Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly specialist, multi-disciplinary team providing diagnostic assessments and specialist post-diagnostic interventions for autistic adults (age 16+). The Band 5 Assistant Psychologist plays an essential role across both the Autism assessment and post-diagnostic pathways by triaging referrals, offering waiting well support, completing psychometric assessments and delivering psychological interventions (both group and 1-1) following diagnosis.
Our team are passionate about delivering timely, person-centered, strengths-based assessments and interventions for neurodivergent individuals. We pride ourselves on being a supportive and inclusive team, including staff with lived-experience of autism and ADHD.
We are looking for someone with a passion for and experience in working with autistic people to join our team. The successful candidate will be an experienced Assistant Psychologist with experience of delivering group interventions and excellent computer skills, especially with excel.
SAANS is a well-established service and has been providing diagnostic assessments for both Sheffield and National residents for over 10 years. We are situated in the leafy suburb of Nether Edge, with free on-site parking and within walking distance of bus services.
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A CAP ON THIS POST AND IT WILL CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY ONCE REACHED
Main duties of the job
The Assistant Psychologist will work in the autism pathway to provide direct assessment, support and interventions to clients as well as supporting the wider team, for example with the management of waiting lists, referral triage, audit and evaluation. Excellent communication, team working and IT skills are therefore essential.
The main clinical duties include delivering psychoeducation groups alongside the autism peer support workers for adults diagnosed with autism. Experience of delivering group interventions is therefore essential. They will also be responsible for delivering 1-1 post-diagnostic interventions (under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist), which will required the adaptation of psychological models to meet the client's needs.
Pre-assessment, the Assistant Psychologist will screen and triage referrals to the service in a timely manner, attend weekly referrals meetings and offer support to individuals completing the pre-assessment questionnaires where required and correspond directly with referrers.
The Assistant Psychologist will also conduct psychometric assessments where required to identify possible Learning Disability as part of the autism assessment.
About us
At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front. However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
To be required to work on a frequent basis with autistic adults.
To support clinical triage and assessments of service users, including the use of psychometric tests, and interpretation of self-report measures and rating scales, under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.
To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological management of a service users difficulties in relation to their diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.
To assist in the coordination and running of post-diagnostic psychoeducation and therapeutic groups.
Where required, to attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary and other team meetings.
To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
Teaching, training and supervision
To receive regular management and clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Service Development
To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed
Research and service evaluation
To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist the qualified clinical psychologist in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Working Environment
The job role will involve working in situations where there may be occasional verbal or physical aggression from service users carers and the general public.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
To be required to work on a frequent basis with autistic adults.
To support clinical triage and assessments of service users, including the use of psychometric tests, and interpretation of self-report measures and rating scales, under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.
To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological management of a service users difficulties in relation to their diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.
To assist in the coordination and running of post-diagnostic psychoeducation and therapeutic groups.
Where required, to attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary and other team meetings.
To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
Teaching, training and supervision
To receive regular management and clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Service Development
To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed
Research and service evaluation
To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist the qualified clinical psychologist in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Working Environment
The job role will involve working in situations where there may be occasional verbal or physical aggression from service users carers and the general public.
Person Specification
Training and qualifications
Essential
- An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of autistic people and an ability to interact with ease with people who are autistic/neurodivergent. .
- Ability to use computers for word processing, presentations, excel databases, spreadsheets and e-mail
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working with autistic adults/young people.
- Experience of delivering group interventions.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed at regular intervals
- Demonstrates an interest in working with autistic people
- Previous paid experience in an Assistant Psychologist role
Person Specification
Training and qualifications
Essential
- An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of autistic people and an ability to interact with ease with people who are autistic/neurodivergent. .
- Ability to use computers for word processing, presentations, excel databases, spreadsheets and e-mail
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working with autistic adults/young people.
- Experience of delivering group interventions.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed at regular intervals
- Demonstrates an interest in working with autistic people
- Previous paid experience in an Assistant Psychologist role
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
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sheffield Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service (SAANS)
Michael Carlisle Centre, 75 Osborne Road
Sheffield
S11 9BF
Employer's website
https://www.shsc.nhs.uk/working-us (Opens in a new tab)
