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Job summary

Main area
Psychological Therapied - Mental Health Services
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
350-MHC6369384
Employer
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Knowsley Resource and Recovery Centre
Town
Prescot
Salary
£25,147 - £27,596 Per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/07/2024 23:59
Interview date
05/08/2024

Employer heading

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant Psychologist

Band 4

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Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as an Assistant Psychologist within Step 4 Psychological Therapies Knowsley. We are currently recruiting for 2 full time permanent posts.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Assistant Psychologist is to support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service by delivering effective and evidence-based psychological therapies. Under supervision and with access to relevant CPD opportunities the Assistant Psychologist will also undertake direct work with clients individually and in group settings within a stepped model of care. The Assistant Psychologists will work closely with qualified Psychological Professions colleagues on research, evaluation and audit projects, and will be expected to be an active member of the MDT. 

Working for our organisation

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To support Clinical Psychologists undertaking psychological assessments of clients applying psychologically based 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 formulation and delivery of interventions involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, in a community setting, as appropriate.

Having received instruction through supervision, to provide one-to-one consultations with service users, working autonomously within the limits of this instruction and within personal competence.

To use a degree of initiative and work independently with service users on planned work, and to exercise judgement based on good practice (NICE) and local operating procedures.

To work with potentially distressing material in relation to service users’ personal histories and presentation, including risk to self and others.

Preparing agreed assessment reports accurately in the accepted format.
Where required, to assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

In common with all professional psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.

To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties through engagement with CPD opportunities and self-guided learning

To contribute to the training and support of other staff.

To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

To attend MDT meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

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 qualified professional psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other professionals.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of high professional standards of practice, through active participation in training and development programmes, in consultation with the supervisor. 

To maintain clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.

To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.

To undertake specific administrative duties as required.

The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other Trust business in accordance professional codes of conduct and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act.

Promote the concepts of equality of opportunity and managing diversity Trust wide.

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, paying due regard to health and safety in the workplace and management of risk to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.

Maintain consistent high professional standards and act in accordance with the relevant code of professional conduct (if applicable). Employees are expected to participate in the performance review process.

Support the development of performance standards within the Service/Department to ensure the service is responsive to and meeting the needs of its customers. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • An honours degree in that satisfies the British Psychological Society criteria for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership
Desirable criteria
  • Post graduate training in areas relevant to psychological practice, mental health and/or research design and analysis

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria
  • Work experience in any organisation
  • Experience of research methodology, data collection, analysis and report writing
  • Knowledge of a broad range of Psychological theories and the application of these to mental health self-harming behaviours
Desirable criteria
  • Experience designing and conducting large scale research, audit or service evaluations
  • Previous experience working with service users and families
  • Knowledge of Psychological Therapies
  • Knowledge of NICE guidelines
  • Knowledge of policies and legislation relevant to recovery based services

Values

Essential criteria
  • Continuous Improvement Discreet • Change oriented
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change oriented

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • High level communication skills – verbal and written – with professionals, children, young people and families
  • Good time management skills
Desirable criteria
  • Proficient IT skills
  • Ability to communicate sensitive information to children, young people and families

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardCTP The Ministry of Defence partnering with Right ManagementDisability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Michael Valentine
Job title
Consultant Psychologist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0151 351 8600
Additional information

Rachel Roberts Clinical Team Manager

Robert Durtnell Principal Clinical Psychologist

0151 351 8600.

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