Job summary
Bexley Adult Mental Health Services
ADAPT TEAM
Trainee Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) Apprenticeship,
Band 5 (pro rata per Annum) 1.0 WTE (37.5 hours per week) Fixed Term until completion of apprenticeship (18-22 months)
Erith Centre, Bexley, London
We are delighted to request applicants for a new and exciting Band 5 (paid) masters degree level, apprenticeship post as a Clinical Associate in Psychology training. These highly competitive posts are a new initiative to England and join our expanding range of Oxleas in-house apprenticeships combining work and study. This apprentice programme allows talented psychology graduates (who have completed a degree in Psychology) to access clinical roles where they can be trained on-the-job in psychological interventions. The CAP Apprenticeship is an eighteen-month full-time training divided between work-based experience (up to 4 days per week) and academic teaching and study, which leads to a Masters level qualification. Once qualified, CAPs are able to practice autonomously with appropriate support, working within their scope of practice, under the supervision of a registered clinical psychologist. The broad purpose of the CAP role is to provide high quality, evidence-based psychological interventions.
*The expected start for the apprenticeship programme is 15 January 2025. Applicants must be able to start in post as soon as possible, in order to apply to the University for a place on the MSC CAP training.
Main duties of the job
We would like to recruit an enthusiastic individual to work as a CAP within our Bexley Adult Community Mental Health Service, based within the ADAPT (Anxiety, Depression, Affective Disorders, Personality Disorders and Trauma) Pathway. The Bexley ADAPT Psychological Therapies Team offers a broad range of evidence based psychological interventions, input and support to adult clients within the community. The successful candidate will join a well-established, friendly multi-disciplinary team, which comprises professionals from psychiatry, nursing, social work, occupational therapy and admin alongside a well-regarded psychological therapies team. There will also be the opportunity to coordinate with colleagues working in inpatient acute mental health, the Primary Care Well Being Hub, Home Treatment Team, Mental Health Liaison Team and specialist services to provide care.
The CAP postholder will work as part of the multi-professional team, alongside clinical psychologists to ensure the delivery of high-quality psychological assessments and interventions, using a range of different models. They will deliver psychologically informed formulations and evidence-based psychological therapy to individuals, groups and families.
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We're Kind
- We're Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please review the additional information in the documents titled 'CAP Apprenticeship Role Information' and 'CAPs-FAQs-2024', along with the Job Description / Person Specification, before submitting your application.
The successful applicant will be a graduate Psychologist with experience of working with people with complex mental health problems.Bexley is a London borough of high social and psychological needs, along with cultural diversity. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who have a commitment to working with our local communities. We are especially interested in increasing diversity in the psychology workforce and this post may be of particular interest to graduates who wish to join the psychology workforce but are not aspiring to become Clinical or Counselling Psychologists.
Although academic ability is important (Psychology degree at 2:2), we are also interested in what YOU bring to the role. We want candidates willing to think about their experiences growing up, including lived experience of mental health difficulties able to reflect on their background (culture, ethnicity, gender, sexuality) and what experience they developed.
Please note:
1/ The post-holder must successfully obtain a place on the MSC CAP training. In order to be accepted onto this training, you will need to demonstrate that you have obtained an English and maths qualification at Level 2, and that you are eligible for Graduate Basis for chartered membership to the British Psychological Society (GBC). Please ensure that you describe how you meet these essential criteria on your application form.
2/ You should not apply for Clinical Psychology training while you are employed as a CAP apprentice. NHSE will not pay for further NHSE-funded training for a period of 2 years after the end of the NHSE-funded training course. Therefore CAPs completing an apprenticeship training will not be able to apply for a course funded by NHSE (such as Clinical Psychology Training) for a period of 2 years after they qualify.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please review the additional information in the documents titled 'CAP Apprenticeship Role Information' and 'CAPs-FAQs-2024', along with the Job Description / Person Specification, before submitting your application.
The successful applicant will be a graduate Psychologist with experience of working with people with complex mental health problems.Bexley is a London borough of high social and psychological needs, along with cultural diversity. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who have a commitment to working with our local communities. We are especially interested in increasing diversity in the psychology workforce and this post may be of particular interest to graduates who wish to join the psychology workforce but are not aspiring to become Clinical or Counselling Psychologists.
Although academic ability is important (Psychology degree at 2:2), we are also interested in what YOU bring to the role. We want candidates willing to think about their experiences growing up, including lived experience of mental health difficulties able to reflect on their background (culture, ethnicity, gender, sexuality) and what experience they developed.
Please note:
1/ The post-holder must successfully obtain a place on the MSC CAP training. In order to be accepted onto this training, you will need to demonstrate that you have obtained an English and maths qualification at Level 2, and that you are eligible for Graduate Basis for chartered membership to the British Psychological Society (GBC). Please ensure that you describe how you meet these essential criteria on your application form.
2/ You should not apply for Clinical Psychology training while you are employed as a CAP apprentice. NHSE will not pay for further NHSE-funded training for a period of 2 years after the end of the NHSE-funded training course. Therefore CAPs completing an apprenticeship training will not be able to apply for a course funded by NHSE (such as Clinical Psychology Training) for a period of 2 years after they qualify.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in English and maths (evidence of pass at level 2 or above)
- An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better with GBR OR successful completion of a BPS accredited post-graduate Psychology conversion programme with 2.1 equivalent or above OR A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent in Psychology with appropriate additional experience demonstrating academic potential
- No previous HEE funded similar training/apprenticeship
- Eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further CPD relevant to work in mental health and/or psychological interventions, that do not render the applicant ineligible for apprenticeship funding
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a caring role.
- Experience working in adult mental health settings
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience working with people with complex emotional needs
- Experience working within a multicultural setting
- Experience of conducting service related research
Other
Desirable
- Demonstrates potential to benefit from training
- Lived experience of mental health or psychological problems as a service user or carer
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in English and maths (evidence of pass at level 2 or above)
- An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better with GBR OR successful completion of a BPS accredited post-graduate Psychology conversion programme with 2.1 equivalent or above OR A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent in Psychology with appropriate additional experience demonstrating academic potential
- No previous HEE funded similar training/apprenticeship
- Eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further CPD relevant to work in mental health and/or psychological interventions, that do not render the applicant ineligible for apprenticeship funding
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a caring role.
- Experience working in adult mental health settings
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience working with people with complex emotional needs
- Experience working within a multicultural setting
- Experience of conducting service related research
Other
Desirable
- Demonstrates potential to benefit from training
- Lived experience of mental health or psychological problems as a service user or carer
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).
