Job summary
The
Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, a unique partnership between Devon
Partnership NHS Trust and Alzheimers Society, is dedicated to delivering
comprehensive support across Bristol for individuals living with dementia and
their families. Our service, which spans from diagnosis to end of life, is
designed to enable people to live their best livesfor as long as possible
within their own community. We also place a strong emphasis on raising public
awareness of dementia and enhancing accessibility for underrepresented
communities.
We are
seeking a skilled Assistant Psychologist for a full-time, twelve-month fixed-term
position. In this role, you will collaborate closely with a dedicated,
compassionate multidisciplinary team, including nurses, occupational
therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and dementia navigators. Your
responsibilities will include conducting neuropsychological assessments,
structured observations, and semi-structured interviews, as well as gathering
self-report data and preparing reports. You will also have the opportunity to
contribute to the development and delivery of post-diagnostic well-being interventions.
Main duties of the job
We are looking to recruit someone who can quickly get up to speed with the clinical role and embed themselves in the team. You will need to be kind, highly organised, assertive in emotionally demanding situations, and comfortable working with a degree of autonomy. We are looking for someone who can be calm, confident, and reassuring when discussing distressing and sensitive situations with individuals and families accessing the service. We need a candidate with strong clinical and professional skills and a commitment to maintaining high-quality assessment and support for the people referred to us.
You would join a small psychology team consisting of 2x Clinical Psychologists and 2x Assistant Psychologists. The role may necessitate working extended hours at times, and be flexible to travel across the city of Bristol as required.
Within this fixed-term post, there are rich opportunities to gain a range of clinical and professional experiences. This service provides all staff with opportunities for excellent training and development, supervision, and appraisal and, not least, to make a significant positive difference to the lives of people living with dementia.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title:
Assistant Psychologist
Band:
Band 5
Directorate:
Older Peoples Mental Health
Department:
Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service
Base:
Brookland Hall, St Werburghs, Bristol
Responsible To:
Psychology Lead, Dementia Wellbeing Service
Job Purpose
The principal purpose of the job is to improve the
psychological health & well-being of people in receipt of services by Devon
Partnership Trusts Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service.
This will be achieved in this post by:
1.
Providing a Clinical Psychology and
Therapy service to people as a key
component of services provided by Devon Partnership Trust
2.
Contributing to improving the health
and wellbeing of older people, people with dementia and the carers and families
of the client group.
3.
Implement specific assessment and
psychological interventions and provide advice and consultancy to patients,
family members, carers and professionals under the supervision and management
of the Clinical Psychologist.
4.
The post holder will be line managed
by the Psychology Lead and supported by senior colleagues within Bristol
Dementia Wellbeing Service. The post holder will be expected to make good use
of the expertise of others within the service to further develop their clinical
skills with this client group.
5. To work independently
within a defined managed and occupational context. To work within professional guidelines and Devon
Partnership Trust procedures and protocols.
6. The post holder
will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance to
Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British
Psychological Society
Duties and
Responsibilities
Communication
and Working Relationship Skills
- Clients,
family and carers: To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with
clients who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/or
communicating and who may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotionally
disturbed.
- Multidisciplinary
team colleagues: To work closely with colleagues in the multi-professional
integrated mental health and wellbeing service on a day to day basis.
- Health
& social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff
in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner,
complex and sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation and
treatment plans of clients under the services care. To provide support &
guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and
to foster reflective practice.
- Senior
managers & professional staff: To maintain and build good working relationships
with senior professional staff and managers across in Devon Partnership Trust.
To foster a positive approach to the
integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation.
Analytical
and Judgemental Skills
- The
post-holder will recognise own clinical competencies, knowledge base and
experience, and practice within this, acting as a positive role model, and
seek support as required.
- To
make informed and well-reasoned decisions, recognising when to seek further
advice from a registered practitioner.
- To
take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
- The
post holder will present punctually for duty in a professional manner,
correctly dressed according to Trust policy.
Planning
and Organisational Skills
- The service: To plan and prioritise own workload, balancing the
demands of patient care, support and guidance of carers and professionals,
service research and development activities.
- To
contribute to the planning and organising of the psychology and therapy
services within the locality area and to contribute to the development and
improvement of provision of psychological services within services to best
meet the organisations strategy and priorities
- The
multidisciplinary service: To provide psychology knowledge to the
multiprofessional planning, development and marketing of mental health and
wellbeing services.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment
and Therapy
- Assessment & intervention: To undertake assessments,
and deliver treatment plans within a supervised context for individuals,
families and groups. To demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- Consultation & guidance: To provide advice,
guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to
colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.
