Apprentice Clinical Associate Psychologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To undertake a structured apprenticeship programme that includes on the job learning and assessment, personal study, academic work, research, leading to the award of the MSc in Clinical Associate Psychology.

To undertake specialised psychological assessments, treatments and other types of clinical intervention appropriate to this level of training with individual clients/groups of clients and research activity.

To be able to work independently, initially under supervision, on a day to day basis.

This work will be supervised and reviewed regularly with supervision usually being offered by a qualified Applied Psychologist (although other qualified healthcare professionals may also contribute as deemed appropriate by head of department).

Masters Training in Southwest England is organised and managed through a partnership between the Universities of Exeter and Devon Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (DPT). Trainees are sponsored and employed by DPT where they will complete all training placements.

MSc Trainees are required to fulfil both academic and clinical requirements in order to progress in training and to qualify.

Mandatory Standards and Codes for Healthcare Support Workers apply to all NHS staff delivering Psychology/Psychological Therapy Services who are not subject to statutory regulation. Clinical Associate Psychologist Apprentices are required to abide by the BPS Code of Conduct and meet induction standards, and NHS employees are required to abide by the Code of Practice for employers.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Works as part of a multi-disciplinary community team or in specialised clinical settings.

Consults with relevant external agencies such as social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels.

Apprentices have ongoing communication with:

Course staff (academic and clinical) in relation to the intended learning outcomes of the programme.

Local NHS Psychology Tutors.

NHS Community Mental Health Leads who have managerial responsibility for the Apprentice as an employee.

In addition, trainees will develop circumscribed supervisory relationships with a number of service-based clinical and research supervisors with responsibility for supervision of specific aspects of their clinical and/or research work.

Within Clinical Work:

Communicate clearly and empathetically to clients, families and carers.

Communicates formulations and information professionally, sensitively and diplomatically frequently in a highly emotive atmosphere to clients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals.

To communicate confidential and personal information concerning psychological needs, obtained through assessments and interventions, to referring agents and to the client themselves.

The post holder will be required to work in a highly emotive atmosphere, frequently encountering highly distressing problems and circumstances and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.

The post holder will be required to work in situations where there are barriers to acceptance and possible exposure to aggression.

Establish a rapport with individuals who have mental health disorders or other difficulties, some of whom may be aggressive or distressed.

Discuss and negotiate clinical work with colleagues within a multidisciplinary team.

Discuss clinical work with other agencies and professionals.

Provide written reports and assessments for clients, their families and other agencies.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Formulates the nature, causes and maintaining factors of psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental and clinical literature base and the results of assessment.

• Apprentices are required to make independent day to day clinical decisions and judgements based on detailed psychological assessments, within the parameters permitted by their professional guidelines and under the general guidance of their clinical supervisor who is available for consultation as required. Increasingly complex decisions and issues of clinical risk should be referred for discussion with the clinical supervisor.

Planning for day to day clinical assessments and interventions takes place under the supervisors overall guidance provided on a weekly basis by a designated Clinical Psychology clinician.

To determine appropriate psychological intervention, taking into account a range of potentially conflicting clinical information and dynamics.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Plans and implements bespoke, formulation-driven psychological interventions empathetically, sensitively and independently, with a range of client groups/groups of clients, and evaluates the impact of such intervention.

Plans and delivers group sessions for clients.

Apprentices are responsible for managing the competing requirements of both academic and clinical components of training.

To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

To attend and participate in administrative and service planning meetings as determined by the clinical supervisor(s).

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

To undertake structured interviews, psychological assessments and observations of individuals and groups.

Carries out psychological assessments sensitively and independently with a broad range of client groups including individual psychometric testing.

To assist in development of psychological formulations of complex clinical problems and the development and delivery of care plans, which include psychological treatment and/or management of clients problems.

To carry out psychological and psychometric tests, to develop interview and observation skills and to assess client/patient needs.

To assist in the design, implement and modify as appropriate, bespoke psychological interventions with clients and groups.

To provide emotional support for clients.

To work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

To follow a person-focused and evidence based approach.

To work in partnership with service users.

To work in a variety of settings including the clients own home.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• The post holder will be expected to follow academic and departmental policies and may be asked to comment on proposals.

To work in accordance with National NHS and placement providers policies and regulations, as well as those of relevant professional bodies.

To follow the advice and policies of the placement provider, including knowledge, awareness of, and compliance with the legal framework relevant to the placement and client group with the NHS.

To practise and conduct oneself in accordance with the University codes of conduct and fitness for practice requirements.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

Use of computer/laptop/PowerPoint projector for database, research, e-mail, internet, presentations

Computerised and Audio-visual recording equipment for use in assessment and specialist treatment programmes.

Psychological assessment tests and associated materials.

Expected to have knowledge of manual handling and other equipment within the area.

Potential car use for clinical travel; required to travel to placements across large geographical area and visit a range of settings on placement, including home visits.

To carry clinic files, psychometric test equipment and laptop computer to and from all sites and clinics, taking care of equipment as required.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

In conjunction with supervision and University tutor, to plan and prioritise own workload, research, and individual and group sessions.

• Academic, research and clinical learning outcomes are assigned as per the curriculum of the MSc Course with accountability to the director of the University programme.

Attends formal teaching and training sessions provided by the programme and completes assessment and evaluation procedures as required by the programme.

May assist with providing specialist training to other psychologists, trainees and assistants as appropriate.

May be required to demonstrate own duties to other graduate psychologists.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• An undergraduate degree in Psychology at 2:2 or above, or equivalent to the requirements of the British Psychological Society Graduate Basis for Chartered Status (formerly known as GBR).
• Minimum of a Level 2 English and Mathematics qualification (GCSE grade C/4 or Functional Skills)

Knowledge

Essential

• Graduate level knowledge of psychological theory and research.
• Awareness and understanding of professional level/requirements of role.

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of capacity to undertake research at postgraduate level.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Essential

• Excellent organisational skills and an understanding of working with multiple priorities.
• Flexible approach to working, balancing academic and clinical demands.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.

Physical Skills

Essential

• IT skills to a level required to work regularly with Microsoft Office packages and local specialist packages as required using standard keyboard skills.

communication

Essential

• Excellent communications skills, both verbally and written, including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems.
• Ability to communicate diplomatically, confidently, empathetically.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Essential

• Awareness of own competency limitations.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Salus Ward

Torbay Hospital

Torquay

Devon

TQ27AA

Employer's website

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