Job summary
ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST ASPERGERS SERVICE
Assistant Psychologist - AP (Band 4)
1 WTE 1 year Fixed Term Contract
LOCATION - BASILDON
The Asperger's Service is a small specialist service, developed to identify and meet the needs of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the community. We are looking for a motivated AP to work with the Psychologists and Occupational Therapist (OT) in this service. The AP will be required to contribute to initial assessments involving direct appointments, community based observations and psychometric testing, ideally they would be familiar with the use of standardised assessment tools. Following an assessment period the AP will work in conjunction with the Clinical Psychologists and OT in supporting clinical interventions on both an individual and group basis. In addition the assistant will also be responsible for some administration aspects of the service including screening initial referrals and maintaining a database.
This is initially a fixed term contract but there is a possibility that the post will be developed into a band 5 post with the potential to lead to further training for a Clinical Associate Psychologist role.
Driver's license and access to a car for work purposes is essential. All clinical supervision will be offered by the Qualified Psychologists within the team.
Closing Date: We reserve the right to consider only the first 50 applicants for the post.
Main duties of the job
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service
- To perform other duties appropriate to the grade of assistant psychologist that may be required by their psychology manager.
- To receive weekly supervision from a qualified psychologist within the service in accordance with BPS guidelines and Trust policy.
- To undertake continued professional development in line with BPS recommendations in order to develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
- To develop and maintain the highest standards of professional practice through an identified programme of continued professional development agreed with line manager.
- To adhere to the professional codes of practice of the Health Professions Council, British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures with regards to report writing and clinical record keeping.
- To undergo regular performance appraisal and review with the line manager.
For further main duties please refer to the job description.
About us
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Open, Compassionate and Empowering. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
- Day One Flexible Employer
Important notice: On 9th November 2021 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) formally announced that individuals undertaking CQC regulated activities in England must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than 1st April 2022. The purpose of this is to protect all those that use health and social care services, as well as to protect colleagues, and to help reduce the amount of COVID-19 related sickness absences.
Please note that for all roles at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust that fall into the regulated activity criteria, evidence of vaccination status (first and second dose) will become a condition of employment from 1st April 2022. Therefore, please note that if you are successfully appointed at EPUT for one of these roles, your vaccination status will form part of your pre-employment checks.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further main responsibilities and duties please refer to the job description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further main responsibilities and duties please refer to the job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Training and Qualification
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post-graduate training in mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge
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 service users, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Skills/Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying out research/audits in an NHS environment
- Experience of running groups or doing group training
- Literate in IT/Computer Skills
- Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
Desirable
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities including neurodevelopmental disorders
- Experience using MS Teams, PowerPoint, MS Word and Excel software
Personal Qualities
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems and disabilities
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Shares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behavior
- Able to show a clear and sustained interest of working psychologically with people with mental health problems, including people experiencing psychosis, high levels of distress, significant trauma and those at risk of self-harm/suicide.
- A desire to pursue a career in Professional Psychology
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Current driving licence
- Ability to travel across sites and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc
- Resilience in dealing with emotive service user issues
- Able to effectively manage their own emotions in response to the emotional distress of others
Person Specification
Training and Qualification
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post-graduate training in mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge
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 service users, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Skills/Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying out research/audits in an NHS environment
- Experience of running groups or doing group training
- Literate in IT/Computer Skills
- Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
Desirable
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities including neurodevelopmental disorders
- Experience using MS Teams, PowerPoint, MS Word and Excel software
Personal Qualities
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems and disabilities
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Shares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behavior
- Able to show a clear and sustained interest of working psychologically with people with mental health problems, including people experiencing psychosis, high levels of distress, significant trauma and those at risk of self-harm/suicide.
- A desire to pursue a career in Professional Psychology
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Current driving licence
- Ability to travel across sites and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc
- Resilience in dealing with emotive service user issues
- Able to effectively manage their own emotions in response to the emotional distress of others
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).
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Basildon Community Resource Centre, MHU, Basildon Hospital
Nethermayne
Basildon
SS16 5NL
Employer's website
https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
