Assistant Psychologist – ASPIRE Scholarship Programme

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

Do you ASPIRE to be a Clinical Psychologist?

But are you held back because:

The financial burden of an unpaidroleto gain the experience needed to further your career to DClinPsy excludes you?
You have additional responsibilities that meanunpaid experienceis notanoption e.g., carer for someone?
You have had less support to go further in your education perhaps as the first generation in our family to go to university or not had the support of a family behind you.

THEN:

Welcome to the fourth round of this exciting paid scholarship program from CNWL NHS Trust. It has been designed and developed to support aspiring clinical psychologists just like you to get a step up on the career ladder. This aims to improve equity of access for those who are disadvantaged by the financial impact of unpaid work experience, which may additionally limit access for psychology graduates, e.g. those from ethnic minority backgrounds, those with carer responsibilities and other groups under-represented in clinical psychology.

Please note: We will be unable to respond to individual emails and telephone inquiries about the post. Please redirect to the documents attached with the post or this webpage - https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/news/assistant-psychologist-scholarships

Main duties of the job

Have you?

Experienced adistinctdisadvantage leading up to andin further education, indicated by some of the factors below:

Family low income or support from benefits
Received grants, bursaries or awards via your university student support service or government maintenance grants to supplement student loans
You are a care lever or student not supported by their parents or family

AND:

You have recently graduated with a 2:1 psychology degree with BPS GBC and have strong desire to become a clinical psychologist but have yet to gain significant clinical experience

CNWL NHS Trust psychology are offering 2 successful candidates an Assistant Psychologist contract for 3-months, 5 days a week, paid at NHS Band 4 plus HCAS (with a further option to supplement income through temporary work in other areas of the Trust).

If the abovedescribes youthenplease read the attached documentsfor details of the essential criteria and application guidance.

Please don't forget to follow the guidance in the application guide when submitting your application. We will be unable to shortlist any application that does not follow this guidance.

About us

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

As a Trust, we are committed to investing in our staff through a range of initiatives, both profession-specific and organisation wide. Psychological professions staff are able to access a range of trust-wide CPD initiatives as suited to their roles. CNWL also has seven established staff networks supporting a range of individual needs.

We encourage staff input and ideas in relation to moving services forward, improving care pathways and meeting the client group's needs.

Date posted

16 October 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£30,279 to £33,116 a year pro rata plus HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

3 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-C-HQ-0588

Job locations

To be allocated

NW1 3AX

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached documents for this. Please don't forget to follow the guidance in the application guide when submitting your application. We will be unable to shortlist any application that does not follow this guidance.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Clinical: Under close supervision of the qualified psychologist supervisor and others the post holder will:-

1. provide care equitably to all service users, in an anti-discriminatory approach also promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for service uses and their families.

2. undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients including, 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.

3. assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems.

4. assist in the development, coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

5. work with other staff to assess service-users care.

6. 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.

7. attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

Teaching, training and supervision

1. In common with all professional psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines. Supervision will be for a minimum of one hour per calendar week.

2. Through attending training session, gain wider experience of professional psychology within the Trust and elsewhere over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.

3. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties, though supported and independent learning, reflective practice and attending training sessions

4. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

Leadership, recruitment and service development

1. To promote and model the Trusts values in working with colleagues and others contributing to a compassionate culture that celebrates difference and diversity and supports all staff to flourish

2. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

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

4. To undertake data collection and, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, the analysis and production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

IT responsibilities

The post holder will input and maintain, appropriate computer and manual clinical records and statistical data and provide this to the Service Manager/Head of Speciality when necessary
The postholder will engage in relevant computer and IT training as required
To assist, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in the development, design and implementation of relevant IT projects.

General

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal 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 assessments 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 their Line Manager.

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY RESULT AREAS

Clinical: Under close supervision of the qualified psychologist supervisor and others the post holder will:-

1. provide care equitably to all service users, in an anti-discriminatory approach also promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for service uses and their families.

3. assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems.

4. assist in the development, coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

5. work with other staff to assess service-users care.

6. 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.

7. attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

Teaching, training and supervision

3. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties, though supported and independent learning, reflective practice and attending training sessions

4. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

Leadership, recruitment and service development

1. To promote and model the Trusts values in working with colleagues and others contributing to a compassionate culture that celebrates difference and diversity and supports all staff to flourish

2. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

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

4. To undertake data collection and, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, the analysis and production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

IT responsibilities

The post holder will input and maintain, appropriate computer and manual clinical records and statistical data and provide this to the Service Manager/Head of Speciality when necessary
The postholder will engage in relevant computer and IT training as required
To assist, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in the development, design and implementation of relevant IT projects.

General

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal 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 assessments 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 their Line Manager.

Person Specification

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. Entitlement to Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society
Must not hold or be studying for a masters degree
To have graduated since January 2022.

Desirable

Training relevant to working in mental health and community services as a psychologist.
Training in anti-discriminatory and / or difference and diversity approaches

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Experience that supports working with people with mental and or physical health problems, through employment, volunteering, lived experience, research or education.
Experience that supports working with diverse communities
A relevant and meaningful connection to the diverse communities that the Trust provides services for.
Must not have prior paid assistant psychology or research assistant or similar employment since graduation

Desirable

Experience of paid or unpaid direct care provision.
Lived experience of psychological problems

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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 to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
An understanding of the social determinates of health inequalities and relevant psychological theory and practice.
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental and physical health problems.
An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge
An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
IT skills including the use of video calls

Desirable

Ability to offer psychological care in a language(s) in addition to English
An understanding of the application of psychological knowledge in healthcare
Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows
High standard of report writing.

Person Specification

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. Entitlement to Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society
Must not hold or be studying for a masters degree
To have graduated since January 2022.

Desirable

Training relevant to working in mental health and community services as a psychologist.
Training in anti-discriminatory and / or difference and diversity approaches

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Experience that supports working with people with mental and or physical health problems, through employment, volunteering, lived experience, research or education.
Experience that supports working with diverse communities
A relevant and meaningful connection to the diverse communities that the Trust provides services for.
Must not have prior paid assistant psychology or research assistant or similar employment since graduation

Desirable

Experience of paid or unpaid direct care provision.
Lived experience of psychological problems

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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 to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
An understanding of the social determinates of health inequalities and relevant psychological theory and practice.
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental and physical health problems.
An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge
An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
IT skills including the use of video calls

Desirable

Ability to offer psychological care in a language(s) in addition to English
An understanding of the application of psychological knowledge in healthcare
Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows
High standard of report writing.

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).

Additional information