Job summary
Assistant Psychologist (Obesity)
(Band 4, full-time) - 12 Months Fixed Term Position (with potential for extension)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious person to join our weight management team at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The Our Healthier South East London ICS commissions us to provide a Tier 3 Weight Management Service in Lambeth, Bromley, Bexley, Lewisham and Southwark.
The successful candidate will join our valued and growing Tier 3 Obesity Psychology and Psychotherapy team to support in the development and delivery of psychologically informed care for people living with obesity. In addition to working with a highly specialist clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and assistant psychologist, the successful candidate will also work alongside our wider multidisciplinary Tier 3 Obesity team.
As per the job description and person specification, we are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic candidate who has experience of delivering behaviour change interventions to groups of patients with complex obesity. The successful candidate should have experience of delivering interventions to people from the Black African and Black Caribbean communities, and must have a developed understanding of weight bias and stigma in both healthcare and everyday life.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion within our team, and very much welcome applications from those from Asian, Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, and those living with disability.
Main duties of the job
The role offers an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to enhance the care of patients within the Tier 3 Obesity Service through delivery of group and individual psychoeducational sessions. The post holder will also provide administrative and clinical support to the Tier 3 Obesity Psychology and Psychotherapy Team, and have the opportunity to contribute to research and service development, service audits and project work.
The post will involve working remotely from home for some of the time and from the hospital, delivering the online interventions, as well as delivering face-to-face groups at community sites across South East London. While exact working hours will be established upon starting with the service, the post will include some evening and/or weekend working.
About us
We are the largest Dietetics Department in the UK, employing over 150 dietitians, dietetic assistants, psychologists, nutrition nurses, administrators, pathway coordinators, project managers and operational leads.
We actively encourage and support learning and development. We have an active health and wellbeing team, and a working group developing sustainability across our range of functions and services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See attached documents for full details of main responsibilities, job description, person specification and functional requirements
Job description
Job responsibilities
See attached documents for full details of main responsibilities, job description, person specification and functional requirements
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Commitment to own personal development
Skills
Essential
- Good verbal and written skills
- Knowledge of issues relevant to obesity management
- IT Literate, particularly for use of databases or data analysis
- Competent in obtaining and recording baseline patient observations such as anthropometric measurements, diet history and information relating to clinical and social background
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to use own initiative
- Evidence of working effectively within a team
- Ability to deal with difficult and stressful situations
Desirable
- Proficient in SPSS for Windows
- High standard of report writing
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with people living with obesity
- Experience of delivering group sessions on a virtual platform
Desirable
- Experience of working with people from the Black African and Black Caribbean communities
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
- Willing to work flexibly and travel across acute and community settings
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Commitment to own personal development
Skills
Essential
- Good verbal and written skills
- Knowledge of issues relevant to obesity management
- IT Literate, particularly for use of databases or data analysis
- Competent in obtaining and recording baseline patient observations such as anthropometric measurements, diet history and information relating to clinical and social background
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to use own initiative
- Evidence of working effectively within a team
- Ability to deal with difficult and stressful situations
Desirable
- Proficient in SPSS for Windows
- High standard of report writing
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with people living with obesity
- Experience of delivering group sessions on a virtual platform
Desirable
- Experience of working with people from the Black African and Black Caribbean communities
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
- Willing to work flexibly and travel across acute and community settings
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology
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).
