Job responsibilities
ALLIANCE
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES LIMITED
JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Assistant Psychologist
Location: Hartlepool
Service Area: Children, Young People
and Families
Reporting
to: Schools Cluster Lead
Accountable to: Service Manager,
Children Young People and Families
Employment Terms: Fixed term for 6 months
Alliance is a leading local childrens mental health provider delivering
psychological support and emotional well-being services in primary and
secondary schools and supporting a whole school approach to improving
childrens mental health and wellbeing.
We also provide psychological therapies to children and families with
multiple and complex needs. Through the Children and Young Peoples Improving
Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) programme our service
transformation is through delivery of evidence-based therapies, use of routine
outcome measures and in full collaboration with children, young peoples and
families.
Job Purpose
The post-holder will work in
Alliance as part of a wider team of psychological therapists, delivering, with
supervision, high-quality; brief outcome focused evidence-based interventions
for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health
difficulties. To undertake structured
psychological assessments of clients with mental health conditions and delivery
of protocol-driven psychological interventions under the supervision of a
qualified applied psychologist and a Schools Cluster Lead in range of community
settings. To be compassionate in meeting
the needs of children, young people and their families. To assist in clinical
audits. To show commitment to and participate in quality improvement
activities. To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental ill
health or learning disabilities. To promote at all times a positive image of
the service.
Main Duties and
Responsibilities
Undertakes psychological assessments of children and young people under
supervision, using structured tests and tools reporting results to both the Schools Cluster Lead and
through Supervision with the qualified psychologist for further assessment.
Delivers protocol-driven psychological
interventions under supervision. and reports progress to the both the Schools Cluster Lead and qualified
psychologist for further consideration.
Undertakes administrative tasks in relation to
own work and as requested.
Uses Microsoft Office applications on a daily
basis.
Prepares test materials and visual aids. Uses basic psychometric testing equipment.
Assists in the development of self-help and
other educational material for use by children, young
people, their families and
a range of educational settings.
Responsible for maintaining accurate and
comprehensive client records using PCMIS in
accordance with Alliances and professional record keeping standards
Organises own workload on a day-to-day basis, prioritising
work as appropriate.
Plans and organises therapeutic activities for individual children
and young people or groups in accordance with care
needs.
Contributes to the development of policies and
procedures in own area as part of the team.
Contributes to continual safety and quality
improvement activities as part of the team.
Personal duty of care to complete time sheets,
mileage forms, expense claim sheets etc, accurately
and in a timely manner, providing receipts as required.
Training
and Supervision
Comply with the terms of the contract of
employment, the Staff Compact and the Trusts Statement of Values and
Behaviours.
Be aware of, comply with and keep up to date with all Trust Policies and Procedures
and other communications relevant to the role.
Maintain registration with the appropriate
professional body where applicable and comply with the relevant code of conduct
and standards of professional practice.
Fully participate in management, clinical and
professional supervision sessions relevant to the role, as required by the
Trust.
Fully participate in annual appraisal and
appraisal reviews.
Maintain up to date knowledge and competency
in the skills required to perform safely and
effectively in the role.
Undertake relevant training (including
statutory and mandatory training) and be responsible for personal development
agreed with the line manager.
Work is checked and monitored through regular
clinical supervision from qualified psychologists, in accordance with
professional practice guidelines.
Demonstrates an awareness of
the audit process within the clinical governance framework and the relevant standards
that are required and monitored within the team.
Participates in the induction
of new staff into the clinical area.
Partnership
Working
To create and maintain
effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral
Teams, mental health champions and wider teaching staff by providing advice and
consultative support on emotional and mental health issues, and in relation to
appropriate referral pathways for children, young people and families
experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
To liaise effectively with
other local providers, including statutory, voluntary sector organisations and
on behalf of the child, young person or family.
To
build effective working relationships with other local childrens mental health
providers including CaMHS and support the development of pathways of support.
Ensures that communication
with members of the public is professional and courteous at all times.
Attends multi-disciplinary
team meetings providing structured, objective clinical information to assist in
decision-making.
Safeguarding
Responsible for recognising the signs of harm,
abuse, or neglect,
including poor clinical practice, identifying issues regarding the safeguarding
of children who may be at risk and reporting all such concerns in accordance
with Alliances Safeguarding procedures.
A
Professional and Ethical Service
- Makes judgements and responds appropriately to children and young peoples
responses and mood during therapeutic interventions.
- Analyses progress when facilitating therapeutic
activities and makes recommendations to the
relevant agencies, the Schools Cluster Lead and the qualified psychologist in relation to possible
adjustments required to the activities.
- Makes judgements and responds
appropriately to the childs responses and mood during
therapeutic interventions.
- Identifies non-routine situations and escalates to
qualified staff.
- Responsible for maintaining appropriate boundaries
with service users.
- Undertakes basic analysis of
data from clinical audits.
Assists in clinical audits in own work area,
undertaking data collection and basic analysis using statistical software
programmes.
Communicates in a way which
recognises difference and ensures that people feel included and their
individual communication needs are met.
Communications with service
users must at all times be safe (appropriate) in content, effective and
respectful and made compassionately and positively to minimise anxiety and
distress related to their health and well-being.
Uses appropriate communication
methods to ensure effective therapeutic engagement with children where
understanding may be limited.
Keeps up to date with new
developments in the field, undertaking literature searches to inform evidence-based
practice
- May work without direct supervision in a variety of
settings including the childs own home and school, with advice available by telephone if required.
- Carries out delegated duties in accordance with agreed
care plans, policies and procedures within range of own competency and
scope of practice.
Other
The post holder may be
required to undertake duties not specified in the job description, but which
are commensurate with the role and/or band as required by service need.
The post holder may be
required to work in locations other than those specified in the job description
as required by service need.
The post holder may be
required to work flexible hours as required by service need, for instance this post may require some
late evening work to meet service demand.
There
may be a requirement to change the job description in light of developing
service needs.
This job description is designed to identify
principal responsibilities only. The
post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance
with changes in Alliances organisational objectives and priorities.
