Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Assistant Psychologist

This job is now closed

Job summary

Due to the current post holders career progression, we have a vacancy for a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist to join our multidisciplinary community mental health service for older people (CMHSOP). The services offer specialist assessment and support to people who present with complex mental health needs and an associated degree of risk, at secondary care level, as well as those encountering challenges associated with (suspected) dementia.

The post provides opportunities to gain experience and skills working with multifaceted systems, helping to provide psychologically informed interventions to clients, including group work, and contributing to dementia assessment processes.

Previous experience of working with people with significant mental health difficulties, associated distress and/or other disabilities would be advantageous, alongside experience of direct observations, semi-structured interviews (with clients and their significant others) and psychometric testing. High-level communication skills (written and verbal) are required.

This post is a full-time, permanent position.

Main duties of the job

To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within Thanet Community Mental Health Service for Older People, providing psychological assessment (including psychometric testing as part of dementia diagnostic processes) and interventions under the supervision of HCPC registered practitioner psychologists. To assist in clinically related administration, for example: waiting list management, research and project work.

About us

Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.

We are Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people across the county.

The Trust (rated Good overall by the CQC and Outstanding for care) has 3,283 staff working in 66 buildings across 33 locations, covering an area of 1,450 square miles.

You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.

The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.

Date posted

01 November 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-EK080

Job locations

Elmstone Unit/The Beacon Mental Health Centre

Margate

CT9 4BF

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for full details of the post and the main responsibilities it entails.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for full details of the post and the main responsibilities it entails.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology and entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology/mental health

Experience

Essential

Worked with people with severe or enduring mental health difficulties and/or other disabilities

Desirable

Experience of working with older people with mental health needs
Experience of working with people with cognitive impairment
Experience of working with family and professional carers
Experience of working in the NHS
Experience of administering and interpreting specialist psychometric assessments

Knowledge and 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
Awareness of psychological issues of later life, the dementias and their impact on individuals and their families

Desirable

Knowledge of the dementias and ways of providing psychological assessment and support.
Knowledge and skill in administering screening measures for dementia and/or depression.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential

An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology and entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology/mental health

Experience

Essential

Worked with people with severe or enduring mental health difficulties and/or other disabilities

Desirable

Experience of working with older people with mental health needs
Experience of working with people with cognitive impairment
Experience of working with family and professional carers
Experience of working in the NHS
Experience of administering and interpreting specialist psychometric assessments

Knowledge and 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
Awareness of psychological issues of later life, the dementias and their impact on individuals and their families

Desirable

Knowledge of the dementias and ways of providing psychological assessment and support.
Knowledge and skill in administering screening measures for dementia and/or depression.

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

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Address

Elmstone Unit/The Beacon Mental Health Centre

Margate

CT9 4BF

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Address

Elmstone Unit/The Beacon Mental Health Centre

Margate

CT9 4BF

Employer's website

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