Job summary
Applicants are invited to apply for an Assistant Psychologist post at band 5 (fixed term 2 years) within an older adult community CMHT setting. The post- holder will work closely with the Lead Consultant Psychologist, three practitioner psychologists (bands 7 to 8B), a counsellor and trainee clinical psychologists on placement. You will be part of a well-established Older Adult Speciality for Psychology Services that provides services into a number of physical and mental health settings, including Young Onset Dementia Services, in-patient and community Mental Health Services for Older People, Dementia services and a memory team, Liaison Services and Medical Rehabilitation.
The service has in recent years been developing new multi-disciplinary models of working. We are working to ensure we demonstrate the impact of psychological approaches for people in later life who are affected by a range of mental health difficulties. The role will provide you with wide-ranging experiences, support and supervision to enable your professional development. We offer excellent opportunities to help you engage in self-reflection, and develop your professional knowledge and skills to improve service delivery and patient experience.
The post holder will be based at University Hospital Llandough but may be required to work at other sites with the health board.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will assist the service in the delivery of psychological assessment, formulations and interventions for people in later life with mental health difficulties.
The post holder will help with service improvements to support and enhance the psychological care of people within the services.
The post holder will assist in clinically related administration, research and gather information for audits, develop materials for clinical practice, teaching and research.
The post holder will work collaboratively and closely with multi-disciplinary colleagues and work according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist, within the overall framework of the health board's policies and procedures.
The post holder will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with the health board policy and profession practice guidelines set out by BPS.
This post is fixed term for 2 years due to funding.
About us
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 17,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving over 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services. Together we are committed to improving health outcomes for everyone, delivering excellent care and support.
Our mission is "Living Well, Caring Well, Working Together", and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. Our 10-year transformation and improvement strategy, Shaping Our Future Wellbeing, is our chance to work collaboratively with the public and our workforce to make our health board more sustainable for the future.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification within the supporting documents or please click apply now to view in Trac.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification within the supporting documents or please click apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second-class honours degree or higher in Psychology
- Eligibility for graduate basis for chartership with the British Psychological Society.
Desirable
- Additional training in relevant areas e.g., mental health practice, research design, psychological therapy.
Experience
Essential
- Relevant clinical experience.
Desirable
- Experience of applying clinical/counselling psychology in the NHS (counselling or psychological interventions under supervision).
- Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team
- Previous experience of audit and/or service evaluation
- Experience of working in caring roles within mental or physical healthcare
Skills
Essential
- Ability to use high level communication skills in both spoken and written communication, including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- An ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context and an understanding of Psychology as applied to health care
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines and be involved in training members of staff.
- Ability to plan and prioritise own workload
Desirable
- High standard of clinical and audit/research report writing.
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of older people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Ability to carry out standardised psychological assessments.
- Specialist knowledge related to the area of work.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Interest and enthusiasm for working with people in later life to increase their psychological skills.
- An ability to manage emotional issues arising from working with clients in significant distress.
- Empathic interpersonal style.
- Ability to be flexible towards service requirements.
- Ability to accept and use clinical supervision appropriately and effectively.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second-class honours degree or higher in Psychology
- Eligibility for graduate basis for chartership with the British Psychological Society.
Desirable
- Additional training in relevant areas e.g., mental health practice, research design, psychological therapy.
Experience
Essential
- Relevant clinical experience.
Desirable
- Experience of applying clinical/counselling psychology in the NHS (counselling or psychological interventions under supervision).
- Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team
- Previous experience of audit and/or service evaluation
- Experience of working in caring roles within mental or physical healthcare
Skills
Essential
- Ability to use high level communication skills in both spoken and written communication, including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- An ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context and an understanding of Psychology as applied to health care
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines and be involved in training members of staff.
- Ability to plan and prioritise own workload
Desirable
- High standard of clinical and audit/research report writing.
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of older people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Ability to carry out standardised psychological assessments.
- Specialist knowledge related to the area of work.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Interest and enthusiasm for working with people in later life to increase their psychological skills.
- An ability to manage emotional issues arising from working with clients in significant distress.
- Empathic interpersonal style.
- Ability to be flexible towards service requirements.
- Ability to accept and use clinical supervision appropriately and effectively.
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.
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
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.
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).
