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Job overview

We are excited to recruit an Assistant Psychologist (AP) to join our Specialist Parenting Service (SPS) team working with parents who experience a learning disability.  SPS sits within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and promotes early intervention approaches to reduce inequalities and contribute to the best outcomes for families in Cornwall.

The AP is an important part of our team, and the role is quite unique, providing a broad range of experiences and a variety of opportunities for a highly motivated person.  SPS has a small multi-disciplinary team and works across learning disability, midwifery, children’s, and adult’s services providing consultation, assessment, and intervention.  We care about service-user participation and are committed to providing the best possible service and are keen to hear from applicants with a shared passion who will work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children.

The post holder will work under the close supervision of qualified Clinical Psychologists and gain experience of child and adult safeguarding processes and multi-agency working. Whilst the work can be emotive and stressful, we feel we have lots to offer an enthusiastic and experienced AP with regular individual supervision and group reflective supervision as well as supportive colleagues who value good wellbeing at work.

Main duties of the job

Under supervision the post holder will be involved in providing detailed assessments of parents using a range of methods to understand parents’ needs and plan interventions to improve outcomes for children. There is an expectation that you be experienced in all aspects of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (4^th edition) as understanding a parent's learning needs are fundamental to our service delivery.

We use a range of therapeutic approaches to meet the needs of parents and families referred to our service and there will be opportunities to support parenting interventions under supervision. We provide multi-agency training on a regular basis and the AP is involved in all aspects of this.

Working as part of our Early Intervention Project, the AP will be completing initial assessments with expectant mothers and parents with young babies. Part of the role will involve developing and producing Easy Read parenting materials and other visual resources to support parents and professionals so there are many opportunities to work creatively.  We use Video Interaction Guidance and the post holder may be involved in delivering this exciting intervention under supervision.

Working for our organisation

We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people’s physical and mental health.  We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us.  As part of the team, you’ll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust.  This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people’s homes, in community clinics and bases.  Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals.  Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live her.  A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon.  As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon.  In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area.  This increase the numbers of people who use out services.