Assistant Psychologist - Complex Emotional Needs Service

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Assistant Psychologist role will be an essential component of the Multi-Disciplinary Team working under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist to devise and deliver psychological interventions to groups and individuals using and delivering services across all tiers of care.

The purpose of this role is to:

Promote the psychological health and well-being of service users using community-based services due to their experience of complex emotional needs.

Under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist, to provide psychological assessments and intervention to individuals, or groups of service users

Under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist to complete audit, service evaluation or research as indicated.

Assist in clinically related administration, teaching, and project work

Service can be delivered in a range of settings and locations, but generally within community settings from within primary, secondary and voluntary sector care agencies.

Clinical

Undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users applying psychological principles, including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the service users care

Assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a service users problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in community settings

Assist in the planning, coordination and running of therapeutic groups

Attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings

Maintain appropriate records in electronic or hard copy in line with Trust policies and Professional guidelines. Includes workload data and using word processing skills to produce service user related reports

Leadership / Management

Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required

Teaching, training and supervision

Assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

Contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

Research and service evaluation

Assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.

Undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

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.

Professional

Manages work independently according to goals agreed at intervals with their manager, working independently on a day to day basis

Works within guidance and direction of qualified Psychologist and guided by the Professions standards including HCPC and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Other

Perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade that may be required from time to time by their Psychology lead

Service users, families, carers and advocates

In conduct of clinical and service development responsibilities works with multi-disciplinary colleagues, social services staff, and staff from private / voluntary organisations.

Assistants in other parts of the region (professional networks)

To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Clinical supervision is provided from a qualified Clinical Psychologist.

Contributes to relevant Psychology activities and meets as required with Psychology colleagues.

The duties of psychological assessment, intervention, and management require concentration and may require some long periods of sitting. Computers are used frequently

The nature of the job involves work with people in distress and being faced with severe behavioural, emotional, and mental health issues. Sometimes it involves being faced with verbal and physical aggression, highly distressing self-injurious behaviour, and coming into contact with family breakdown, physical or sexual abuse and neglect. Competence in breakaway techniques (and restraint as necessary) is required.

The domiciliary nature of the work can involve working alone and driving.

Work can be conducted in a variety of settings, but generally takes place within the community. Settings may be difficult to work in, e.g. temperature, space available, frequent interruptions, lack of privacy, poor cleanliness, exposure to cigarette smoke and other environmental hazards.

Work is sometimes in environments where there is close contact with people with poor personal hygiene and there may be contact with bodily fluids, blood, urine, faeces, lice, etc.

Dealing effectively with conflict, controversy, distress and confrontation on a regular basis

Exposure to high risk and emotionally challenging situations where there are risks of suicide, deliberate self harm and potentially harm to others.

Exposure to emotional arousal including anger and aggression.

Managing the expectations of service users, and carers.

Please see attached job description

The Trust is required to work in line with the Governments UK Visa and Immigration Rules and Regulations. For more information about sponsorship for certain roles, please visit - https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Person Specification

LENGTH AND / OR NATURE OF EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
• Prior experience with the service user group and experience in a clinical setting

Desirable

• Additional knowledge/ experience of research methodology

OTHER

Desirable

• Familiar with use of RIO

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Minimum 2:1 Hons Degree in Psychology
• Evidence of training / CPD to develop knowledge and theory relevant to work in the specialism
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

PROFESSIONAL / MANAGERIAL / SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Strong listening skills, empathic towards people in distress.
• Practical working knowledge of at least one relevant psychological approach (e.g. CBT)

Desirable

• Experience of group work

PERSONAL SKILLS ABILITIES AND ATTRIBUTES

Essential

• Willingness to work in the face of emotive and distressing problems, and possible verbal abuse / threat of physical abuse
• Emotional robustness to frequently work with the intense distress of others.
• Calm but assertive to help effective communication when there are barriers to understanding and in circumstances where hostility, manipulation, conflict and antagonism could be present.
• Ability to recognise limits of competence and seek support when needed.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Eastgate House

121-131 Eastgate

Gloucester

GL1 3PX

Employer's website

https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)