Job summary
An exciting opportunity to join the Cambridgeshire Lifespan Adult Autism Service (CLASS) as we seek to recruit an Assistant Psychologist to be part of a Multi-disciplinary Team led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with a strong, supportive administrative and management team. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a dedicated growing team that makes a difference to service users, families and carers and the wider services and partner organisations with whom you will work.
The role is varied and will comprise supporting and enhancing the professional psychological care of clients within the service, across all sector of care, providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions (psychoeducation) under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist. Depending on the interests of the post-holder there are excellent opportunities to carry out service evaluation, training, service innovation and improvement, and to develop links with partner organisations.
Previous experience in Autism Diagnostic assessments alongside knowledge of use of specialist interview and assessment tools is desirable but not essential. You will receive all necessary training and support to enable you to fulfil the role effectively and to also maintain your own Psychological and emotional well-being.
Main duties of the job
As a Specialist Clinical Psychologist in the team, you will contribute to the clinical work of the Adult Autism diagnostic and post-diagnostic pathway. As a growing service we will support you with development opportunities in this exciting dynamic field.
You will receive regular professional leadership support, clinical supervision and line management from within a friendly and innovative team and the opportunity to attend Trust CPD activities. In this preceptorship post the successful applicant would be supported to develop and is expected to progress into a full time 8a highly specialist clinical psychology position. There will be specific responsibilities and duties within the team (see more detailed job description).
CLASS is a research-based service that has contributed significantly to the development of screening and assessment tools in adult autism over the last 25 years and continues to offer research and service development opportunities, including work with researchers and clinical academics in several universities.
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting andempowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service,
across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological
interventions (psychoeducation) under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.
Working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist andwithin the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.
To conduct structured developmental interviews with parents and carers prior toassessment.
To carry out structured observational assessments to support the formal diagnosisassessment process.
To engage with autistic individuals, their parents, carers and relevant others incoproduction activities to improve the quality and experience of care in the service.
To support the MDT in the development and delivery of a post-diagnosticpsychoeducation programme.
To assist in clinically related administration, collection and analysis of clinical data,development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
The role will include appropriate information sharing with service users, their families,GPs and other key stakeholders and partner agencies.
Data collection is an essential part of the role in order to provide monitoring, evaluation ofthe service, and demonstrate compliance with key performance indicators.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service,
across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological
interventions (psychoeducation) under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.
Working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist andwithin the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.
To conduct structured developmental interviews with parents and carers prior toassessment.
To carry out structured observational assessments to support the formal diagnosisassessment process.
To engage with autistic individuals, their parents, carers and relevant others incoproduction activities to improve the quality and experience of care in the service.
To support the MDT in the development and delivery of a post-diagnosticpsychoeducation programme.
To assist in clinically related administration, collection and analysis of clinical data,development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
The role will include appropriate information sharing with service users, their families,GPs and other key stakeholders and partner agencies.
Data collection is an essential part of the role in order to provide monitoring, evaluation ofthe service, and demonstrate compliance with key performance indicators.
Person Specification
Education and 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.
- Experience of working with people who have long-term difficulties/needs
- Experience of working as part of a team.
- Experience of using supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working with autistic people or those with other neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Experience of teaching/training staff groups
- Experience of engagement & coproduction with people with lived experience
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.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information and psychological concepts to patients, carers and colleagues.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with neuro diverse profiles, including autism without a learning disabilities
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of autistic people.
Desirable
- Able to deliver prompt, high standard of report writing.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
- Skills in assessment of risk
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of the role and purpose of supervision
- Working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults
- Understanding of risk assessments
Desirable
- Knowledge of ADOS-2
- Knowledge of 3di
- Knowledge of WAIS & WASI
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Routine and regular use of computer and virtual platforms such as MS Teams, NHS Attend Anywhere
- Post holder must be able to travel within the locality to meet the needs of the service and to Trust sites across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire therefore must be independently mobile
Other
Essential
- Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development.
Person Specification
Education and 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.
- Experience of working with people who have long-term difficulties/needs
- Experience of working as part of a team.
- Experience of using supervision
Desirable
- Experience of working with autistic people or those with other neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Experience of teaching/training staff groups
- Experience of engagement & coproduction with people with lived experience
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.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information and psychological concepts to patients, carers and colleagues.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with neuro diverse profiles, including autism without a learning disabilities
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of autistic people.
Desirable
- Able to deliver prompt, high standard of report writing.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
- Skills in assessment of risk
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of the role and purpose of supervision
- Working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults
- Understanding of risk assessments
Desirable
- Knowledge of ADOS-2
- Knowledge of 3di
- Knowledge of WAIS & WASI
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Routine and regular use of computer and virtual platforms such as MS Teams, NHS Attend Anywhere
- Post holder must be able to travel within the locality to meet the needs of the service and to Trust sites across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire therefore must be independently mobile
Other
Essential
- Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development.
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
CLASS Autism Services Chitra Sethia Centre
Chitra sethia Centre Cambridge Rd Fulbourn
Cambridge
CB21 5EF
Employer's website
https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
