Job summary
We are looking for an outgoing and enthusiastic Assistant Psychologists to join The Relational and Emotional Difficulties Service (part of our Personality Disorder Community Service).
REDS is a psychological treatment service which provides a pathway for people with difficulties regulating their emotions and who consequently may struggle in their relationships. Our client group ranges from those with traits of personality disorder, to those with a diagnosis of personality disorder of moderate severity.
This pathway is psychologically led, and staffed with qualified psychologist, therapists, and 7 Assistant Psychologists, in addition to specialist liaison nurses and support staff.
The Assistant Psychologists play a key part in co-facilitating our psycho-educational groups. Our primary programme is adapted from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Previous knowledge or experience of DBT would be an advantage, however training will be provided. Another key part of your role is conducting initial on-boarding welcome assessments with patients.
This is a new and evolving service delivery model, therefore there are likely to be a range of opportunities for you to get involved in supporting the development of the service. There will also be opportunities to be involved in service evaluation, including psychometric data collection and analysis.
Main duties of the job
Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot usepublic transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.
This is predominantly a client facing role; therefore, you must be able to demonstrate an ability to show empathy and to handle sometimes highly charged and emotional situations, alongside demonstrating assertiveness and group leadership skills.
A good proportion of your day may be spent with patients, therefore please consider whether you are someone who will be comfortable spending long periods of time in clinical settings.
*DVLA have a number ofreciprocalarrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website
About us
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- To assist in the co-ordination and delivery of a dialectical behavioural skills service
- To assist in the collection and analysis of data to support the evaluation of the service
- To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary (MDT) meetings
- To contribute to the provision of advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of other services
- 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
- To work within local and national policy guidelines pertaining to health and social policy legislation relevant to the service user group.
- To comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and to be aware of any changes in these
- To regularly monitor, review and feedback outcomes to support service improvements under the direction of the supervising Clinical Psychologist.
- Communicate and liaise with other professionals within the team and to work in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies in order to develop good health care for service use
- To ensure that clinical practice is evidence based and consistent with relevant NICE guidelines and Trust policies and procedures
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- To assist in the co-ordination and delivery of a dialectical behavioural skills service
- To assist in the collection and analysis of data to support the evaluation of the service
- To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary (MDT) meetings
- To contribute to the provision of advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of other services
- 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
- To work within local and national policy guidelines pertaining to health and social policy legislation relevant to the service user group.
- To comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and to be aware of any changes in these
- To regularly monitor, review and feedback outcomes to support service improvements under the direction of the supervising Clinical Psychologist.
- Communicate and liaise with other professionals within the team and to work in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies in order to develop good health care for service use
- To ensure that clinical practice is evidence based and consistent with relevant NICE guidelines and Trust policies and procedures
Person Specification
Education/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
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist or experience of working with adults with mental health difficulties
- Experience of delivering groups
- Experience of audit and evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with personality disorders
- Experience of DBT, MBT or CBT
Skills & Abilities
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 apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with mental health problems
Desirable
- High standard of report writing
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of the role and purpose of supervision
Desirable
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Routine and regular use of computer
- Post holder must be able to travel independently within the locality to meet the needs of the service and to Trust sites across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire therefore must be independently mobile
Person Specification
Education/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
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist or experience of working with adults with mental health difficulties
- Experience of delivering groups
- Experience of audit and evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with personality disorders
- Experience of DBT, MBT or CBT
Skills & Abilities
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 apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with mental health problems
Desirable
- High standard of report writing
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of the role and purpose of supervision
Desirable
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Routine and regular use of computer
- Post holder must be able to travel independently within the locality to meet the needs of the service and to Trust sites across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire therefore must be independently mobile
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Chesterton Medical Centre
35 Union Lane
Chesterton, Cambridge
CB4 1PX
Employer's website
https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
