Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Kingston Care Home Liaison Services (CHLS) as a Band 4 Assistant Clinical Psychologist, within the broader Older People's Mental Health Services. This is an established and varied role with opportunities for a broad range of experience in both clinical and research/audit duties. We are interested in applications from people who have a desire to work with older people and their families/carers. The focus of the role will be in the Care Home Liaison Service, supporting people with dementia and behaviour that challenges living in care homes, although you may be asked to carry out small amounts of work within other parts of the Older People's Team.
You will receive regular individual supervision and support from a senior Clinical Psychologist within the service. You will be joining established Clinical Psychologists based within the team and a good network of Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists across the Cognition and Mental Health (CMHA) service line, who have a wide range of expertise and who regularly meet for CPD activities and peer supervision. You will also have access to the Trust's Aspiring Clinical Psychologists Network who meet regularly. We have good links with the ClinPsyD course at Surrey University and regularly have psychology trainees on placement and contribute to teaching on the program. Both the multidisciplinary team and the wider Trust recognises and values the contribution of Clinical Psychology.
Main duties of the job
The role involves a variety of tasks working towards meeting the complex and challenging needs of people with dementia and other mental health problems living in nursing and residential homes, carried out under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist. The CHLS is based on the belief that people's distressed behaviour in dementia, even when challenging, can be understood in the context of their current and previous experience and can often be seen as a communication of need, and this understanding often leads the way in identifying unmet needs and in developing care practice. The Assistant Psychology role includes: Provision of direct and indirect clinical work with clients; Support to staff teams; Helping to design and implement teaching and support interventions for both clients and carers; Assisting in developing and conducting of audits, monitoring outcomes, teaching and project work.
N.B. Please only apply to this job if you meet the essential criteria for training and qualifications (in particular, a BPS accredited Psychology degree with upper second class or above, see person specification).
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Under appropriate supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist
To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in both community and in-patient/residential settings.
To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, including referral, clinical and review meetings.
To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological, including neuropsychological, tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
To assist in the implementation and monitoring of treatment programmes in a way that is positive and respectful of clients and carers' needs.
To assist in the compilation of assessment, update and discharge reports as required.
To work with other staff to assess clients in various settings and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Under appropriate supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist
To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in both community and in-patient/residential settings.
To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, including referral, clinical and review meetings.
To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological, including neuropsychological, tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
To assist in the implementation and monitoring of treatment programmes in a way that is positive and respectful of clients and carers' needs.
To assist in the compilation of assessment, update and discharge reports as required.
To work with other staff to assess clients in various settings and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or or other disabilities
- Experience of working with older people
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision
- Experience of working with people with dementia
- Experience of working in care homes
- Experience of using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows or MS Excel
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
- An ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Desirable
- High standard of report writing
- Knowledge of psycho-social interventions in dementia
- Knowledge and understanding of working with behaviours that are challenging.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or or other disabilities
- Experience of working with older people
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision
- Experience of working with people with dementia
- Experience of working in care homes
- Experience of using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows or MS Excel
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
- An ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Desirable
- High standard of report writing
- Knowledge of psycho-social interventions in dementia
- Knowledge and understanding of working with behaviours that are challenging.
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).
