Assistant Psychologist (London)

Job responsibilities

Organisational context and reporting line

The MORE-KARE trial includes a network of coordinators/therapists who will work with the MORE-KARE core trial team to deliver the trial to participants. Coordinators/therapists will be integrated in both the university core trial team but will also work with local NHS sites to deliver the trial.

Team

This role is within the Psychology department. The team provides a crucial frontline support service to support the delivery of the MORE-KARE trial. This post will report to the scientific lead on the trial, Professor Celia Morgan and initially be assigned to a specific NHS trial site at the Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital in London, with subject to review, in line with trial demands.

Main purpose of the job:

To provide essential frontline support to the London trial NHS site team and Principal Investigator, and deliver the trial psychological therapy to participants. The role ensures the frontline delivery of the trial in a timely manner ensuring that trial activities are delivered to deadlines. The role would be suited to an enthusiastic and highly organised individual who is committed to ensuring that the objectives of the MORE-KARE trial are achieved.

Main duties and accountabilities

1. Provide NHS sites and the core university trial team with effective support to enable the delivery of strategic departmental priorities the MORE-KARE trial.

2. Undertake training in and then delivery of manualised psychological therapy to trial participants, utilizing clinical supervision appropriately to support adherence to trial protocols.

3. Identify issues and ways to address and improve processes/procedures/recruitment to the trial in conjunction with our trial team; support the implementation of newly designed processes and procedures.

4. Support and facilitate trial communications; compiling and circulating relevant communications, including newsletters; proactive information gathering; planning schedule of communications.

5. Act as coordinator for an NHS trial site ensuring that appropriate trial processes are followed.

6. Work with the core trial team to monitor, support and action key activities associated with local compliance for example mandatory training.

7. Provide effective support to site trial team and core university trial team maintaining and reporting on comprehensive action plans, chasing outcomes and providing excellent administrative support to those responsible for overall delivery.

8. Provide high-quality administrative support to trial site teams. This includes effective agenda planning, note-taking, action tracking and reporting on outcomes.

9. Deal with a diverse range of queries from a variety of site and core team members and responding appropriately, particularly by taking ownership of issues and working closely with the university trial management team across different areas to ensure resolutions in a timely manner.

10. Use NHS and university systems and software effectively and efficiently adhering to relevant compliance. Process and input data and maintain accurate records relevant to the role. Gather information, extract and analyse reports in standard formats as required, ensuring timely delivery.

All role holders at Grade D are expected to:

1. Work within a team, and collaboratively with the wider trial team proactively identifying improvements and sharing best practice.

2. Liaise with stakeholders across the organisation, proactively building and developing effective communications and working relationships.

3. Support the development of common policies and practice, leading on improvements where delegated.

4. Support activities across other trial sites as work demands to support key trial priorities.

5. Engage in relevant professional and operational networks across the organisation.

This job description summarises the main duties and accountabilities of the post and is not comprehensive: the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties of similar level and responsibility.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level. Applicants will ideally hold a degree in Psychology or have an equivalent qualification/experience.

Desirable

• A post graduate certificate in Primary Care Mental Health Practice, or equivalent recognised Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner qualification.
• Current Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certificate.

Skills and Understanding

Essential

• Ability to take effective minutes/action notes and plan agendas for a variety of committees, ensuring that actions are followed up and closed out.
• High level of written English and the ability to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders and via a range of mechanisms.
• Proven ability to use various Microsoft Office and Office 365 software effectively including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
• Ability to make informed decisions within specified areas when in a time- constrained environment.
• Proven ability to undertake duties in a confidential and sensitive manner using tact and diplomacy where necessary.
• Ability to undertake proactive diary management activities on behalf of senior staff members including appropriate prioritisation and arrangement of necessary logistical support.

Desirable

• Knowledge of psychopharmacology and interest in addiction.
• Knowledge of GCP.

Behavioural Characteristics

Essential

• Ability and willingness to identify and respond to issues in a proactive manner. Resolve as appropriate, signpost, escalate accordingly and follow up to ensure timely resolution.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities within own workload and manage time appropriately in order to meet required deadlines.
• Ability to act on own initiative and confidence in working independently with limited supervision in a frontline environment.
• Meticulous attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Approachable attitude with a desire to form professional relationships with a wide range of people.
• Adaptable to changing circumstances.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a large and complex organization.
• Experience of working as part of a team and motivating others to deliver shared goals.
• Experience of using organisation-specific software packages and the ability to act as a champion within discrete areas to support the rollout of new systems.
• Able to engage in the design and testing phases of new systems, providing constructive feedback.

Desirable

• Experience of working as part of a large team with
• multiple reporting lines.
• Experience of working on a clinical trial.
• Experience of involvement in project Support.
• Experience of delivering manualised psychological therapy.

Circumstances

Essential

• Willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing demands when occasional and reasonable requests
• are made.
• Able to pass a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check.
• Willing and able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.

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).