Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

This job is now closed

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist to join the Central and West Adult Mental Health Inpatient Team at the Scarisbrick Unit, Ormskirk. The Scarisbrick Unit comprises of an 18 bed mixed-sex acute ward, along with a 4 bed male psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU). The Inpatient unit provides care for people with complex mental health needs in the least restrictive and safest way. The aim of inpatient admission is to provide a service which can offer a whole pathway of support locally, identified in both national plans and clinical guidance, which would include an inpatient service offer that is matched against the identified need of LSCFT population.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a suitably qualified and experienced individual with a genuine interest and desire of working with this client group. You should have good verbal and written communication skills, be able to co-work effectively with colleagues and enjoy working in a busy multi-disciplinary team. The successful applicant will support assisting the qualified psychologist in enhancing the delivery of psychological care provided within the inpatient unit that meets LSCFT Trust objectives, national strategic and policy guidelines and user and carer needs and expectations. The role involves the administration, scoring and report writing of psychometric assessments, standardised risk assessments, clinical formulation, support/consultation to staff and individual and group interventions.You will be a strong team player, confident, motivated and well organised. You will have a good understanding of the role of therapeutic boundaries and the importance of multi-disciplinary working. Patience and commitment are essential, but above all you'll be someone with a genuine desire to help others at a point of crisis. We are looking for someone with a good degree in Psychology (BPS accredited) and preferably previous experience within an Assistant Psychologist role.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

**Please note - we anticipate a large number of applications for this vacancy and encourage you to complete an application at the earliest opportunity**

As a result, this may close prior to the advertised closing date

Date posted

24 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

351-CEN1172-CPC

Job locations

Scarisbrick Mental Health Inpatients (25-65)

Ormskirk

L39 2JW

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about the role, please see the attached recruitment pack which includes a detailed job description and person specification, or visit our website via Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

An honours degree in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of BPS

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with clients with complex and enduring needs

Knowledge

Essential

Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively in both oral and written formats, and in environments which are highly emotive and stressful.
Commitment and ability to work with clients where there may be significant clinical, service, and system barriers to engagement.
Ability to work independently and using own initiative on a day-to- day basis.
Ability to organise and prioritise workloads within competing demands and goals, identified with psychological lead.
Ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and agency services and teams.
Computer literacy including skills in statistical packages, databases, and spreadsheets and in undertaking literature searches.
Understanding of clinical, personal, and professional challenges of working in institutional settings and with risk-related needs.

Other

Essential

Willingness and ability to engage in breakaway and/or physical interventions and restraining training.
Current driving licence or the means to transport self to visit clients and/or attend relevant service meetings.
Commitment to promoting clients' rights and collaborative user involvement practices.
Consent to full CRB check.
Ability to establish clear personal and professional boundaries.
Commitment to utilising supervision and to engaging in independent reflective practice.
Demonstrable skills in coping with stressful environments and workloads.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

An honours degree in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of BPS

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with clients with complex and enduring needs

Knowledge

Essential

Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively in both oral and written formats, and in environments which are highly emotive and stressful.
Commitment and ability to work with clients where there may be significant clinical, service, and system barriers to engagement.
Ability to work independently and using own initiative on a day-to- day basis.
Ability to organise and prioritise workloads within competing demands and goals, identified with psychological lead.
Ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and agency services and teams.
Computer literacy including skills in statistical packages, databases, and spreadsheets and in undertaking literature searches.
Understanding of clinical, personal, and professional challenges of working in institutional settings and with risk-related needs.

Other

Essential

Willingness and ability to engage in breakaway and/or physical interventions and restraining training.
Current driving licence or the means to transport self to visit clients and/or attend relevant service meetings.
Commitment to promoting clients' rights and collaborative user involvement practices.
Consent to full CRB check.
Ability to establish clear personal and professional boundaries.
Commitment to utilising supervision and to engaging in independent reflective practice.
Demonstrable skills in coping with stressful environments and workloads.

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

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Scarisbrick Mental Health Inpatients (25-65)

Ormskirk

L39 2JW

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Scarisbrick Mental Health Inpatients (25-65)

Ormskirk

L39 2JW

Employer's website

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