Job summary
To provide specialist psychological assessments for adults living in BLMK. The post holder will provide highly specialist psychological autism assessments for a diverse population of people with a wide range of differential diagnostic characteristics. As a multidisciplinary modelled service, the post holder will work collaboratively with expansive knowledge of different clinical disciplines. There will be opportunities to provide consultation work.
The post holder would be expected to work autonomously within professional guidelines and within the overall framework of Trust policies and procedures. In addition, the post holder would be supported to utilise research skills for audit and service development & research.
This is a particularly exciting time to join our team. We are driving our service proactively to match contemporary theoretical and evidence-based understanding of autism to guide our practice for autistic people. We are dedicated to including the autistic population to work with our clinicians to lead innovative and evolving change. We value the insight of everyone in our team and would include the post holder to contribute to service development.
To provide clinical supervision and psychological formulation skills to other members of the team.
Main duties of the job
To provide specialist psychological assessments of service users referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the person's care as part of the diagnostic pathway.
As a team we are supporting new staff to undertake autism assessment training using tools such as ADOS, ADI-R, ACIA and DISCO
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will join a multidisciplinary team which consists of Nurses from learning disabilities, mental health and adult general nursing, A clinical lead consultant psychologist, a clinical psychologist, three assistant psychologists, two support workers, an occupational therapist and two admin/ clerical staff. You will contribute to psychology provision through supervision, MDT meetings as well as undertaking assessments and formulation. There is significant oppportunity for specialist expertise development under the supervision of the clinical lead. We would enable opportunities to be involved or lead quality improvement and research. We invite all staff to proactively contribute to the aspiration of the service: to enable thriving, not just surviving. We are a reflective team and encourage all staff to demonstrate a reflexive understanding of internalised bias and cultural injustice to ensure that our service evolves to enable access for a heterogeneous population.
You will have some experience of working with people with trauma and other mental health issues, it is likely that even if you have never worked within an autism service, you will have worked with autistic people. We are seeking a creative, dedicated person who is interested in autism assessment, using neuroaffirming psychoeducation to facilitate autonomy for people receiving a diagnostic assessment.
To evaluate, and make decisions, about options of ongoing support taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.
Outcome Data to be collated for individuals to provide assurance that appropriate assessment and treatment has been provided.
To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment and discharge of people accessing the service.
To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual service users and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of service users under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will join a multidisciplinary team which consists of Nurses from learning disabilities, mental health and adult general nursing, A clinical lead consultant psychologist, a clinical psychologist, three assistant psychologists, two support workers, an occupational therapist and two admin/ clerical staff. You will contribute to psychology provision through supervision, MDT meetings as well as undertaking assessments and formulation. There is significant oppportunity for specialist expertise development under the supervision of the clinical lead. We would enable opportunities to be involved or lead quality improvement and research. We invite all staff to proactively contribute to the aspiration of the service: to enable thriving, not just surviving. We are a reflective team and encourage all staff to demonstrate a reflexive understanding of internalised bias and cultural injustice to ensure that our service evolves to enable access for a heterogeneous population.
You will have some experience of working with people with trauma and other mental health issues, it is likely that even if you have never worked within an autism service, you will have worked with autistic people. We are seeking a creative, dedicated person who is interested in autism assessment, using neuroaffirming psychoeducation to facilitate autonomy for people receiving a diagnostic assessment.
To evaluate, and make decisions, about options of ongoing support taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.
Outcome Data to be collated for individuals to provide assurance that appropriate assessment and treatment has been provided.
To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment and discharge of people accessing the service.
To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual service users and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of service users under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.
Person Specification
Training Qualification
Essential
- Three year Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, covering all care groups. Training in at least two therapeutic approaches and basic neuropsychological training.
Desirable
- Relevant specialist training or demonstrable experience in CBT, Child Neuropsychology or Systemic Work.
- Clinical supervision training for Doctoral trainees.
Experience
Essential
- At least one year post-qualification experience as a Clinical Psychologist which includes relevant experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
- Experience of providing a direct clinical service with adults who require specialist differential assessment, psychological formulation and psycho education.
- Willingness to train or experienced to use a range of assessments such as ADI-R, ADOS.
- Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes and/or supervision of other staff groups.
- Experience of participating in audit, evaluation and quality improvement.
- Experience of contributing to policy and service development.
- Additional relevant clinical knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self study or experience (or a combination of these) to an appropriate level demonstrated by certification, documented supervision logs, management appraisal documentation and/or assessment at interview. This will include supervision training.
- Experience in applying Leadership skills to drive forward individual clinical care plans and service projects (for example quality initiatives, service development plans)
- Working in a multidisciplinary model.
