Job summary
We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated individual for the pivotal role as Assistant Psychologist at our values-driven Trust. This is a unique opportunity for someone to help shape the future of mental health services while developing a career in a supportive and innovative environment that is committed to inclusion, equity and being actively anti-racist.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative Short Stay mixed gender Psychiatric Ward operating on a maximum 28-day admission framework. The model integrates evidence-based approaches including robust gatekeeping processes, intensive multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, the Red to Green discharge facilitation approach, and strong integration with Home Treatment Teams (HTT) for both admission prevention and early supported discharge.
We are keen to welcome both non-clinical staff and clinicians both with experience and those who are new to mental health. You will need to demonstrate you are forward thinking with a proactive nature and excellent communication and relational skills. Championing patient centred care and collaboration with carers and families is critical to success in securing a position within the team.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will work closely with the ward multi-disciplinary team by joining in regular team meetings. You will be responsible for facilitating regular psycho-education groups on the ward, drawing on skills from CBT and DBT frameworks. This will involve liaising with Occupational Therapy and activity coordinator collages to add to the timetable of therapeutic activities. You will also conduct individual assessment and feedback to ward staff to develop astrong bio-psycho-social understanding of a person's difficulties. There will be some opportunity for brief therapeutic work under supervision.
You will be required to write summaries of your work in service users' electronic notes, as well as communicating with team members in meetings. The successful candidates will have exceptional interpersonal skills and be able to demonstrate that they can form good empathic relationships with clients who are acutely unwell, often experiencing significant distress, as well as the ability to form good working relationships with staff with different professional backgrounds.
The successful applicant will work under the guidance of a clinical or counselling psychologist to aid in the provision for psychology input to our new acute inpatient ward. This will include working directly with services users to provide individual assessments and interventions, as well as running groups.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
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.
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.
About our locations:
Springfield University Hospital, Tooting
Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the inpatient adult acute service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
Key Result Areas
Under appropriate supervision from a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist
Clinical
- 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.
- To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems.
- To work with other staff to assess service users , develop individualised intervention / treatment plans and review their care.
- 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.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
- To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
- To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS
- To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
- To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Management, Recruitment and Service Development
- To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
- To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
Research and Service Evaluation
- To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
- To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
- To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Other
- To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the postholders professional and team/operational manager(s).
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
- To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
- To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
- To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by the Team Psychologist.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the inpatient adult acute service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
Key Result Areas
Under appropriate supervision from a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist
Clinical
- 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.
- To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems.
- To work with other staff to assess service users , develop individualised intervention / treatment plans and review their care.
- 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.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
- To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
- To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS
- To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
- To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Management, Recruitment and Service Development
- To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
- To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
Research and Service Evaluation
- To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
- To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
- To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Other
- To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the postholders professional and team/operational manager(s).
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
- To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
- To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
- To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by the Team Psychologist.
Person Specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Eligible for 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
- Post-graduation training in the field of psychological therapies
- Post-graduation training in research or quality improvement methodologies
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems in an inpatient setting
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Experience of working with high acuity and risk
Person Specification
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Eligible for 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
- Post-graduation training in the field of psychological therapies
- Post-graduation training in research or quality improvement methodologies
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with mental health problems in an inpatient setting
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Experience of working with high acuity and risk
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).
