closely with Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Assistant Practitioners and Clinical Support Workers. We also have close working links with the Stroke Association.

We have a robust supervision and annual appraisal structure along with offering in house training to support the clinical development of our staff. You will link with the wider ELHT clinical health psychology service for professional leadership and development.

We always aim to provide high standard, quality care to all our patients. We are actively involved in a variety of research projects and encourage continuous service improvement.

Date posted

31 July 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year pa

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

435-D197-24

Job locations

Pendle Community Hospital

Nelson

BB9 9SZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

Use effective communication skills in co-facilitating group therapies for patients and in training and supporting staff.

Communicate on a regular basis with all members of the multidisciplinary team, administration staff, care providers and members of the psychology service, as appropriate.

To attend and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings.

Keep accurate and complete records of all patient-related communications.

To communicate outcomes of assessments and interventions to patients, relatives, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team, under supervision.

Maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with the professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and with Trust policies, under supervision.

Personal and People Development

Undertake learning and development opportunities as identified during developmental reviews to ensure continuing development of skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

Provide feedback to Line Manager and Clinical Supervisor on effectiveness of agreed learning activities during supervision meetings.

Comply with CPD requirements in accordance with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Health and Safety

Identify and assess the potential risks involved in work activities for self and others.

Report actual or potential problems that may put health, safety and security at risk and suggests how they might be addressed.

Service Improvement

Effectively carry out tasks related to evaluating services, audits and research projects when asked.

Enablement to Address Health and Well-being Needs

Involve patients in shared decision-making; and obtain their consent for assessment, treatment and communication with third parties.

Promptly alert the team to any risks.

Report and record activities undertaken and how health and well-being needs are changing and feedback on appropriateness of the activities for the people concerned.

Assessment and Treatment Planning

Discuss assessment to be undertaken with supervisor and understand his/her role in assessment and activities to be undertaken.

To undertake selected patient assessments, including psychometric, neuropsychological, self-report and observational measures and semi-structured interviews and some individual and group interventions according to the experience of the post holder, under supervision.

Identify appropriate methods, techniques and equipment for different activities and individuals and prepares appropriately taking into account any risks.

Interventions and Treatments

Undertake specific components of group treatment programmes and be responsible for organisation of these components, in close liaison with other multidisciplinary staff within the service and clinical supervisor.

Undertake relevant patient reviews, under clinical supervision and in liaison with other members of the team as appropriate.

Monitor individuals whilst carrying out the tasks and identify and report any changes in individuals health and well-being.

Record activities and outcomes consistent with procedures, policies and legislation.

Information Collection and Analysis

Score psychometric questionnaires used in patient triage and assessment.

Collect required statistical information for directorate records.

Collect, analyse, present and report data for evaluation of psychological services for Integrated Stroke Therapy Team using IT and statistical packages.

Maintain and update relevant databases, including collecting clinical information.

Maintain and update database of clinical psychology cases and outcomes of interventions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

Use effective communication skills in co-facilitating group therapies for patients and in training and supporting staff.

Communicate on a regular basis with all members of the multidisciplinary team, administration staff, care providers and members of the psychology service, as appropriate.

To attend and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings.

Keep accurate and complete records of all patient-related communications.

To communicate outcomes of assessments and interventions to patients, relatives, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team, under supervision.

Personal and People Development

Undertake learning and development opportunities as identified during developmental reviews to ensure continuing development of skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

Provide feedback to Line Manager and Clinical Supervisor on effectiveness of agreed learning activities during supervision meetings.

Comply with CPD requirements in accordance with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Health and Safety

Identify and assess the potential risks involved in work activities for self and others.

Report actual or potential problems that may put health, safety and security at risk and suggests how they might be addressed.

Service Improvement

Effectively carry out tasks related to evaluating services, audits and research projects when asked.

Enablement to Address Health and Well-being Needs

Involve patients in shared decision-making; and obtain their consent for assessment, treatment and communication with third parties.

Promptly alert the team to any risks.

Report and record activities undertaken and how health and well-being needs are changing and feedback on appropriateness of the activities for the people concerned.

Assessment and Treatment Planning

Discuss assessment to be undertaken with supervisor and understand his/her role in assessment and activities to be undertaken.

Identify appropriate methods, techniques and equipment for different activities and individuals and prepares appropriately taking into account any risks.

Interventions and Treatments

Undertake relevant patient reviews, under clinical supervision and in liaison with other members of the team as appropriate.

Monitor individuals whilst carrying out the tasks and identify and report any changes in individuals health and well-being.

Record activities and outcomes consistent with procedures, policies and legislation.

Information Collection and Analysis

Score psychometric questionnaires used in patient triage and assessment.

Collect required statistical information for directorate records.

Collect, analyse, present and report data for evaluation of psychological services for Integrated Stroke Therapy Team using IT and statistical packages.

Maintain and update relevant databases, including collecting clinical information.

Maintain and update database of clinical psychology cases and outcomes of interventions.

Person Specification

Clinicial and accademic

Essential

An upper second-class honors degree or higher in Psychology
Experience of working with people with physical/ long term conditions or mental health difficulties
Experience using computers for databases or data analysis
Knowledge of psychological methods and theories, and an ability to apply this knowledge within a clinical context.
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with stroke or neurological conditions
An interest in working with adults with diagnosed or stroke across the stroke pathway
Ability to travel between hospital and community sites

Desirable

Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Undertaken research projects
Ability to facilitate group therapy
Worked on audits and service evaluation
Experience of working within a community setting

Person Specification

Clinicial and accademic

Essential

An upper second-class honors degree or higher in Psychology
Experience of working with people with physical/ long term conditions or mental health difficulties
Experience using computers for databases or data analysis
Knowledge of psychological methods and theories, and an ability to apply this knowledge within a clinical context.
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with stroke or neurological conditions
An interest in working with adults with diagnosed or stroke across the stroke pathway
Ability to travel between hospital and community sites

Desirable

Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Undertaken research projects
Ability to facilitate group therapy
Worked on audits and service evaluation
Experience of working within a community setting

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).

Additional information