Assistant Psychologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work within the Integrated Mental Health Team (IMHT) based within the Healthcare unit at HMP Liverpool. This is a local Home Office Category B prison. The successful candidate will provide some brief psychotherapy services within a mental health service under close supervision from qualified members of staff. Clients are remanded or sentenced male prisoners in HMP Liverpool. The post holder will utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the local area/speciality.

Members of the IMHT attend meetings and conduct both individual and group therapies within healthcare, the inpatient unit and on the prison wings. Given the nature of Secure Services, there is potential exposure to face-to-face verbal and physical aggression. The post holder is expected to maintain professionalism and awareness of the potential risks for patients, themselves and other colleagues, at all times. The post holder may encounter professional, legal, and personal challenges including considerable media interest.

Due to the security status of HMP Liverpool, the post holder works under the direction of the Security arrangements of Her Majestys Prison & Probation Service/Ministry of Justice/HMP Liverpool. The successful candidate will be subject to prison vetting procedures.

Main responsibilities:

To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:- To work with potentially distressing material in relation to service users personal histories and possible offending behaviour, risks to self and others, and additional security requirements as integral to a secure environment.

- To undertake psychological assessments of service users which may include a range of psychometric assessments, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, carers and others involved in the clients care.

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

- To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

- To assist in the development of a psychological framework of understanding and care to all service users of the service, across all care settings.

To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings as directed by the qualified psychologists.

To use a degree of initiative and work independently with service users on planned pieces of work and to exercise judgment based on good practice and operating procedures.

To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and directorate policy.

To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

Where appropriate, and under the supervision of qualified staff, contribute to the training and support of other staff.

Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:

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

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

- To assist qualified clinical psychologists in the design and implementation of audit, effectiveness and research projects.

- To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of full reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

- To review evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified psychologists and work with other team members in their clinical responsibilities as necessary.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice through active participation in appropriate CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders professional and team/operationalmanager(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, the Health Professions Council, Clinical Business Unit and Trust policies and procedures.

To undertake specific administrative duties as required.

To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade which may be required by their clinical supervisor.

Develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as directed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
• 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

Knowledge

Essential

• A minimum of 12 months previous experience of work with people with mental health needs and/or other disabilities
• Demonstrated high level ability to communicate sensitively and succinctly to service users, carers and colleagues in a way that facilitates engagement.
• To have a significant degree of flexibility and adaptability within the therapeutic context
• The ability to work with an appropriate level of autonomy within agreed boundaries directed by supervising psychologist.
• The ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• An empathic approach to working with people with mental health needs.
• Experience using computers for databases or data analysis

Desirable

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision
• Previous experience as an assistant in an NHS or forensic setting
• Experience of interacting effectively within an MDT context
• Experience of research evaluation and audit of the application of psychological principles
• Experience of teaching and training in the application of psychological principles to mental health needs
• An interest in working with people with mental health needs.
• A desire to explore a career in clinical psychology.

Values

Essential

• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Support
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Strong customer service belief
• Transparency and honesty
• Discreet

Skills

Essential

• An ability to interact and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• o High-level communication skills (written and verbal) including report-writing.
• An understanding of the needs of people with mental health difficulties including those associated with personality disorder and/or other psychological/physical disabilities.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.

Desirable

• Skills in word processing and SPSS for Windows
• Undertaking further relevant post-graduate study leading to recognised qualification

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Liverpool

Hornby Road

Liverpool

L9 3DF

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)