- Critically analysing differential diagnoses using professional curiosity and formulation
Desirable
- Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
- Experience in clinically supervising junior psychologists.
- Experience of delivering psychoeducation to those receiving a diagnosis.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to supervise trainee and assistant psychologists and members of other staff groups.
- Communication & Relationship skills: Able to provide & receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a range of relationships and settings. Able to use highly specialist skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
- Analytical & judgemental skills: Able to draw upon a broad theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of highly complex facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations. Able to compare and select from a range of treatment options, based on formulation.
- Planning and organisational skills: Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload.
- Physical skills: Basic keyboard skills.
- Able to record and report on as required clinical information. Competent in use of basic IT packages - word processing, e-mail and internet.
- Research & Guidance: Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis. Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance relevant to the client groups. Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice with the client groups.
- Cultural awareness: Aware of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health.
- Flexibility: Able to be flexible and adapt approach according to need. Capacity to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Physical skills: Driving.
- Information resources: Competent use of other IT packages e.g. PowerPoint, Excel and Access.
- Cultural competence: Able to provide a cultural competent service.
- Flexibility: Able to innovate on the basis of theoretical knowledge.
personal
Essential
- Able to contain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of others.
- Able to apply reflective skills during exposure to distressing and highly emotional situations, in order to contain and support the wider team whilst agreeing immediate and longer-term care plans.
- Physical effort: Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial proportion of working time. Mental effort: Able to concentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during client contact, teaching/supervision sessions, team meetings, preparing written work etc. Emotional effort: Able to manage effectively frequent exposure to highly distressing/highly emotional circumstances and exposure to traumatic circumstances. Values: Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals. Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
other
Essential
- Able to work to professional guidelines. Must be capable of accountability for own work, of autonomous clinical practice, of being guided by precedent and of working towards defined results.
Person Specification
Training Qualification
Essential
- Three year Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, covering all care groups. Training in at least two therapeutic approaches and basic neuropsychological training.
Desirable
- Relevant specialist training or demonstrable experience in CBT, Child Neuropsychology or Systemic Work.
- Clinical supervision training for Doctoral trainees.
Experience
Essential
- At least one year post-qualification experience as a Clinical Psychologist which includes relevant experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
- Experience of providing a direct clinical service with adults who require specialist differential assessment, psychological formulation and psycho education.
- Willingness to train or experienced to use a range of assessments such as ADI-R, ADOS.
- Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes and/or supervision of other staff groups.
- Experience of participating in audit, evaluation and quality improvement.
- Experience of contributing to policy and service development.
- Additional relevant clinical knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self study or experience (or a combination of these) to an appropriate level demonstrated by certification, documented supervision logs, management appraisal documentation and/or assessment at interview. This will include supervision training.
- Experience in applying Leadership skills to drive forward individual clinical care plans and service projects (for example quality initiatives, service development plans)
- Working in a multidisciplinary model.
- Critically analysing differential diagnoses using professional curiosity and formulation
Desirable
- Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
- Experience in clinically supervising junior psychologists.
- Experience of delivering psychoeducation to those receiving a diagnosis.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to supervise trainee and assistant psychologists and members of other staff groups.
- Communication & Relationship skills: Able to provide & receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a range of relationships and settings. Able to use highly specialist skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
- Analytical & judgemental skills: Able to draw upon a broad theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of highly complex facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations. Able to compare and select from a range of treatment options, based on formulation.
- Planning and organisational skills: Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload.
- Physical skills: Basic keyboard skills.
- Able to record and report on as required clinical information. Competent in use of basic IT packages - word processing, e-mail and internet.
- Research & Guidance: Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis. Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance relevant to the client groups. Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice with the client groups.
- Cultural awareness: Aware of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health.
- Flexibility: Able to be flexible and adapt approach according to need. Capacity to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Physical skills: Driving.
- Information resources: Competent use of other IT packages e.g. PowerPoint, Excel and Access.
- Cultural competence: Able to provide a cultural competent service.
- Flexibility: Able to innovate on the basis of theoretical knowledge.
personal
Essential
- Able to contain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of others.
- Able to apply reflective skills during exposure to distressing and highly emotional situations, in order to contain and support the wider team whilst agreeing immediate and longer-term care plans.
- Physical effort: Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial proportion of working time. Mental effort: Able to concentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during client contact, teaching/supervision sessions, team meetings, preparing written work etc. Emotional effort: Able to manage effectively frequent exposure to highly distressing/highly emotional circumstances and exposure to traumatic circumstances. Values: Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals. Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
other
Essential
- Able to work to professional guidelines. Must be capable of accountability for own work, of autonomous clinical practice, of being guided by precedent and of working towards defined results.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
