Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for aspiring Assistant Psychologists to join us at Liverpool CAMHS in Alder Hey - especially those who may not be able to apply for such opportunities. The post holder will support and enhance the professional psychological care of children, young people and families within a busy CAMHS team under the direction and supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
- 2 x 0.4 (or two day per week) fixed term posts for a period of 6 months.
Please note - we reserve the right to close this post early - before the given date - if sufficient suitable candidates apply.
This opportunity is mainly aimed at psychologists in training, particularly from underrepresented or disadvantaged communities.We are looking for individuals who may have challenges accessing such opportunities due to domestic circumstances or lack of flexible options. These posts are suitable for flexible working patterns and part time opportunities.
Our workforce is currently under-represented with people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME), LGBTQ+ and disabled communities. We would welcome applications from people from these communities as our ambition is that our workforce is fully reflective of the communities that we serve.
Main duties of the job
Main clinical duties of the role:
- Following appropriate induction and under direction and supervision, to undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients including standard psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client's care.
- To assist in the delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a client's problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist. The post holder can be required to work in highly emotive atmosphere and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
- To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups.
- To work with other staff to assess outpatients, inpatients and residents and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all care settings.
- To attend and contribute to clinical psychology meetings and appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, as directed by the qualified clinical psychologists.
- To prepare test materials and visual aids as required and to maintain stock of same where necessary.
About us
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist health care to over 275,000 children and young people each year. In addition to the hospital site located in the West Derby area of Liverpool, Alder Hey has a presence in community outreach sites and, in collaboration with other providers, our clinicians help deliver care closer to patients' homes by holding local clinics at locations from Cumbria to Shropshire, in Wales and the Isle of Man. The Trust also provides inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs at our Alder Park building in the nearby borough of Sefton.
We currently have more than 4,000 staff working across our community and hospital sites. We're also a teaching and training hospital providing education and training to around 540 medical and over 500 nursing and allied health professional students each year.
As black and minority ethnic (BME) employees are currently under-represented in this area, we particularly welcome applications from members of our BME communities. All appointments will be made on merit.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information.
Person Specification
Education and training
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- A lower second class honours degree supplemented by post graduate qualification may be considered. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities on a paid or voluntary basis.
- Research and Audit Experience
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision
- Previous experience as an Assistant in an NHS setting.
- Experience of research evaluating and audit.
- Experience of working on a mental health telephone line
Experience
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.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Desirable
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data- analysis, especially SPSS for Windows High standard of report writing
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- An ability to interact sensitively and effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems or other disabilities and their families.
- An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Person Specification
Education and training
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
- A lower second class honours degree supplemented by post graduate qualification may be considered. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities on a paid or voluntary basis.
- Research and Audit Experience
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision
- Previous experience as an Assistant in an NHS setting.
- Experience of research evaluating and audit.
- Experience of working on a mental health telephone line
Experience
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.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Desirable
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data- analysis, especially SPSS for Windows High standard of report writing
Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- An ability to interact sensitively and effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems or other disabilities and their families.
- An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
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).
