Job summary
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, dynamic and self-motivated individual to be therole of Psychological Support Practitioner in the Psychological Support and Counselling Service for staff. The successful applicant needs to have a strong interest in working with NHS staff requiring support for stress and mental health related difficulties.
You will be a key member of the assessment team, being the first point of contact for staff accessing the service. In addition to providing initial assessments via telephone, you will hold a small clinical caseload and provide structured interventions for specific difficulties. These sessions are all face-to-face and may be in individual or group format.
You will be provided with regular in-house training and ongoing professional and clinical supervision. You will also have the opportunity to receive additional training in specialist therapy interventions.
Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital with cross-site working in Poole
Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
You will undertake detailed initial assessments using a semi-structured clinical interview together with data from validated screening tools to determine the most appropriate support for staff accessing the service. It requires good working knowledge of key diagnostic criteria for the most common mental health presentations together with extensive knowledge of appropriate referral/signposting and the ability to recognise when further action is required.
You will provide short-term structured support interventions for a range of symptoms and difficulties utilising strategies and techniques from evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Behaviour Activation, and Solution Focussed Therapy.
The role will be working as part of a small supportive team. The post-holder will be reporting to the Senior Psychological Support Practitioner and supported by the Consultant Clinical Lead, working across University Hospitals Dorset.
About us
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
In some cases this means that a services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in any of the following (or an equivalent BSC(Hons) degree at 2:1 or above): Degree in Psychology with GBR (2:1 or above); Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (post grad cert or level 3 undergrad course); Qualified graduate mental health practitioner; Qualified mental health nurse
Desirable
- Postgraduate training and/or qualification in psychology or other mental health / wellbeing related discipline
- Membership or registration with a recognised body i.e. BPS, BABCP, BACP, UKCP
- Further training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Behavioural Activation or similar
Other
Essential
- IT skills to include a high level of competence with MS Outlook, MS Word, OneDrive, and basic level competence with MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Teams.
Desirable
- ICDL Essentials: International Certificate in Digital Literacy (formerly European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or equivalent
- ICDL Extra or equivalent
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential
- Ability to follow and adhere to a semi-structured assessment process and gather info about the symptoms, duration and impact of mental health difficulties
- Ability to use open and closed questions effectively in order to elicit relevant information
- Ability to manage own Outlook diary
- Ability to maintain a high standard of clinical note/record keeping
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a mental health or wellbeing service or setting.
- Experience of conducting assessments of mental health and wellbeing
- Experience of conducting assessments of suicide and self-harm risk
- Experience of supporting adults with anxiety, depression, trauma and/or stress-related difficulties
Desirable
- Experience of assessing chronic stress and burnout
- Experience of using diagnostic screening tools
- Experience of using semi-structured clinical interviews
- Experience of running groups
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates a good understanding of anxiety, depression and PTSD, and their associated diagnostic features
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work-related stress and the impact it can have on mental health
- Ability to understand and interpret diagnostic screening tools
Desirable
- Understanding the stresses faced by NHS staff
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other MH problems
- Has received training in conducting assessments of suicide risk
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to prioritise and manage own caseload
- Ability to work autonomously
- Appreciation of and enthusiasm for teamwork
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
Desirable
- Personal interest in Mindfulness or similar as part of own self-care
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in any of the following (or an equivalent BSC(Hons) degree at 2:1 or above): Degree in Psychology with GBR (2:1 or above); Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (post grad cert or level 3 undergrad course); Qualified graduate mental health practitioner; Qualified mental health nurse
Desirable
- Postgraduate training and/or qualification in psychology or other mental health / wellbeing related discipline
- Membership or registration with a recognised body i.e. BPS, BABCP, BACP, UKCP
- Further training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Behavioural Activation or similar
Other
Essential
- IT skills to include a high level of competence with MS Outlook, MS Word, OneDrive, and basic level competence with MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Teams.
Desirable
- ICDL Essentials: International Certificate in Digital Literacy (formerly European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or equivalent
- ICDL Extra or equivalent
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential
- Ability to follow and adhere to a semi-structured assessment process and gather info about the symptoms, duration and impact of mental health difficulties
- Ability to use open and closed questions effectively in order to elicit relevant information
- Ability to manage own Outlook diary
- Ability to maintain a high standard of clinical note/record keeping
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a mental health or wellbeing service or setting.
- Experience of conducting assessments of mental health and wellbeing
- Experience of conducting assessments of suicide and self-harm risk
- Experience of supporting adults with anxiety, depression, trauma and/or stress-related difficulties
Desirable
- Experience of assessing chronic stress and burnout
- Experience of using diagnostic screening tools
- Experience of using semi-structured clinical interviews
- Experience of running groups
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates a good understanding of anxiety, depression and PTSD, and their associated diagnostic features
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work-related stress and the impact it can have on mental health
- Ability to understand and interpret diagnostic screening tools
Desirable
- Understanding the stresses faced by NHS staff
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other MH problems
- Has received training in conducting assessments of suicide risk
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to prioritise and manage own caseload
- Ability to work autonomously
- Appreciation of and enthusiasm for teamwork
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
Desirable
- Personal interest in Mindfulness or similar as part of own self-care
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).
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).
