Band 5 Psychology Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

We offer a caring, friendly and supportive working environment with a strong emphasis on CPD through access to specialist clinical support, sharing good practice and effective team working.

Assessments are carried out both virtually and face to face, by a multidisciplinary team at 4 sites across the city of Birmingham. You will need to be willing to travel across the city as required.

Assessments are offered sensitively to include all members of the diverse population of Birmingham.

To make effective use of our virtual and mobile working technology and IT systems, you will also have good IT skills.

We value our staff and advocate career progression internally. We encourage staff to contribute to service development, and we welcome and value new ideas and experiences.

• A good undergraduate degree in psychology.
• Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
• A passion and interest in working with children and families with neurodevelopmental needs
• Ability to speak fluently in one of Birminghams community languages in addition to English. (Punjabi,, Hindi, Urdu, or Arabic).

Main responsibilities

1. To undertake evidence based psychological assessments of children, including psychometric assessment, self-report measures, rating scales, direct structured observations and semi-structured interviews with children, family members and others involved in the childs support
2. To assist in the formulation and development of childrens and families recommended support plans involving the psychological support and/or management of a childs difficulties, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist
3. To assist in the coordination and running of pre and post assessment groups
4. To work with other staff to assess children and review their histories, setting information and current presentation in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews
5. To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and support to the benefit of all children and families in the service, across all settings where support takes place
6. To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings
7. To communicate complex and sensitive information, including condition related information to children, families and staff within wider systems, as appropriate
8. To record personally generated clinical observations and collect clinical data
9. To work with clients with complex and emotive problems and be able to reflect on and contain own emotions.

Teaching, training and supervision

1. In common with all Practitioner Psychologists, to receive weekly clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines
2. To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post-holder is employed
3. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
4. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care

Research, audit and service evaluation

1. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required
2. To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes
3. To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified Practitioner Psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

General

1. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures
2. To prepare assessment materials and equipment as required
3. To undertake specific administrative duties as required
4. To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required by their psychology manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• An undergraduate degree in psychology.
• Eligibility or graduate membership (British Psychological Society)

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience of postgraduate work with children with mental health and physical health care needs.
• Relevant experience pertaining to an Assistant Psychologist/Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner.
• Experience of working with children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of children and families with neurodiverse presentations and mental health problems or other care needs.
• Understanding and experience of working in a multicultural context.
• An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a support context.
• Experience using IT for databases or data-analysis

Desirable

• High standard of report writing.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Self-motivated.
• Positive, energetic, enthusiastic in outlook and able to set a good example
• Ability to manage under pressure; work to tight deadlines, evidencing excellent time management
• Able to work independently or as part of a team.

Other job requirements

Essential

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
• Ability to reach scheduled appointments across the city in a timely fashion.
• Ability to travel independently Trustwide
• Ability to undertake planned out of hours clinical activities relevant to the provision of psychological care pathways

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS FT

Address

Moseley Hall Hospital

Alcester rd

Moseley Birmingham

B13 8JL

Employer's website

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