Job summary
We are delighted to have secured funding from NHS England to offer two 3 month, full-time, paid Assistant Psychologist experience to psychology graduates from low-income backgrounds, or otherwise underrepresented backgrounds.
This is part of national and local work to address issues of diversity and inclusion within the field of clinical psychology which is an essential element to address social inequalities in healthcare. The scheme is intended to give opportunities to recent psychology graduates who are eager to develop initial clinical experience as aspiring clinical psychologists, who would otherwise be excluded from entering the profession through unpaid work experience.
This scheme is specifically designed to provide valuable experience, insight, and preparation for the next step, such as a substantive Assistant Psychologist post.
We are looking for graduates with a Psychology undergraduate degree (minimum 2:1). We particularly welcome applicants who would have otherwise found themselves excluded from entering the profession through unpaid work experience. You may have had to move into a paid job after graduating and so have not been able to apply for unpaid work experience roles or have not been able to secure a paid Assistant Psychologist role. We particularly welcome applications from people of Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds and who have not experienced financial privilege.
Main duties of the job
- To gain experience in the embedding of trauma informed approaches across the wards including the write up of team case formulations, supporting the delivering of training and ensuring good data collection at all times.
- To gain experience in formulation and the delivery of intervention plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service user's problems, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.
- To gain experience of the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, activities, social skills groups, and to be an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team.
- To gain experience of the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout.
Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To gain experience of working with other staff to assess service users in preparation formultidisciplinary reviews.
- To attend appropriate team and multi-disciplinary meetings.
- To learn 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 be supported to maintain HPFT psychological records using the electronic patient record system.
- To perform other duties, appropriate to their grade, that may be required from time to time by the supervising Clinical Psychologist.
- To work flexibly, in response to service user needs as agreed with the Unit.
For a more detailed description of the role, please see attached the JD and PS.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To gain experience of working with other staff to assess service users in preparation formultidisciplinary reviews.
- To attend appropriate team and multi-disciplinary meetings.
- To learn 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 be supported to maintain HPFT psychological records using the electronic patient record system.
- To perform other duties, appropriate to their grade, that may be required from time to time by the supervising Clinical Psychologist.
- To work flexibly, in response to service user needs as agreed with the Unit.
For a more detailed description of the role, please see attached the JD and PS.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Essential
- An honours degree in Psychology with entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Experience of work with people with mental health and/or other disabilities in a care setting
- Experience of working with people in group settings.
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, therapeutic approaches and/ or research design and analysis
- Experience of undertaking a research project
- Experience of working within acute adult mental health
Communication 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 service users, carers, and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
Desirable
- Experience using computers for databases or data - analysis, especially Microsoft Excel and SPSS for Windows
- High standard of report writing.
- Competence using IT and media equipment
Analytical Skills
Essential
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Desirable
- Experience of problemsolving models and methods used by psychologists, for example, solution focused and/ or systemic approaches
Person Specification
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Essential
- An honours degree in Psychology with entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Experience of work with people with mental health and/or other disabilities in a care setting
- Experience of working with people in group settings.
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, therapeutic approaches and/ or research design and analysis
- Experience of undertaking a research project
- Experience of working within acute adult mental health
Communication 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 service users, carers, and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
Desirable
- Experience using computers for databases or data - analysis, especially Microsoft Excel and SPSS for Windows
- High standard of report writing.
- Competence using IT and media equipment
Analytical Skills
Essential
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Desirable
- Experience of problemsolving models and methods used by psychologists, for example, solution focused and/ or systemic approaches
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
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Kingfisher Court, Kingsley Green, Harper Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ
Kingsley Green, Harper Lane
Radlett
WD7 9HQ
Employer's website
https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