Responsibility
for Policy and Service Development Implementation
- The post holder is accountable for their own professional
actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional
Practice Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
Policy & service:
- To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on
proposed policy changes and service developments.
Research and Development:
- To undertake service-relevant research and development
activity agreed within the psychology service. To organise personal or
service led research and development activities, as required.
Responsibility
for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
- Careful use of equipment.
Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision,
Training, HR Advice and Management
- Leadership & supervision:
- To assist the work of less experienced assistants and/or
trainees as required.
- To provide supervision to health and social care
colleagues relevant to their role under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
Responsibility
for Information Resources and Administrative Duties
- To maintain accurate records in accordance with
professional and local guidelines and policies.
- To be responsible for using an email account to generate,
monitor, and respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much
of its internal communication.
- Develop and maintain information systems as required
including relevant and accurate notes on electronic care records.
- Ensure information resources including the Intranet are
consulted regularly to maintain a current knowledge of Trust, Directorate and
Team priorities and safety initiatives.
- Ensure information is shared with key stakeholders and
other agencies in a secure manner.
Responsibility
for Research and Development
- To take
part in research projects and audit when required to do so.
Freedom
to Act
- To
work within the Trust operational policies and service specifications of the
teams.
- To organise and take responsibility for own work and caseload under
the guidance of a Clinical Psychologist and within standard protocols.
Any
Other Specific Tasks Required
- To ensure all clinical care and treatment provided by
psychologists is carried out under appropriate supervision and leadership.
- To ensure that all psychologists continuously update the
skills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Review of this Job Description
This job description is intended as an outline indicator
of general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing
service needs. This job description is to be reviewed in conjunction with the
post holder on an annual basis.
General
Information
Equality & Diversity
Devon Partnership NHS Trust is committed to recruiting and
supporting a diverse workforce and so we welcome applications from all sections
of the community regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion or sexual
orientation, maternity/pregnancy, marriage/civil partnership or transgender
status. The Trust expects all staff to behave in a way which recognises and
respects this diversity in line with the appropriate standards.
Recovery
It is a requirement of all employees to have an
understanding of the broad principles of the Recovery Approach and to
incorporate them into every aspect of their work in support of the Trusts aim
to provide services that support peoples recovery through being holistic and
promoting social inclusion, self management, personal autonomy and
independence.
Risk Management / Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on
them under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, ensure that agreed safety
procedures are carried out and maintain a safe environment for employees,
patients and visitors.
Records Management
The post holder has responsibility for the timely and
accurate creation, maintenance and storage of records in accordance with Trust
policy, including email documents and with regard to the Data Protection Act,
The Freedom of Information Act and any other relevant statutory requirements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title:
Assistant Psychologist
Band:
Band 5
Directorate:
Older Peoples Mental Health
Department:
Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service
Base:
Brookland Hall, St Werburghs, Bristol
Responsible To:
Psychology Lead, Dementia Wellbeing Service
Job Purpose
The principal purpose of the job is to improve the
psychological health & well-being of people in receipt of services by Devon
Partnership Trusts Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service.
This will be achieved in this post by:
1.
Providing a Clinical Psychology and
Therapy service to people as a key
component of services provided by Devon Partnership Trust
2.
Contributing to improving the health
and wellbeing of older people, people with dementia and the carers and families
of the client group.
3.
Implement specific assessment and
psychological interventions and provide advice and consultancy to patients,
family members, carers and professionals under the supervision and management
of the Clinical Psychologist.
4.
The post holder will be line managed
by the Psychology Lead and supported by senior colleagues within Bristol
Dementia Wellbeing Service. The post holder will be expected to make good use
of the expertise of others within the service to further develop their clinical
skills with this client group.
5. To work independently
within a defined managed and occupational context. To work within professional guidelines and Devon
Partnership Trust procedures and protocols.
6. The post holder
will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance to
Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British
Psychological Society
Duties and
Responsibilities
Communication
and Working Relationship Skills
- Clients,
family and carers: To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with
clients who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/or
communicating and who may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotionally
disturbed.
- Multidisciplinary
team colleagues: To work closely with colleagues in the multi-professional
integrated mental health and wellbeing service on a day to day basis.
- Health
& social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff
in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner,
complex and sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation and
treatment plans of clients under the services care. To provide support &
guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and
to foster reflective practice.
- Senior
managers & professional staff: To maintain and build good working relationships
with senior professional staff and managers across in Devon Partnership Trust.
To foster a positive approach to the
integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation.
