Job summary
We are delighted to be recruiting a Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) to work in the Psychological Skills Service (PSS). This post is to improve the wellbeing of adults experiencing mild to moderate complex mental health, by undertaking specialised psychological assessments, contributing to bespoke clinical formulations, delivering structured, evidence-based and psychologically, trauma informed individual and group interventions.
The Psychological Skills Service was developed as part of the Exemplar project in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS trust (CPFT). CPFT were chosen by NHS England as one of the national exemplar pilot sites for the redesign and transformation of primary and community mental health care. The goal of this transformation project was to develop and deliver a new service paradigm that seeks to provide a more seamless pathway of mental health care and eliminate current gaps between services. The PSS is a Trauma informed service, acknowledging, that the majority of clients referred to the service, have experienced some form of trauma in their lives.
Applicants must have completed a Clinical Associate in Psychology MSc.
Main duties of the job
As a Clinical Associate Psychologist, you will be a core member of staff offering specialised psychological assessment and formulation for clients presenting with complex mental health. You will also provide evidence based psychological interventions (individual and group) eg CBT; ACT; CFT; and Schema Therapy, as appropriate to your skills and training, to target the many representations of complex trauma.
On a day to day basis the role will involve the following tasks:
- Building relationships with the client with a view to build a therapeutic relationship
- Deliver therapeutic interventions - individual and group
- Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a range of tasks.
- Effectively communicate the content of clinical work to supervisors and make use of direct feedback and direction .
- Ensure risk is assessed and managed following Trust policies and procedures.
- To make independent day to day clinical decisions based on detailed psychological assessments, within the scope of practice for CAP's.
- Provide written reports and assessments for clients and other agencies, including discharge letters of interventions carried out.
There will be ongoing training and individual and group supervision by a qualified clinical psychologist will be provided to enable you to feel confident in this role and support your professional development.to support your continued development.
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 provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to PSS based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and 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 develop psychological formulations of presenting problems or situations that integrate information from assessments within a coherent framework that draws upon psychological theory and evidence, and which incorporates interpersonal, societal, cultural and biological factors.
- To use psychological formulations to develop and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, and to use these plans to inform and lead the work of non-psychology members of the team.
- To communicate to others the core concepts of psychological theory, research and practice in order to enhance their delivery of psychological interventions.
- To provide training for others to inform and support psychological models of change and interventions.
- Provide training within teams to enhance delivery of clinical and research practice interventions appropriate to the health and psychological needs of clients across a range of service settings.
- To offer clinical supervision to support workers.
- To effectively communicate decision making processes which have informed the psychological management of risk; implement and respond appropriately to risk, using appropriate guidance and support, maintaining compliance with service policy and values.
- Understand impact of multiple perspectives within the context of multidisciplinary teams.
- Explain the rationales to individuals, groups and other healthcare colleagues, for evidence based psychological treatment models and protocols.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
- To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to PSS based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and 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 develop psychological formulations of presenting problems or situations that integrate information from assessments within a coherent framework that draws upon psychological theory and evidence, and which incorporates interpersonal, societal, cultural and biological factors.
- To use psychological formulations to develop and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, and to use these plans to inform and lead the work of non-psychology members of the team.
- To communicate to others the core concepts of psychological theory, research and practice in order to enhance their delivery of psychological interventions.
- To provide training for others to inform and support psychological models of change and interventions.
- Provide training within teams to enhance delivery of clinical and research practice interventions appropriate to the health and psychological needs of clients across a range of service settings.
- To offer clinical supervision to support workers.
- To effectively communicate decision making processes which have informed the psychological management of risk; implement and respond appropriately to risk, using appropriate guidance and support, maintaining compliance with service policy and values.
- Understand impact of multiple perspectives within the context of multidisciplinary teams.
- Explain the rationales to individuals, groups and other healthcare colleagues, for evidence based psychological treatment models and protocols.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Completed BPS [British Psychological Society] accredited CAP apprenticeship training programme including EPA to IFA standards
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients in adult community settings
- Experience of working with complex presentations
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
- Experience of applying and analyse a range of research approaches including both qualitative and quantitative methods in clinical practice
- Experience of delivering complex group interventions
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention and management
- Skills in self-management, including time-management, planning, prioritising, problem solving and reasoning.
Desirable
- Understand how to analyse and appraise key theoretical concepts of psychological models of treatment both at individual and group level recognised in evidence-based national guidelines
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- An interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary services
- Able to assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity and understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to so as to ensure best care
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups.
Other
Essential
- Skilled in continuous self-reflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- Completed BPS [British Psychological Society] accredited CAP apprenticeship training programme including EPA to IFA standards
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients in adult community settings
- Experience of working with complex presentations
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
- Experience of applying and analyse a range of research approaches including both qualitative and quantitative methods in clinical practice
- Experience of delivering complex group interventions
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention and management
- Skills in self-management, including time-management, planning, prioritising, problem solving and reasoning.
Desirable
- Understand how to analyse and appraise key theoretical concepts of psychological models of treatment both at individual and group level recognised in evidence-based national guidelines
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- An interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by psychology services within the context of multi-disciplinary services
- Able to assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity and understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to so as to ensure best care
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups.
Other
Essential
- Skilled in continuous self-reflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