Analytical
and Judgemental Skills
- The
post-holder will recognise own clinical competencies, knowledge base and
experience, and practice within this, acting as a positive role model, and
seek support as required.
- To
make informed and well-reasoned decisions, recognising when to seek further
advice from a registered practitioner.
- To
take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
- The
post holder will present punctually for duty in a professional manner,
correctly dressed according to Trust policy.
Planning
and Organisational Skills
- The service: To plan and prioritise own workload, balancing the
demands of patient care, support and guidance of carers and professionals,
service research and development activities.
- To
contribute to the planning and organising of the psychology and therapy
services within the locality area and to contribute to the development and
improvement of provision of psychological services within services to best
meet the organisations strategy and priorities
- The
multidisciplinary service: To provide psychology knowledge to the
multiprofessional planning, development and marketing of mental health and
wellbeing services.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment
and Therapy
- Assessment & intervention: To undertake assessments,
and deliver treatment plans within a supervised context for individuals,
families and groups. To demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- Consultation & guidance: To provide advice,
guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to
colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.
Responsibility
for Policy and Service Development Implementation
- The post holder is accountable for their own professional
actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional
Practice Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
Policy & service:
- To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on
proposed policy changes and service developments.
Research and Development:
- To undertake service-relevant research and development
activity agreed within the psychology service. To organise personal or
service led research and development activities, as required.
Responsibility
for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
- Careful use of equipment.
Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision,
Training, HR Advice and Management
- Leadership & supervision:
- To assist the work of less experienced assistants and/or
trainees as required.
- To provide supervision to health and social care
colleagues relevant to their role under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
Responsibility
for Information Resources and Administrative Duties
- To maintain accurate records in accordance with
professional and local guidelines and policies.
- To be responsible for using an email account to generate,
monitor, and respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much
of its internal communication.
- Develop and maintain information systems as required
including relevant and accurate notes on electronic care records.
- Ensure information resources including the Intranet are
consulted regularly to maintain a current knowledge of Trust, Directorate and
Team priorities and safety initiatives.
- Ensure information is shared with key stakeholders and
other agencies in a secure manner.
Responsibility
for Research and Development
- To take
part in research projects and audit when required to do so.
Freedom
to Act
- To
work within the Trust operational policies and service specifications of the
teams.
- To organise and take responsibility for own work and caseload under
the guidance of a Clinical Psychologist and within standard protocols.
Any
Other Specific Tasks Required
- To ensure all clinical care and treatment provided by
psychologists is carried out under appropriate supervision and leadership.
- To ensure that all psychologists continuously update the
skills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Review of this Job Description
This job description is intended as an outline indicator
of general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing
service needs. This job description is to be reviewed in conjunction with the
post holder on an annual basis.
General
Information
Equality & Diversity
Devon Partnership NHS Trust is committed to recruiting and
supporting a diverse workforce and so we welcome applications from all sections
of the community regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion or sexual
orientation, maternity/pregnancy, marriage/civil partnership or transgender
status. The Trust expects all staff to behave in a way which recognises and
respects this diversity in line with the appropriate standards.
Recovery
It is a requirement of all employees to have an
understanding of the broad principles of the Recovery Approach and to
incorporate them into every aspect of their work in support of the Trusts aim
to provide services that support peoples recovery through being holistic and
promoting social inclusion, self management, personal autonomy and
independence.
Risk Management / Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on
them under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, ensure that agreed safety
procedures are carried out and maintain a safe environment for employees,
patients and visitors.
Records Management
The post holder has responsibility for the timely and
accurate creation, maintenance and storage of records in accordance with Trust
policy, including email documents and with regard to the Data Protection Act,
The Freedom of Information Act and any other relevant statutory requirements.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BA or BSc in Psychology or equivalent - recognised by the British Psychological Society.
- Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and or research design and analysis
Experience
Essential
- Experience/knowledge of psychometric test administration and interpretation
- Experience and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality
- Experience gained during supervised training working in older peoples mental health services
- Experience in teaching, training and/or supervision
Desirable
- Experience as an assistant psychologist
- Proven experience in specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients, demonstrating adaptability and versatility across a wide range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BA or BSc in Psychology or equivalent - recognised by the British Psychological Society.
- Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and or research design and analysis
Experience
Essential
- Experience/knowledge of psychometric test administration and interpretation
- Experience and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality
- Experience gained during supervised training working in older peoples mental health services
- Experience in teaching, training and/or supervision
Desirable
- Experience as an assistant psychologist
- Proven experience in specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients, demonstrating adaptability and versatility across a wide range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings
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.
